Assalaamu alaykum! I ask Allah to reward you immensely. Dear scholar, an authentic hadith says that Allaah does not accept the prayer (Salah) of a wife who deprives her husband the right of physical intimacy. My question is regarding the matter of the prayer not being accepted. Is it only in case of depriving husband of his sexual rights? Or is it applicable in all cases that cause the anger of husband in general, and not only deprivation of sexual rights? Is it correct to say that the prayer of the wife will not be accepted if she denies her husband’s sexual rights, but not in other cases that cause her husband’s anger?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

A hadeeth has been reported to this effect in Sunan At-Tirmithi. Abu Umaamah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "There are three whose prayers would not be raised beyond their ears: the runaway slave until he returns, a woman who spends the night while her husband is angry with her, and a people's imaam (in prayer) whom they dislike." [At-Tirmithi]

The negation in the hadeeth does not mean that the prayers performed by such people are absolutely rejected; rather, it is a negation of perfect acceptance, as scholars underlined. Al-Mubaarakfoori wrote, "It means that the prayer is not perfectly accepted or not raised to Allaah the way good deeds are raised. At-Tooribishti said, 'They will be raised in the least manner.'" [Tuhfat Al-Ahwathi]

The reason for incurring such punishment is not confined to the wife denying her husband his right to sexual enjoyment; rather, it extends to include denying him any of his rights over her. Al-Munaawi wrote, "The hadeeth refers to the case in which a wife spends her night while her husband is angry with her because of a Sharee'ah-valid reason such as her ill manners, impoliteness, or disobedience and rebellion..." [Faydh Al-Qadeer]

Allaah knows best.