Assalaamu alaykom, I got my husband a smart phone 4 years ago, and since then, he has been watching pornography and similar things. I am so afraid that Allaah will hold me accountable for his sins, since I am the one who bought him a smart phone; it is like being a partner in crime. Will I be held accountable for his sins? I tried to advise him and even fought with him regarding it, but it did not work. It only made our marriage life dry of feelings and love. He thinks that I am not open-minded and am a rather old-fashioned woman. I stopped loving him when he started comparing the women whom he sees on his phone with me. Why are you not white? Why are you not skinny? Why are you not like this or like that? There is no power nor might except with Allaah.

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

You bear no sin for merely having bought this phone for your husband; however, if you knew that he would use it for prohibited purposes, you do bear a sin for that.

Ibn Qudaamah wrote in his commentary on selling grapes to someone whom he knows might make wine out of it, “The sale is prohibited and invalid if the seller knows that the buyer intends to do so (use the product for a prohibited purpose) from the buyer's words or through circumstantial evidence that indicates his intention.” [Al-Mughni]

If your husband has used this phone for watching pornography, then he has committed a sin which reflects denial of the favors of Allah. Favors entail thanking Allah for them and not using them to commit sins, as that may be a reason for their removal as a punishment; Allah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah. So, Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.} [Quran 16:112]

We advise you to be patient with your husband, supplicate Allah to bless him with guidance and righteousness, give him advice wisely and kindly, revive the fear of Allah in his heart lest he dies in this sinful state, and be keen on beautifying yourself for him as this may help him stop watching those sinful scenes.

For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 90578 and 103113.

We implore Allah to guide him to the straight path and save him from the evils of his sinful self and actions.

Allah knows best.