I am an Arabian Muslim and I am married to an Arabian Muslim girl but she lived her past life at Canada. I mean she doesn't know much about religion. But she is doing her best and has changed a lot. I want her to practise Islam more and more. I am not so religious but I want my daughters and sons to know religion. I forgot to say that we would live in Canada. I am afraid that I am not qualified to teach my wife her religion, I want help. How I could be patient and use wisdom at something that is against the ruling of religion? You know that the culture and ways of living in Canada is very different. How I can make my wife more religious? How I can make her know more about Islam? There are things such as her father's friends who consider her as their daughter, kiss her, how I should deal in such situations? I told you that she is trying her best to be closer to Allah, but there are something she is forced to do such as her father's friend kissing her. Will I be able to grow up my children in Canadian society on religion and how?

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 is His slave and Messenger.

One of the greatest Divine Blessings on you and your wife is His Mercy in helping you to repent and to adhere to the teachings of Islam in word and in deed. We offer you our congratulations since this is the only way (i.e. commitment to Islam) that leads to bliss in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.

Allah Says (what means): {…then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]. And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." He will say, "My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" [Allah] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten." And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.} [Quran 20:123-127]

Our first piece of advice is to migrate from your present place of living to some country where you can adhere to Islam and educate your children according to the teachings of Islam. But if you cannot migrate to some Muslim country, then it is your first duty to spare no effort in educating your family well. In addition, you have to seek help from Islamic Centers in your present place of living, and you are to ask those who have good knowledge in Islamic issues, especially when you face some difficulties or complexities. Taking beneficial books and cassettes will also be good.

You are also to prevent your wife from mixing with men or appearing in front of them, whether they be friends of her father or not. She may disobey her father in this concern; i.e., mixing with non-Mahram men.

The Prophet said: “There should be no obedience to any creature in disobeying the Creator.” [Ahmad]

For more benefit on Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, please refer to Fatawa 81142, 88291, 377986, 81642, 369667, 81464 and 89879.

Allah knows best.