My question is regarding my husband, who I feel is not after the same things in life as I am. About a year ago I became a practicing Muslimah, before that I was only a Muslim in name. However hard I try to push my husband of 3 years into the Deen, Salah etc., I get a negative response and sometimes arguments arise. I would like some advice as to how to transform him from his lack of interest in Islam, my drive to learn and better myself and his reluctance to pray 5 times a day, to someone who will help me and more importantly help himself, get closer to Allaah, The Al-Mighty.

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.

We thank the questioning sister for visiting our site and we praise Allah for guiding her. We ask Allah to make her firm and steadfast on His Religion and enable her to do whatever He likes and is pleased with.

First of all, we recommend you to continue advising and encouraging your husband to remain steadfast on the right path, and to perform the prayer regularly. The prayer is the greatest pillar of Islam after The Two Testimonies of Faith, which is to say: “Ash-Hadu Allaa Ilaaha Illallaah Wa Ash-Hadu Anna Muhammadun Rasoolullaah” (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).

Some scholars are of the opinion that a person who gives up the prayer goes out of the fold of Islam as the Prophet said: “The pact between us and them is the prayer, so whoever abandons it is a disbeliever.” [At-Tirmithi and An-Nasaa'i]

The Prophet also said: “Between a person and polytheism and disbelief is abandoning the prayer.” [Muslim]

Therefore, the matter is very serious. So, you should spare no efforts in advising him and reminding him of Allah in a wise manner while being soft in speech. You should seek the help of influential people among his relatives, friends or your relatives so that they would advise him to perform the prayer. You may make use of books and cassettes that stress the importance of the prayer and the danger of giving it up.

If he takes heed and performs the prayer then praise be to Allah, otherwise there is no benefit in living with a husband who abandons the prayer.

For more details about the ruling of living with a husband who does not perform the prayer, please refer to Fatwa 82470.

As for gaining Islamic knowledge and rectifying oneself, then these are among the best acts of worship, particularly in these days in which ignorance is widespread. The Prophet said: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male or female).” [Ibn Maajah]

Moreover, seeking knowledge is among the great means that help a person to purify himself and reform his behaviour. It is with knowledge that one can distinguish between what is lawful and what is unlawful and between good and bad.

For more benefit on how to seek knowledge, please refer to Fataawa 85561 and 85806.

Allah knows best.