Q: My name is (...) from the Eastern Region, the city of Thaqbah. I am 30 years old and have been married to a 24-year-old girl for three years. I tried hard to convince her to perform Salah (Prayer) but she never complied. I am really confused about it and fear to be sinful because of her. She gave birth to a child who is ten-month-old now. She does not observe the obligatory Sawm (fast) Allah ordained for all Muslims either.

A: If she insists on abandoning Salah and Sawm after you have advised her, you must not live with her. Actually, whoever intentionally abandons Salah (Part No. 18; Page No. 290) while denying it to be obligatory is a disbeliever according to the unanimous agreement of all scholars. Moreover, whoever abandons it out of negligence and laziness is also judged to be disbeliever according to the sound opinion of scholars. To this effect, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, The peak of the matter is Islam; the pillar is Salah; and its topmost part is Jihad (Fighting/Struggling in the Cause of Allah). He (peace be upon him) also said, That which differentiates us from the disbelievers and hypocrites is our performance of Salah. He who abandons it, becomes a disbeliever. This is in addition to many other Hadith in the same regard. We ask Allah to guide her or give you a better wife, for He is All-Hearing and Near. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.