Can a Wife Seek Divorce If Her Husband Neglects Prayer and Sins?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Can I seek a divorce if my husband neglects prayer, gambles, commits adultery, and doesn’t provide financial support?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question. I am saddened to hear about this, especially since it involves a spouse.

Marriage has its ups and downs; both partners must give and take. You should consider having your husband sit down with his parents or both of yours, along with a reliable, mature Imam, or a respectful community member whom he might listen to and respect.

If you have children, this situation must be reflected on, as the child’s future is at stake. As you’re already aware, separation can also impact the child involved. So please proceed with caution and patience. Take your time to make the decision, and consider giving some more time to your marriage before deciding on divorce.

Honorably Retain or Kindly Let Go

The Quran and His messenger mention that a marriage needs to work together; either one comes to a settled agreement or departs amicably without any bitter outcome.

Allah Most High said in the Quran, when guiding us about divorce, that a wife should either be retained with honor or separated with grace.

“The divorce that can be returned from may be pronounced up to two times, then either honorably retaining her or kindly letting her go.” [Quran, 2: 229]

Quranic Guidance

The Quranic guidance is to seek help from righteous scholars, elders, and professional mediators, then strive for reconciliation and give marriage another chance; if this second step fails, the husband should issue a divorce, which may be documented in the presence of witnesses.

If that also fails, then part amicably, fulfilling legal obligations after divorce, such as custody, returning belongings, and respecting each other with mutual understanding and sensitivity on both sides. Respect and empathy should be maintained now and in the future, especially if one has children.

Divorce: Solution to Remove Mutual Harm

Divorce in Islam can be a mercy for the couple. The reason is that if the intended goal of marriage is not attained, mutual comfort, then divorce is a solution to the difficulty.

Allah Most High stated in the Quran,

“But if they choose to separate, Allah will enrich both of them from His bounties. And Allah is Ever-Bountiful, All-Wise.” [Quran, 4:130]

Divorce: Most Hated of Permissible Things

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“The most hated of permissible things to Allah is divorce.” [Ibn Maja]

If you choose to proceed as a family, try to end the marriage on amicable terms so it does not affect your futures. Divorce should be a last resort. Your husband can be your closest companion with effort, given a chance, much dua, and honest emotional growth work. He may not be the husband you wanted, but he is the husband you have.

Perform the Prayer of Need and Guidance as many times as you need. A positive sign could be your husband’s willingness to change his behaviour, or your heart softening towards him.

May Allah Most High make things easy and grant your husband success in improving himself. May Allah bring happiness and harmony to your marriage so you can grow together as a family in faith and good deeds. Amin.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• Conflict Resolution in Marriage -Sh.Faraz Rabbani
• marriage and divorce Archives – SeekersGuidance
• Love, Marriage, and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered
• Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja)

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.