My husband doesn't pray 5 times a day and constantly, I have encouraged him to do so with no avail. Since he hasn't taken heed of my requests I have withheld myself from engaging in intercourse with him. He exclaims that my actions are inappropriate, saying that it is blasphemous for me to use prayer as an incentive for intercourse. Is he correct?
Praise be to Allah.It should be known that the one who does not pray any of
the prayers and persists in not doing so, according to the Sahaabah and the majority of
scholars, is counted as a kaafir and it is not permissible to marry him or eat meat
slaughtered by him. If the husband does not pray at all, then he is taking a very serious
risk and it is not permissible for you to stay with him. You have to remind him and scare
him with this. Withholding yourself from having intercourse with him is the right thing to
do, until he starts to pray, because the one who does not pray is counted as a kaafir, as
it was reported in Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth of Jaabir that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
All that stands between a man and shirk and kufr is his giving up
prayer. And he also said:
The covenant that separates us from them is salaah, and whoever
gives up prayer is a kaafir.
Abd-Allaah ibn Shaqeeq said: the companions of the Prophet
(peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used not to count the giving up of any action as
kufr, apart from prayer. You have to warn your husband against neglecting the
prayer. If he persists, it is not permissible for you to stay with him because you are a
Muslim and he is something else. May Allaah help the Muslims to do what Allaah has
commanded and to obey Him. You have to advise and scare him, and may Allaah bring about
good for him through that.