Husband refuses to pray

My husband refuses to pray and says he feels guilty because he works at a haram place and can not afford to provide for me. Is it haram for me to stay with my husband?

Dear Sister,

Assalamu alaikum,

I pray this message finds you well.

It is not haram for you to stay with your husband. You are not accountable for his sins.

However, as his wife and fellow believer, you owe it to him to give him good advice and encourage him to change this situation.

Deciding not to pray because his income is unlawful will simply make matters worse. It's like telling shaytan, "Well, we've already gone this far, we might as well go all the way."

Perhaps if your husband starts praying, these prayers might be the means by which Allah Ta'ala provides him an exit from this unlawful job and gives him a halal income.

So you need to do everything in your power to motivate your husband to pray. Begin by asking Allah Most High to help him. Then you need to be a good example and provide opportunities for him to turn to Allah. As his wife, you know him best and you know how to appeal to your husband.

Since your husband's income is unlawful, it follows that any food, lodging, or other necessities purchased with that income are also unlawful. This is a troubling situation and you should not tolerate it indefinitely. You should give your husband the push he needs to find halal sources of income. This will benefit your marriage and, in the long term, give you what you desire in the afterlife, which is the pleasure of Allah Most High and His reward.

I suggest you consider Islamic marriage counseling as an avenue towards finding a solution.

Wasalaam