Living with a father who does not pray

8-12-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

is it haram for me to live alone while my father and i are living in the same country? my father dosen't pray at all, so what should i do should i live alone or live with my father?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we say that it is permissible for you to move out and live alone in a place where you feel safe. However, it might be better if you are patient and stay with your father and endeavor to guide him and set him right by being instrumental in that, such as by supplicating for him. Indeed the hearts are in the Hands of Allaah and He guides whomever He wills; Allaah says (what means): {And Allaah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allaah guides whom He wills to a straight path.} [Quran 2:213]

You should also preach to him and remind him of Allaah in a wise manner and with fine preaching and find good opportunities to remind him. You may also seek the help of some wise and righteous people from among your relatives and friends.

Doing so is the best way of being kind and dutiful to your father. For more benefit on the virtues of being kind and dutiful to one's parents, please refer to Fataawa 82254 and 87019.

Also, for more benefit on how to preach to a father who does not pray, please refer to Fatwa 21794.

Allaah Knows best.