What is the ruling on a man who is absent from his wife for more than a year due to life circumstances and in order to find suitable conditions for everyone and to pay off the debts that are the cause of his absence and distance from his family?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on a man who is absent from his wife for more than a year due to reasons and also life circumstances, and in order to find suitable conditions for everyone, and that is to pay off the debts that are the cause of his absence and distance from his family? I ask for your guidance, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says in His Book: And He says: [Al-Baqarah 2:228] It is obligatory for a man to treat his wife with kindness, and that includes not traveling for a long time away from her, but rather being close to her.
However, if the need calls for a long journey and she consents to it, does not object, and does not quarrel, then there is no harm in a man being absent from her for more than half a year or more than a year, on the condition that she is in a safe place in the country from which he traveled, and that she is also safe for herself and for her children, if she has children, and for her husband's wealth.
As for traveling and leaving her in a country where he does not feel safe for her regarding herself or regarding others, then this is a reprehensible matter, and it is not permissible for a man to be negligent in this matter as many people do.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says in His Book:
And live with them in kindness
وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِAnd due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable. But the men have a degree over them [in responsibility and authority].
وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌHowever, if the need calls for a long journey and she consents to it, does not object, and does not quarrel, then there is no harm in a man being absent from her for more than half a year or more than a year, on the condition that she is in a safe place in the country from which he traveled, and that she is also safe for herself and for her children, if she has children, and for her husband's wealth.
As for traveling and leaving her in a country where he does not feel safe for her regarding herself or regarding others, then this is a reprehensible matter, and it is not permissible for a man to be negligent in this matter as many people do.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.