The ruling on a man being away from his wife for a long period

Question:
This questioner asks: What is the ruling on being away from one's wife for more than a year? What are her rights? Is this contrary to the Sunnah? Knowing that the absence is not as it appears, but due to the circumstances of living.

Answer:
There is no fixed limit in this matter; a person should determine the duration he can manage without harming his wife, according to his needs and his ability. It is narrated from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he set six months for the soldiers, and this is a matter of independent legal reasoning.
So, if a person is away for work, if he can manage every six months, or four, or three, the circumstances differ. If he fears for his wife, he takes her with him, or he hastens and does not delay, meaning: one month, two months, then he returns. Or he places her in a secure place, with her family, or with his family, in a secure situation.
The point is: he should seek what is safest and best. If her staying alone is without danger, with his family or her family, there is nothing wrong with it. But he should strive to hasten his return and coming back to her. And if it is better for her to go with him, and he is able, he takes her with him. And so the duration is six months, four months, three months, according to what he is able to do, according to what he sees to be far from danger.

The presenter: May Allah reward you and bless you, may the Shaykh be respected.