The ruling on a man being absent from his wife for several years

This is a message we received from a listener (R. A. A.), an Egyptian working in the Kingdom. He says: I ask for clarification of the ruling in the Shari'ah regarding a man who leaves his wife for work for a period of three years. Is he permitted to have intercourse with her after returning, or is something required of him before that? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: It is prescribed for the believer to be mindful of his wife's right and to strive to maintain contact with her from time to time as far as possible; because prolonged absence may expose her to much harm, and she may be afflicted by someone who desires her unlawfully. It is obligatory for the husband to be mindful of this and to have a return to her from time to time. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) set the limit for soldiers at six months, as his daughter Hafsa advised him in some of this, and he saw through his independent legal reasoning (may Allah be pleased with him) and was pleased that it should be six months; because in this there is kindness to the women and kindness to the men, and the fulfillment of the desire of each of them. The believer should be mindful of this. There is no fixed limit in the Sunnah, and there is no fixed limit in the Shari'ah, as far as we know, except what came from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) . If he is absent from his wife for a long time for the sake of work, or for the sake of seeking knowledge, he owes nothing, if he is unable and it is not feasible for him to come to her. However, with the ability, he should not prolong it, but rather come to her every four months... three months... five months... six months. As far as possible, the period should be short, especially in these times when evils have spread, faith has weakened, and open sinners have multiplied. The believer should be mindful of this and hasten to return to his family so that he is not absent from them except for a period that is not long, such as three months... or four months or the like, according to the distance between them. Yes.
The presenter: Some people imagine that after being absent for a long period, it is not valid for him to have intercourse with his wife; because they hear what is transmitted regarding the limit set by 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) , and they think that whoever delays beyond this period is not permitted to meet his wife?
The Shaykh: There is nothing wrong with intercourse. Whenever he comes, he has intercourse with her, as long as he has not divorced her. He is permitted to have intercourse with her whenever he comes, whether after a year, two years, six months, or more or less. She is his wife... she is his wife. As long as he has not divorced her, she is his wife. Whenever he comes, she is lawful for him, even if he has not given her anything. So the point is that she is his wife. However, in any case, from the way of men, and from the nobility of men, it is that he gives her gifts... he gives her presents; because of the long absence, as a courtesy, and as an appreciation of her patience and steadfastness. So the result is that she is his wife. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.