What is the legal ruling regarding a husband who abandons his wife and sleeps in a separate room for several years, then comes to her to satisfy his desires and returns to sleep in the other room, and denies the sinfulness of his action?

Married life is built upon understanding and cooperation. The husband must care for his wife and consider her feelings, and fulfill her rights. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, emphasized the rights of family in multiple hadiths, such as the hadith of Salman and Abu Darda, and the hadith of Uthman ibn Maz'un, which clarify the obligation to give everyone their due.

If the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded the fulfillment of wives' rights despite the Companions' preoccupation with acts of worship, then what about someone who neglects his family's rights due to permissible or forbidden matters? The husband must realize that abandoning his wife in bed is a punishment only for nushuz (disobedience), and its purpose should be to sleep with her while turning his back to her, not to abandon her entirely.

If the wife wants her husband to love her, she should adorn herself for him and endear herself to him with kind words. If the husband is watching permissible programs in the living room, the wife can sleep with him there. However, if he is watching forbidden programs, she should not remain with him, and she must advise him and remind him of Allah.