Mufti Tariq Masood was asked how many months can a husband live away from his wife? He answered the question from Shariah perspective that what is allowed and what is recommended.
Mufti Tariq Masood said that a husband should not leave her wife for more than four months, he based his opinion on the ijtihad of Caliph Umar (ra) who ordered his troops that no men should be away from his home for more than 4 months.
Though he clarified that if wife permits a man is allowed to work abroad in another country or in any other city far away from his wife, but he said that certain instincts need to be satisfied for which husband should not live without her wife.
This problem is usually faced by people who are working in Gulf countries. They are hired on contracts for at least 2 years, some people stay there for even greater lengths. Mufti Tariq Masood said such people should move with their wife & families.