It should be noted that a prolonged period of separation between a husband and wife does not affect the validity of their nikkah. Therefore, in the scenario presented, as long as the husband has not divorced the wife, their nikkah remains intact. However, being bonded by nikkah imposes numerous mutual rights and obligations. Living apart for such long periods prevents the spouses from fulfilling these rights and obligations, which is considered to be a sin according to Shariah. Hence, in this case, both spouses should repent and seek forgiveness for their negligence of each other's rights in the past and strive to fulfill them. They should make every effort to reconcile and avoid living separately. If they cannot fulfill each other's rights and reconciliation seems impossible, the husband should not keep the wife in a state of uncertainty but should rather free her from the marital bond by granting her a divorce.