🏡 Rights & responsibilities · #55
The children have grown up and left home. How can husband and wife revive their relationship?
The "empty nest" stage is a chance to get to know one's spouse again; a relationship long centred on the children needs to be rebuilt deliberately.
Allah created spouses so that we find tranquillity, and placed between them affection and mercy (ar-Rum 30:21) — scholars note that mercy becomes more prominent with age. The Prophet ﷺ still joked and raced with ʿAisha r.a. years after the first time (Sunan Abu Dawud 2578). Suggestions: start new routines together such as morning walks, religious classes or a shared hobby; plan an umrah or a holiday; talk about postponed dreams; and look after your health together. Hormonal changes, menopause or men's health problems can affect intimacy; talk to a doctor. If emotional distance has lasted long, a counsellor can help. See Emotional communication.
Allah created spouses so that we find tranquillity, and placed between them affection and mercy (ar-Rum 30:21) — scholars note that mercy becomes more prominent with age. The Prophet ﷺ still joked and raced with ʿAisha r.a. years after the first time (Sunan Abu Dawud 2578). Suggestions: start new routines together such as morning walks, religious classes or a shared hobby; plan an umrah or a holiday; talk about postponed dreams; and look after your health together. Hormonal changes, menopause or men's health problems can affect intimacy; talk to a doctor. If emotional distance has lasted long, a counsellor can help. See Emotional communication.
Sources
Surah ar-Rum 30:21Sunan Abu Dawud 2578 (sahih)Surah al-Furqan 25:74