Answer
Answer:
Wa ‘Alaykum As-Salam brother,
I am sorry to hear of this bad situation. Here are a few things to consider in regards to your wife.
In the beginning, you mentioned that your brother said your wife was having an affair with her cousin, and then you said that they love each other. If you are considering staying with your wife, it is important to identify to what extent this affair reached since having emotions that were not acted upon is very different than committing adultery.
Having said that, if your wife did have an affair, she should first make sincere repentance to Allah (swt), vow to never do it again, and seek forgiveness from you which she has done. Allah (swt) is, indeed, the Most Forgiving, but it is important for you to ask yourself whether you think you can truly forgive her and move forward with a marriage that may bring children later on.
This woman will be the mother of your children, and there is no other crucial role in the building of a healthy family and a healthy society. Unfortunately, although people can change, in most cases past behavior usually predicts future behavior.
Trust can be built up again, but it will take time and a lot of work from your wife. If you feel that you can no longer trust her, you cannot forgive her, and will hold this grudge against her, which will cause more hurt, then you may need to consider separation, knowing that separation will also be a difficult experience. Pray the istikharah prayer, and ask Allah (swt) to facilitate what is best for you.
May Allah (swt) help you,
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