She Craved Travel and Outings, While Her Husband Preferred Life at Home.
Sharjah: A woman in Sharjah sought a divorce after growing frustrated with her husband’s preference for staying at home rather than going out for leisure activities or travelling, according to a case shared by Dr Radhia Hassan Al Raisi, Director of the Family Guidance Department at Sharjah Courts.
Speaking on Sharjah TV’s Qadiya Lil Hiwar, which translates to “An Issue for Discussion”, Al Raisi said the woman approached the family guidance service because her husband was reluctant to join her on trips, outings or other recreational activities.
Despite the couple’s differences, Al Raisi highlighted several positive qualities in the husband. She described him as kind, generous, patient, calm and peaceful, adding that he did not mistreat, insult or humiliate his wife.
According to Al Raisi, the central point of disagreement between the couple was their contrasting lifestyles: the husband preferred spending his free time at home, while his wife wanted to go out and travel more frequently.
Look at the bigger picture
Al Raisi advised the woman not to let the couple’s differing preferences overshadow the positive aspects of their marriage.
She suggested that if her husband preferred not to go out, the woman could still enjoy recreational activities with her children or spend time with her parents and siblings.
Al Raisi acknowledged that differences in lifestyle and attitudes towards travel and leisure can create frustration between spouses. However, she said such disagreements do not necessarily need to result in the end of a marriage.
She also cautioned against allowing every disagreement to escalate into a family or legal dispute, particularly when there are no more serious underlying problems affecting the relationship.
A stable relationship
According to Al Raisi, the marriage in the case was otherwise stable, with no major or complex issues affecting the couple.
She said spouses may need to accept that differences in personality, interests and lifestyle are a normal part of married life. Learning to accommodate those differences, she added, can help prevent manageable disagreements from affecting the stability of the family.
Al Raisi cited the case to highlight the importance of maintaining perspective, understanding each other’s preferences and finding room for compromise within a marriage.
Rather than concentrating solely on what a spouse may not provide, she encouraged couples to also recognise the positive qualities and contributions that support their relationship and family life.
The case was shared as an example drawn from Al Raisi’s experience working in family guidance.
