''Sharaf'' and ''ird'' are
Bedouin honor codes. Along with
hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis, chevalier de Jaucourt describes ...
and
courage/bravery, it is one of the Bedouin aspects of
ethics
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concer ...
.
[Patai, Raphael. '']The Arab Mind
''The Arab Mind'' is a non-fiction cultural psychology book by Hungarian-born, Jewish cultural anthropologist and Orientalist Raphael Patai. He also wrote ''The Jewish Mind''. The book advocates a tribal-group-survival explanation for the driving ...
''. Charles Scribner's Sons: New York, 1973. Bedouin systems of justice
Systems of justice among the Bedouin are varied among the tribes. A number of these systems date from pre-Islamic times, and hence do not follow Sharia (Islamic religious law). Many of these systems are falling into disuse as more and more Bedoui ...
are based on these
honor codes, although the codes are falling into disuse as more Bedouins accept
sharia or national
penal codes as the means for dispensing justice.
Muruwah
''Muruwah'' can be translated to 'manliness' but its meaning is more broad. It meant courage in battle but also called for patience and endurance in suffering and dedication to the tribe. This virtue required obeisance to the chief (sayid) regardless of personal safety. Duty called upon one to avenge any wrongdoing committed against him or the tribe.
This concept worked well in lawless regions to ensure the survival of the tribe. The accompanying vendetta (blood-feud) that was threatened with upon the breaking of honor codes was a way of ensuring security and order in a region without central authority.
Ird
''Ird'' is the Bedouin honor code for women. A woman is born with her ''ird'' intact, but sexual transgression can take her ''ird'' away. It is different from
virginity
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
, as it is emotional and conceptual. Once lost, ''ird'' cannot be regained.
Sharaf
''Sharaf'' is the general Bedouin honor code for men. It can be acquired, augmented, lost, and regained. ''Sharaf'' involves protection of the ''ird'' of the women of the family, protection of
property
Property is a system of rights that gives people legal control of valuable things, and also refers to the valuable things themselves. Depending on the nature of the property, an owner of property may have the right to consume, alter, share, r ...
, and maintenance of the honor of the tribe and protection of the village (if the tribe has
settled
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area.
A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer.
Settle ...
).
Diyafa
''Diyafa'' (hospitality) is a virtue closely linked to ''sharaf''. If required, even an enemy must be given shelter and fed for some days.
Poverty does not exempt one from one's duties in this regard.
Generosity
Generosity (also called largess) is the virtue of being liberal in giving, often as gifts. Generosity is regarded as a virtue by various world religions and philosophies, and is often celebrated in cultural and religious ceremonies. Scientific ...
is a related virtue, and in many Bedouin societies, gifts must be offered and cannot be declined. The destitute are looked after by the community, and
tithing
A tithing or tything was a historic English legal, administrative or territorial unit, originally ten hides (and hence, one tenth of a hundred). Tithings later came to be seen as subdivisions of a manor or civil parish. The tithing's leader or ...
is mandatory in many Bedouin societies.
[Blake, Martha. ]
The Ghinnawa: How Bedouin Women's Poetry Supplements Social Expression
'.
Hamasa
''Hamasa'' (courage/bravery) is also closely linked to ''sharaf''. Bravery indicates the willingness to defend one's tribe for the purpose of ''aṣabīya'' (tribal solidarity and balance). It is closely related to ''muruwa'' (
manliness
Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some behaviors con ...
). It usually entails the ability to withstand pain, including (male)
circumcision
Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Top ...
.
See also
*
Revenge
*
Guilt-Shame-Fear spectrum of cultures
*
Bedouin systems of justice
Systems of justice among the Bedouin are varied among the tribes. A number of these systems date from pre-Islamic times, and hence do not follow Sharia (Islamic religious law). Many of these systems are falling into disuse as more and more Bedoui ...
Notes
Bedouin society
Honor
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