''Sharaf'' and ''ird'' are

Bedouin The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu (; , singular ) are nomadic Arabs, Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. The Bedouin originated in the Syrian Desert ...

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''. Charles Scribner's Sons: New York, 1973. Bedouin systems of justice are based on these

honor codes An academic honor code or honor system in the United States is a set of rules or ethical principles governing an academic community based on ideals that define what constitutes honorable behaviour within that community. The use of an honor co ...

, although the codes are falling into disuse as more Bedouins accept

sharia Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the H ...

or national

penal code A criminal code (or penal code) is a document that compiles all, or a significant amount of a particular jurisdiction's criminal law. Typically a criminal code will contain offences that are recognised in the jurisdiction, penalties that might ...

s 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 Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse

does not exempt one from one's duties in this regard. Generosity 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). 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 ...

Notes

Bedouin society Honor {{MEast-stub

Muruwah

Ird

Sharaf

Diyafa

Hamasa

See also

Notes