''Sharaf'' and ''ird'' are
Bedouin
The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu ( ; , singular ) are pastorally nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia (Iraq). The Bedouin originated in the Sy ...
honor codes. Along with
hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship of a host towards a guest, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill and welcome. This includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis de Jaucourt, Louis, ...
and
courage/bravery, it is one of the Bedouin aspects of
ethics
Ethics is the philosophy, philosophical study of Morality, moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates Normativity, normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches inclu ...
.
[Patai, Raphael. '' The Arab Mind''. Charles Scribner's Sons: New York, 1973.] Bedouin systems of justice
Legal systems of the world, Systems of justice among the Bedouin are varied among the tribes. A number of these systems date from Pre-Islamic Arabia, pre-Islamic times, and hence do not follow Sharia (Islamic religious law). Many of these systems a ...
are based on these
honor codes, although the codes are falling into disuse as more Bedouins accept
sharia
Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on Islamic holy books, scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran, Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' ...
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 Crime, offences that are recognised in the jurisdiction, penalties that ...
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 (
sayyid
''Sayyid'' is an honorific title of Hasanid and Husaynid lineage, recognized as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and Ali's sons Hasan ibn Ali, Hasan and Husayn ibn Ali, Husayn. The title may also refer ...
) 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 by 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 it away. It is different from
virginity
Virginity is a social construct that denotes the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. As it is not an objective term with an operational definition, social definitions of what constitutes virginity, or the lack thereo ...
, 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, re ...
, and maintenance of the honor of the tribe and protection of the village (if the tribe has
settled
A settler or a colonist is a person who establishes or joins a permanent presence that is separate to existing communities. The entity that a settler establishes is a settlement. A settler is called a pioneer if they are among the first settli ...
).
Diyafa
''Diyafa'' () is a virtue closely linked to sharaf. If required, even an enemy must be given shelter and fed for some days.
Poverty
Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living. Poverty can have diverse Biophysical environmen ...
does not exempt one from one's duties in this regard.
Generosity
Generosity (also called largesse) is the virtue of being liberal in charity (practice), giving, often as gifts. Generosity is regarded as a virtue by various world religions and List of philosophies, philosophies and is often celebrated in cultur ...
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 generally associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some behav ...
). 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. T ...
.
See also
*
Revenge
Revenge is defined as committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Vengeful forms of justice, such as primitive justice or retributive justice, are often differentiated from more fo ...
*
Guilt–shame–fear spectrum of cultures
In cultural anthropology, the distinction between a guilt society or guilt culture, shame society or shame culture, and a fear society or culture of fear, has been used to categorize different cultures. The differences can apply to how behavior is ...
*
Bedouin systems of justice
Legal systems of the world, Systems of justice among the Bedouin are varied among the tribes. A number of these systems date from Pre-Islamic Arabia, pre-Islamic times, and hence do not follow Sharia (Islamic religious law). Many of these systems a ...
Notes
Bedouin society
Honour
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