Marsh Dwellers of the Euphrates Delta by S. M. Salim

Author:S. M. Salim [Salim, S. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780367717018
Google: D345zgEACAAJ
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2021-03-31T05:06:23+00:00

THE ETIQUETTE OF THE GUEST HOUSE

The etiquette of the guest house shows clearly the esteem or even veneration in which it is held.

People who attend the guest house must come fully dressed, especially with the head rope ('agāl) and the outer cloak (bishit). They should not speak unless they are spoken to, especially if they are not of a high social status. Jokes and unnecessary laughter must be avoided, and in case of anger and disputes a tribesman must speak clearly and calmly. Anayid Ahl Mhammed, of Ahl ish-Shaikh clan, had constant trouble with his two sons, who used to quarrel frequently. One early morning they quarrelled and so angered their father that he hurried to ask the intervention of the ṣirkal. In his anger he went to the clan guest house without wearing his head rope. When he lodged his complaint he was unable to control himself enough to speak clearly. The ṣirkal listened to him very coldly, and when Anayid finished, he blamed him strongly for attending without a head rope and talking confusedly. Then the ṣirkat added insultingly, 'I thought that one of your old wives had run away with a lover.' Only a man who has been afflicted with great shame, such as the elopement of a wife, may attend a guest house without a proper head-dress, as he never wears it until he 'regains his honour'.

Etiquette is also a clear indication of social standing. Everyone who attends the guest house should sit in the place which corresponds to his social rank. People of high social status, such as is-sāda, Ahl Khayūn and ajawid it-tayfa, sit in the place of honour, which is usually distinguished by carpets and pillows. Social status is shown by the distance at which a tribesman sits from this place of honour, which is in the middle of the guest house by the hearth where coffee is brewed in winter, and near one of the two doorways in the summer.1 The guest house owner can show his respect to an esteemed visitor or to a stranger, by personally leading him or showing him to his proper place, offering him a cigarette, or by ordering tea to be prepared and served to him as well as the usual coffee.

1 The tradition of Ahl Khayūn chiefs is to sit against the third pillar on the right-hand side in summer, and against the seventh in winter.

When entering the guest house and passing the first assembled tribesmen, the newcomer says 'As-salāmu 'alaykum' ('peace be with you'), to which all must answer, 'Wa 'alaykum is-salām' ('And peace may be with you') or with one or more additional sentences according to the status of the newcomer.

The assembled people must show their respect to every newcomer according to his social status. A man must rise to his feet to those who are higher in rank than himself. For instance, all members of the commoner and the slave classes rise to those of the three higher ranks. One of the criteria of social standing of a khayir (good fellow) is ila koma bil muḍif (lit.

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