The Bedouin are nomadic Arabs who live by herding sheep, goats and camels, in the deserts of the Middle East. Originally they come from the Arabic peninsula. In the 7th century they travelled over North Africa, all the way to Spain, and east to Iran and Asia, taking Islam with them.

The word 'Bedouin' is the western version of the Arabic word 'Badawyin', which means "inhabitants of the desert", the Badiya.

The Islam is a world religion with more than 1 billion members. The Islam is the biggest religion of Egypt and most Bedouin are Muslim.

Religion was always strongly present with the nomadic people of the Middle East. Out their midst Judaism, Christianity and Islam were born.

Hospitality is the greatest good of the Bedouin and a major rule of life in the desert.

After arrival in a Bedouin camp, a carpet will be spread for the guests and sweet tea will be served in small glasses. Every guest, even a member of a hostile tribe, can count on three days of shelter, care and protection. After these three days, the guest can leave in peace. Complex and strict rules, which are obeyed by every Bedouin, make this hospitality something unmatched.
For honorable guests, the Bedouin can make a special meat meal, although it might be a loss for the herd.

The main ingredient of the hospitality is the making and serving of coffee. The making of coffee expresses the hosts concern and interest for his guests. The beans are roasted and grinded. Together with cardamom, they are put in a coffeepot with some water. This mixture is being boiled three times, where after it is left to settle for a couple of minutes. The Bedouin have made the making of coffee into an art.

The utensils used for making the tea have changed during time. The first copper pots were replaced by enamel ones, except for coffee. The original way of making it, and other utensils stayed the same.

When the Bedouin offer you coffee, enjoy the old tradition and the respect that's been shown.

The women have, because of the work of the women and the long hours alone in the desert herding the goats, a strong equality towards men. Their safety is protected by strict behavioral rules. This does not limit them to have male friends.

This means also that most marriages are based on ‘love’ rather than on arrangements.
Girls have just as much rights of inheritance than boys. This a way to save the families assets.

Men can have four women in Islam. This custom is almost disappeared. Bedouin men almost never have more than one woman. It is easy for them to get divorced, what happens often. For the women it is harder to get divorced, but nothing stands in their way to remarry.

Types of Arabic

There are three types of Arabic

1. Classic written Arabic

Mainly found in the Qur'an and the first writings of the Arabic peninsula.

2. Written Modern Standard Arabic

A modern form of the structures of the Classic written Arabic. This language is enriched with words of the different dialects spoken in the Arabic world.

3. Spoken Arabic

A mixed form of Arabic, with many variations and often influenced by local (non-Arabic) languages. The differences in these Arabic languages can be very big. That big, that people might not be able to understand each other. It is therefore understandable that we name them as being separate languages, like Moroccan or Egyptian Arabic.

In the Arabic world exists a phenomenon that's calloed diglossy. This means that there can exist two varieties of the same language next to each other; a 'high' variety for official occasions, and a 'low' variety, as spoken language for daily use. In the Arabic world we call this Modern Standard Arabic and the local dialect.

The letters

Arabic is based on an alphabet, with different symbols. The language developed itself from Nabatean, a West-Aramaic language in the old Middle East. It consist fo 28 symbols, but some dialects can add extra letters. The language is based on strict grammar.

Calligraphy

Calligraphy is very important in Islam; many know limits on religious grounds with regards to images, and calligraphy is an alternative for decorations.

Semitic languages

Aramaic is a West-Semitic language that is only spoken in some small villages; Aramaic Christians and immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. The language can also be found in the USA and Israel.

Both languages are written and read from right to left.

Holy Language

Arabic also has a religious dimension. It is the only language, according to Muslims, in which the Qur'an can fully be understood. Every translation will diminish the meaning and quality of the revelations.