The Three-Day Guest Law: The Bedouins
By: Meral Abu-Jaser/Arab America Contributing Writer
Have you ever heard about the three-day guest law culturally practiced by the Bedouins? If not, then you are in the right place as this article will introduce you to Bedouin’s three-day guest law. Bedouin, an ethnic group who’s referred to as “Bedu” originally inhabited the Arabian Peninsula. For centuries, the Bedouins lived in the deserts of Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Despite the diverse countries, all Bedouins share the same culture, traditions, and lifestyle. With that in mind, let us expand more on the aspects of the three-day guest law. In the next few paragraphs, you will have a solid understanding of their guest law, what it is like to visit a Bedouin tent and which countries practice the three-day guest law.
Generally speaking, hospitality in the Arab world is the principle of kindness and generosity. Yet, the Bedouins take hospitality to a much deeper level with their three-day guest law. Once a guest arrives at a Bedouin home, they are allowed to stay or can just pass by. For Bedouins, hospitality is not limited to how well you treated your guest, but to helping their trip become easier. If a guest decides to stay, they cannot be questioned for three days. After three days passed, the Bedouins could ask their guests questions. The hospitality law is significantly strict that it is disrespectful to question a guest! In reality, this might sound uncomfortable, but this is not the case for Bedouins. Actually, the Bedouine express joy while they care for and serve their guests in their own homes.
Indeed, during the three-day guest law, Bedouins take care of their guests as though they are family. Thus, upon the guest’s arrival, their hands would be washed clean with rose water. Afterward, Arabic coffee would be served with dates as a sweetener because traditional Arabic coffee is plain, meaning it is sugarless. Guests would be welcome to stay as much as they want. In essence, food, shelter, and any service the guest may need are offered. That’s not all, guests would be given clothing to wear and sometimes they get lucky enough to have fresh food. Moreover, Bedouins mostly have farms where they produce all their food and vegetables. If they have enough food after serving you for three days, they will most likely even share their farm produce.
Which Arab Countries Practice the Three-Day Law
This form of hospitality did not spread to all Arab countries. That said, not many Arabs practice this law. However, modern areas in Arab countries have the culture today passed to them as traditional and cultural. For instance, countries such as the Emirates, specifically Dubai, practice the three-day law. Thus, if you go to Dubai, you can go to someone’s house and they would greet you as if you were family. Qatar and Bahrain are other Gulf countries that go by the three-day law principle. Additionally, levant Arab countries also practice three-day law. For example, some areas in Jordan still have traditional running. Yet not many are familiar with this method of hospitality.
As has been noted, the three-day guest law is a culture that the Bedouins live by. With hospitality being a crucial part of the Bedouin culture, guests are welcomed and treated like family. Therefore, generosity and kindness are the known traits of Bedouins. By all means, Bedouins maintain their happiness when they make their guests feel as if they are home, happy, and comfortable. A fun fact is that some Bedouins would start their day by making coffee just in case a guest would pass by! Thus, to this very day, the Bedouin culture would be passed for centuries between Arab countries.
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