Schuetz

Arabian Desert, 600 AD: A man walks towards the tent of his wife. Long plaited hair swings around his shoulder, and kohl has been smeared on his eyes to protect them from the sun. The sun is harsh, and he is looking forward to the shade of his tent and the company of his wife. But when he reaches the tent, he stops and stares in consternation. The tent has been turned round, so that the entrance faces away from his a clear sign that his wife wants to divorce him. He stares briefly, then turns around and walks away.

Nowadays Bedouin marriage follows Islamic tradition. Marriage is usually arranged, although according to Islam the women should always have the right of refusal. It is considered acceptable for men to have more than one wife, but a woman can only have one husband. A man can divorce his wife by saying I divorce you three time. While a women can divorce her husband, the process is usually a lot longer and more difficult. Before the time of Mohammed, though, things were very different.

Bedouin tribes were often polygamous and not just for men. Women could also take several husbands, but would remain living in her family tent. When a women tired of a husband, she would turn the tent round so that the entrance faced away from her husband. As the parentage of the father was uncertain, wealth was often held and passed down by women.

This habit was contrary to the beliefs and values of Islam, and as the Bedouin converted to Islam the tradition was lost. Nowadays, virtually all Bedouin are Muslims, and the right to multiple spouses belongs to men alone.

Read more about the Bedouin Nomads.

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