Arabic Culture and The Duel

[twilight2000]

Another one folks. Looking to find out if in Arabic culture there is (or was at any time, my characters are long lived) anything resembling the duel and if so, what it's called, how the challenge is made and what the rules (and timeline for popular use) were. If it matters, my Arabic characters are from Northern Africa, Morocco to be specific

Comments

[caz_in_a_teacup]

Nevertheless, there is an extensive literature about honour in Africa, but it concerns North Africa as part of a broad Mediterranean culture area extending perhaps further eastwards into the Islamic world. These anthropological studies of Mediterranean honour took the Sahara as their southern border.

Not sure how useful this is. If you could lay your hands on a copy of the full book, it might have something useful. The index has quite a few references to duelling.

Otherwise, I can't think where to look.

[twilight2000]

I'll have to see if I can find the book ;> Thanks!

[rickmangled]

though I'm not an expert by a long shot, dueling seems like an un-muslim thing. (But I'm not sure about North African traditions, which might have wigglged their way into Muslim culture, and I'm sure it depends on the time-frame.) There's eye-for-an-eye style kin-group rivalry killings, but afaik Muhammad encouraged groups to accept 'blood money' reparitions instead of perpetuating the "Hatfields-McCoys" revenge killing cycle. I'm assuming that would show up in the hadith ('traditions' -- edifying things Muhammad is remembered saying/doing.) a search for "hadith+dueling" gets me nothing though. Different words

[twilight2000]

This Champion thing might just work -- it'd be a little bit of a stretch, but given the excessive age of the characters and the warlike behaviour of the participants, it just might do...

Thanks!

[nicked_metal]

Nothing for you this time :(

Sounds like you need to find yourself an Arabian culture expert. Or a forum that discusses Arabian culture.

[twilight2000]

I'm beginning to think you're right :> Off to the local University I go ;>. Thanks!

[nicked_metal]

Being thanked by you is a really nice feeling. Thanks :D

[faeriesluver9]

if by arabic you can mean pre islamic [ there sort of was, but it was on a more tribal basis than individual. There was major interclan warfare and bloodfeuds. Basically, if warrior of clan A killed warrior of clan b, another warrior of clan b would go after another warrior of clan a, and the cycle would continue. I don't know specifics, but i do know there was a definite pattern of chivalry about this. Silly world history overview textbook doesn't believe in specifics, apparantly. This sort of behavior Muhammad tried to end, and it was mostly all over by the first great Islamic empire- the umayyad empire.

They definitly had champions within this whole revenge thing, and the one with the most champions had the last champion standing, so they were the big winners.

Most of this was over water and pasture.

[twilight2000]

Hmmm, intresting. Since the two characters involved are 800 and 2000+ years old, the older one could use pre-Islamic reasoning -- the younger one might just because of who he's talking too...

I'm leaning toward the Champion idea -- and clearly, as nicked_metal suggests, a visit with an Arabic Cultural Historian is in order...

That should be something of an adventure all unto itself ;>.

LOVE your icon, btw!

[nicked_metal]

Islam is only around 500 years old, AFAIK

[twilight2000]

Hmm -- closer to 1400 years old I think -- Didn't Mohammad found Islam in 622 A.D.?

http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/timeline.htm