Categorically, marriage is a matrimonial union between two adults; male and female. In the marriage process, there exist myriad stages as well as events that propel individuals to get united. Most communities from the Arabic decent often value the cultural type of marriage. Typically, marriage gets often regarded as a Holly union and once married the partners are not expected to separate or divorce. However, when marital matters are extreme such as alleged promiscuity, divorce gets granted after significant considerations. Partners are often expected to live happily while bearing children who are often an essential aspect of marriage. However from time immemorial, marriages between diverse cultures have proven to possess a significant challenge. Typically, in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has regularly emerged to be at the receiving end of challenges encountered in inter- tribal marriages. The paper endeavors to extrapolate on inter-tribal marriages in Saudi Arabia.
Most importantly, in the current world, there exist diverse types of marriages such as the arranged marriages. Characteristically, arranged marriages connote to a type of marital union, where the supposed groom and the bride are often selected by a third party. The mentioned third party often refers to the individuals’ close relatives such as parents or even grandparents. In arranged marriages, both the bride and the groom are often unaware of the proceeding arrangements made by their respective families or relatives. Unequivocally, in Saudi Arabia, arranged marriages prove to be an elevating system of uniting the bride and the groom. Regarding arranged marriages meetings and negotiations of the spouses in Saudi Arabia are often made by the specific relatives and families. The said relatives are often believed to comprehend the choice for their children. However, marriage between the two partners is often on a free will and individuals are not always coerced into it. Individuals often have the right to follow their heart while making the accurate decisions regarding marriage.
Essentially, arranged Arabian marriages vary in nature coupled with the period that emanates between initial introduction and subsequent engagement. In Saudi Arabia for instance, in the introduction stage, the concerned spouses get introduced to each other and would, therefore, determine whether to proceed with dating. Similarly, the spouses can always decide to terminate the dating and subsequently proceed with their separate lives. Interesting to note, the relatives and families of the mentioned spouses in Saudi Arabia are often available to welcome the decisions of the spouses. Arranged marriages, therefore, do not possess an exact time frame of union. Additionally, in Saudi Arabia, one of the most common types of arranged marriage is the consanguineous marriage. The mentioned is a type of arranged marriage where both the expected groom and the supposed bride often share a near ancestor or even a grandfather. In Saudi Arabia, the suggested marriage has shown that uncles marry their nieces as well as cousins marrying each other. Illustratively, 25-40 percent of the marriages in some parts of Saudi Arabia encompass the consanguineous marriage (Abukhalil n.p.). The highlighted type of marriage is alleged to promote cultural values whilst limiting potential conflict that would arise out of diversity.
In Saudi Arabia, the natives chose not to get married to individuals who were not from their tribe. The mentioned objection was majorly influenced by the elderly and close relatives. The cited individuals relentlessly advised the young natives of Saudi Arabia to marry their cousins or other relatives. The mentioned reason was to enhance the strength of the Arabian tribe. Through the suggested reason, inter-tribal marriages got significantly hampered since they chose to marry their relatives. Additionally, in Saudi Arabia, it was argued that relatives had a common background and therefore regular conflict arising from cultural misunderstanding would get curtailed. For the mentioned reason, the citizens chose not to get involved in intertribal marriages. Categorically, the tribal people of Saudi Arabia were prevalent of the Muslim religion. Therefore to avoid religious conflicts with the non-tribal, the Arabic individuals chose to decline marriage proposals from non-tribal members. In Saudi Arabia, the tribal groups formulated strict rules and regulations that had to get followed to the latter by their populace. The cited regulations prohibited the offspring from engaging with the non-tribal. Moreover, the closed environment that the offspring got brought up significantly barred them from meeting and socializing with the non-tribal (Devlin 367). For the mentioned reason, it was vivid that they chose to reject the marriage proposals of the
non-tribal.
The non-tribal societies in Saudi Arabia such as the Makkah and Madina have significantly considered western education as well as accommodated its lifestyle. The reception of quality education has greatly exposed them to some non-Arabian cultures that assist them on interaction with foreign citizens. Due to the exposure of the non-tribal cultures, the tribal cultures such as the Al Murrah tribes who are mainly nomads regard them as having decayed cultural values. For the mentioned reason, non-tribal individuals had their marriage proposals rejected. Additionally, the mega tribes that involve specific tribe grouping for the purposes of identification alienated tribes that could not conform to their required specifications. The cited alienation majorly affected the tribal societies of Arabia. Through the immeasurable feeling of alienation, the tribal groups categorically rejected marriage proposals from the non-tribal.
Essentially, the tribal grouping of the Saudi Arabia consisted of diversified languages. The mentioned different languages instigated communication barrier. Due to lack of adequate communication and understanding, the tribal clans or rather communities anticipated conflict that would arise upon marriage with the non-tribal. Subsequently, to avoid the cited conflict the tribal relentlessly turned down marriage proposals from the non-tribal. Similarly, in the Saudi Arabia, the tribal clans prevalently rely on the young individuals virtually on every need. Therefore, the old assumed that upon getting married to the non-tribal, they would suffer. To avoid the anticipated suffering, they ensured that their involvement in the marriages issue of their children were paramount. Thus, the old objected marriages to the non-tribal whilst encouraging marriages within the tribal cocoon. Moreover, the non-tribal consisted of individuals who had no deep roots in Islamic culture. In order to get married to the tribal, it necessitated religious conversion of the men to the Muslim religion. Myriad men from the non-tribal found it challenging to denounce their religions and therefore got their marriage proposals rejected by the tribal.
In Saudi Arabia, tribal groupings proved to be less strong. Therefore, they feared domination by the stronger non-tribal groups. In order to avoid the cited alleged dominations, the tribal cultures subsequently denied marriage proposals from the stronger non-tribal. The tribal believed that the non-tribal was taking advantage of their situation. Additionally, tribal cultures in Saudi Arabia did not want their money to flow out of their society. The tribal considered the non-tribal to be greedy and interested in their little wealth. To minimize or rather avoid the alleged greed of the non-tribal, they turned down their marriage proposals.
Nonetheless, the idea of prohibiting inter-cultural marriages in Saudi Arabia is on the verge of extinction. In Saudi Arabia, the rifts between families of different tribal groupings and non-tribal cultures have significantly broadened. The mention rift instigates unprecedented conflicts that would break the region apart. Therefore, in order to control the widening rift and subsequent conflict, inter-tribal marriages have been encouraged. The tribal cultures in the Saudi Arabia lacked adequate exposure to the real world. Therefore, regarding matters of development, they wallowed in poverty compared to the non-tribal who valued decency and education. In order to assist the challenged tribal cultures, it necessitated cultural unity and cooperation. Through a dignified unity and cooperation, inter-tribal marriages have continued to take precedence among the diverse Arabic cultures. Most importantly, marriages among relatives and cousins among the tribal societies have proven to elicit myriad genetic complications. The said genetic complications have consistently limited proper health among the tribal individuals. Tribal groupings being the major lifestyle of the Saudi people; the genetic complications would limit growth due to health issues. In order to curb the rising complications, the people of Saudi Arabia opted to intermingle thereby, encouraging inter-tribal marriages.
Notably, in Saudi Arabia, individuals from both the non-tribal and the tribal groupings who intend to get married have stood up against the prohibition from the tribal. The cited individuals especially men have relentlessly ignored the outlined prohibitions. Through the assumption of the mentioned oppressive norms, intermarriages have been realized among the cultures of the Saudi Arabia. Most importantly the non-Muslim males have continued to convert into the Islamic religion, thereby, encouraging inter-tribal marriages in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the alleged greed and anticipated domination of the tribal by the non-tribal proved to be the reverse. Illustratively, the tribal have significantly benefit from the enormous support they receive from the non-tribal. The mentioned reason has greatly enhanced inter-tribal marriages in the Saudi Arabia.
In conclusion, inter-tribal marriages though got faced with myriad obstructions, have greatly advanced in Saudi Arabia. The cited advancement has promoted mutual understanding coupled with continuous engagements in the aspect of developments. Notably, the obstacles that prevented inter-tribal marriages among tribes of Saudi Arabia got viewed as a measure of keeping a particular tribe free from vices that would arise out of inter-tribal marriages. Nonetheless, inter-tribal marriages have proved to be doing more good than harm as propagated. Also, the diverse cultures have been keenly observed among the intermarried in order to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Typically, arranged marriages in Saudi Arabia ensured that both the groom and bride got ample time to know each other before engagement and further marriage. The mentioned got aimed at fostering mutual understanding while establishing strong family relations between the involved spouses. However, some arranged marriages such as the consanguineous marriage involved the union of individuals who shared a common grandfather. Though practiced, the cited marriage got engulfed with numerous genetic complications. Therefore, in order to avoid the genetic complications that got instigated by the mentioned marriage pattern, inter-tribal marriages got encouraged. Categorically, for unity and growth, inter-tribal marriages are paramount.
Works cited
Abukhalil, As’Ad. The Battle for Saudi Arabia: Royalty, Fundamentalism, and Global Power. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2011. Print.
Devlin, Julia. Challenges of Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Singapore: World Scientific, 2010. Print.
