Bedouins
Today
The Bedouin usually form the poorest social group
in the lands they live in, but they are proud of their
superior way of life, and see themselves as the most
noble class in Arab society. Once dominant, they are
now marginalized and often scornfully regarded as
primitive. This is often joined by a paradoxical admiration
of the noble Bedouin virtues as the model of the pure
Arabic-Islamic culture.
The rapid pace of economic change since the middle
of the 20th century eroded the traditional foundations
of Bedouin economy, forcing them to seek employment
in the towns and oil industries to supplement their
incomes
In the early 20th century, migrating Bedouin
make up only an average 1 percent of the total Arab
population as compared to 10 percent in the 1960s.
However, the recently settled Bedouin still cling
to their separate identity and tribal loyalty. They
are still organized in tribes of various sizes.
The older ones tend to be illiterate, but most of
the younger generation have had access to public
education and can read and write
Religion
Ancient Bedouin religion was animistic, and they
worshipped the spirits of trees, fountains and sacred
stones. Later they worshipped many gods of whom
the most important were Manat, ‘Uzza , Allat,
Baal,Sin and Ishtar.
In the
pre-Islamic age , most Arabian Bedouin tribes
were pagan. Some had converted to Judaism and others
to Christianity. With the rise of Islam most accepted
the new religion and became converts. Islam became
the basis of Bedouin social and religious life,
although many pre-Islamic beliefs and customs were
retained.
