Aspects of the Customs and Traditions of the Middle Maghreb Society During the 7th-8th Centuries AH / 13th-14th Centuries AD1

Abstract

Abstract:

The society in the Middle Maghreb during the 7th-8th centuries AH / 13th-14th centuries AD was not static or unchanging; rather, it evolved in its customs and traditions according to natural, social, and economic laws. Asabiyyah (tribalism or social solidarity) played a decisive role in the social structure and political relations of the states that existed in those lands and their external interactions in the region, especially with the Islamic Maghreb. Additionally, we note that the customs and traditions of Middle Maghreb society were diverse, rich, and varied, reflecting the degree of cultural development and the refined aesthetic and taste sense, particularly in clothing, food, and celebrations. Notably, historical sources provide us with important references to aspects of the customs and traditions of the dhimmi (non-Muslim) communities and how they practiced their ceremonial rituals in an atmosphere of religious and social tolerance, free from all forms of fanaticism and coercion by the Muslim majority, who constituted the majority of the population in those lands at that time.

Keywords: Middle Maghreb; customs; , traditions; festivals; celebrations.