The white reconciliation as a prevention of blood feuds

The white reconciliation as a prevention of blood feuds

Lamees Al-Rida – Daraa

The term “Houran” is used to refer to the region that extends from southern Syria to northern Jordan, with the city of Daraa historically considered its capital. Daraa is renowned for its ancient Omar Mosque, where the peaceful movement began, as well as its archaeological Basilica and castle.

Daraa is known for its cohesive tribal and familial structure, possessing its own tribal distinctiveness. The tribe consists of diverse families in terms of size, number of members, distribution, and affiliation. Each tribe is composed of sections known as “Afakh” of the tribe, and these families ultimately converge at the seventh grandfather to form a tribal unit. Houran has preserved this social structure over a long period.

Customs, traditions, and practices have become the judicial and social authority in the absence of state institutions, gaining more prominence during the war. The popular heritage in Houran includes inherited customs and diverse manners acquired from ancestors, among which is known as “Al-Sulh Al-Abyad” or the white reconciliation.

The peaceful movement in Syria, and the significant transformations it brought to the relationship between the state and society, including the role of the elders who departed from their usual roles to lead the popular movement in Daraa. This included the pursuit of reconciliation, known as the white reconciliation.

The white reconciliation is a tribal reconciliation and judgment that resolves conflicts between warring parties through the arbitration of tribal figures and elders. It addresses disputes and revenge conflicts in Houran through forgiveness, tolerance, and compensation for the affected parties, both materially and morally.

This reconciliation is the counterpart to revenge, known as an act of retribution and a tribal legacy without resorting to legislation or formal judgments.

It was once said, “Blood seeks blood,” representing the logic of revenge. This social custom still governs many Arab societies, entailing criminality and killing. Revenge, with its associated concepts of honor, often cloaked in justifications, deepens its destructive tendency in society. Revenge is a structural flaw at both the individual and societal levels.

For a long time, blood has been shed unjustly. Therefore, tribal leaders and reconciliation authorities have sought to resolve significant disputes, aiming to prevent bloodshed and maintain kinship and goodwill through the establishment of reconciliation councils. These councils, which are tribal reconciliations, decide on terms based on tribal laws and customs, adhered to by all parties involved. The process begins with the recitation of Quranic verses promoting reconciliation and resorting to God’s law, such as the verse in Surah Ash-Shura: “But if someone patiently endures and forgives, it is most certainly an affair requiring strong determination.” (42:43).

White reconciliation eliminates animosity from the beginning, and this custom is not exclusive to Houran but is applied in many regions with tribal characteristics. It is an effective means to move towards a cohesive society devoid of violence, governed by forgiveness, tolerance, and peace.