Interesting facts about “Majlis”
A crucial aspect of Qatari culture is the majlis. This is a place near the house where people gather to talk about important issues.
Meaning
Majlis in the Arab culture means schools, places to learn, place where people sit, a council, or an assembly. This common Arabian Peninsula custom is assembling a group of guests in the Majlis of the host. The Majlis is an integral aspect of social life in that area, representing hospitality and hostility between hosts and guests. It serves as a special forum for debate, the sharing of information and ancestor tales, and celebrations of joyous or tragic occasions within communities.
Setting
Usually a sizable room, it has cushions on the wall and rugs on the floor. Coffee and other hot beverages are often prepared on a stove or fire. The Majlis space is accessible to everyone and can be used by relatives, tribes, and locals from the same neighborhood, as well as those from other distant neighborhoods. Elders in the community, particularly those with vast knowledge of the natural world, genealogy, and tribal history, are regarded as authentic carriers. As they resolve conflicts and define political, social, and religious rights and obligations, judges and religious sheiks play a specific role in the Majlis. Although some well-known women attend other Majlis that are particularly scholarly or literary in nature, women have their own Majlis.
Passing over oral heritage
Majlis is crucial for transmitting oral traditions including poetry, folk music, and folk storytelling. Because Majlis venues are accessible to people of all ages, information is mostly shared informally when youngsters go with community members when they visit. Young individuals pick up community etiquette and ethics, communication and listening skills, and respect for other people’s opinions through watching seniors in the Majlis.
UNESCO world heritage
In the cultures of the Arabian Peninsula, the Majlis tradition has existed for millennia. Although they refer to this legacy in various ways, many nations today place a shared significance on this history of the Arab world. the Majlis in Saudi Arabia, the Diwaniya in Kuwait, the Barza in the United Arab Emirates, al Sabla in Oman, and al Mayles or Majlis in Qatar. An international campaign spearheaded by the final four nations listed above intended to acknowledge the Majlis as a social and cultural place and a heritage to be preserved in light of that shared interest. This recommendation opened the door for the Majlis’ formal UNESCO world heritage listing in 2015.
