Kuwaiti researcher highlights the status of "friendship and neighborliness" in Kuwaiti heritage
Sharjah, September 26 (KUNA) – Kuwaiti researcher Talal Al-Rumaidi stressed on Saturday that friendship and good neighborliness have historically been among the most prominent social values in old Kuwaiti society, contributing to reinforcing a spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and cohesion among community members. This was stated during a lecture delivered by Al-Rumaidi titled “Friendship and Neighborliness in Kuwaiti Heritage,” as part of the 26th edition of the Sharjah International Storytelling Festival, which concluded its activities today under the theme “Stories of Friends.”
Al-Rumaidi noted that the relationship between neighbors in Kuwait in the past was not limited to living in adjacent houses; it extended to sharing in joys and sorrows, and supporting one another during crises and hardships, thereby making the residents of a neighborhood (fereej) closer to a single, cohesive family. He cited accounts from several Kuwaiti historians and researchers, including Sheikh Youssef bin Issa Al-Qanaai and Dr. Yaqoob Al-Ghanim, regarding the Kuwaiti society’s distinctive traits of harmony, affection, and mutual support among neighbors.
He pointed to historical events that embodied these values, such as the “Year of Destruction” in 1934, when community efforts were combined to assist families whose homes were damaged by heavy rains, with neighbors hosting one another. He clarified that Kuwaiti folk heritage is rich with proverbs emphasizing the importance of a good neighbor and careful selection, such as “The neighbor before the house,” “Your neighbor, then your house,” and “Keep company with the happy, and you will be happy,” reflecting the high status of neighborliness in Kuwaiti society.
Al-Rumaidi added that neighbors played a crucial role in caring for a neighbor’s family during his absence on diving, trade, or travel journeys, reflecting the high levels of trust and solidarity that characterized old Kuwaiti society. He called for preserving these values and passing them on to new generations by documenting oral histories, highlighting folk tales and exemplary models, and reinforcing the value of respecting neighbors in educational and media programs. (End) S.K.M. / M.N.F.
