Al-Rumaidhi highlights the status of "friendship and neighborliness" in Kuwaiti heritage - Sarmad
(KUNA) – Kuwaiti researcher Talal Al-Rumaidhi affirmed on Saturday that friendship and good neighborliness have historically been among the most prominent social values in traditional Kuwaiti society, contributing to the consolidation of solidarity, cooperation, and cohesion among community members.
This came during a lecture delivered by Al-Rumaidhi 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-Rumaidhi stated that the relationship between neighbors in old Kuwait 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 Yusuf bin Issa Al-Qana’i and Dr. Yaqoub 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 residents pooled their efforts to assist families whose homes were damaged by heavy rains, with neighbors hosting one another.
He noted that Kuwaiti folk heritage is rich with proverbs underscoring the importance of a good neighbor and careful selection thereof, such as “The neighbor before the house,” “Your neighbor, then your house,” and “Associate with the happy, and you will be happy,” reflecting the high status of neighborliness in Kuwaiti society.
He 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 traditional Kuwaiti society.
Al-Rumaidhi called for preserving these values and passing them on to new generations by documenting oral histories, highlighting heritage stories and examples, and reinforcing the value of respecting neighbors in educational and media programs.
