In the Middle East, family is at the core of cultural values. Even names are about how we relate to one another within the family. Arabic honorific names are often used in preference to given names. A man, for example, might be called Ibn (“son of”) followed by his father’s name or bint (daughter of) or Abu (“father of”) followed by his child’s name. It’s all about how we connect to one another.
The meaning of family in Arabic culture often goes well beyond the western notion of a nuclear family (mother, father, and children). In traditional Arab societies, the family unit is an extended family — cousins, grandparents, second cousins, cousins-in-law, nieces, nephews, and more — all living together. This is especially true in rural areas.
As the world becomes smaller with the advent of cell phones, international travel, and emigration, the definition of family and cultural identity can blur. Am I an American? I was born here, but that does not adequately describe how I feel about myself. Am I a Syrian? An Arab? A Saydjari? A son of my parent’s village, Jisr al-Shaghur? A descendent of the Banu Munqidh clan from Shayzar? In the end, I am all of these things. However, I must admit that I feel a sentimental pull toward the old world where I have never lived as I age. The internet allows connection to people I have never met and may never see. However, the feeling of family is still strong. We share the same roots, the same name (although it is often spelled differently), the same origins. We are family.