Palestinian Folklore: The Story of Zareef al-Toul

Palestinian folklore is a rich tapestry of stories, music, dance, and art that reflects the region's diverse history and cultural heritage. For centuries, Palestinians have used folklore as a means of expressing their identity, preserving their traditions, and transmitting their cultural heritage from one generation to the next. Whether through traditional dress, music and dance performances, or storytelling, Palestinian folklore has served as a powerful tool for resistance, resilience, and self-expression, particularly in the face of political oppression and occupation. Some of the most famous stories surround the character of Zareef al-Toul. (Kanaaneh, 2016; Hilal, 2017; Abu-Eid, 2016 Hamammi, 2018).

Zareef's stories have been passed down through generations of Palestinians and are an important part of Palestinian culture and identity. He is often portrayed as an underdog who uses his cleverness to outsmart more powerful and wealthy individuals. He is a symbol of Palestinian resistance and resilience, and his stories are often used to teach moral lessons and convey important social and political commentaryThe stories that center around Zareef involve his encounters with powerful figures such as the Pasha (Ottoman governor) and the wealthy landowner. In each of these stories, Zareef is able to turn the tables on his more powerful opponents through his quick thinking and sharp wit (El-Tamer & Perkins, 2015; Abu-Eid, 2016).

One of most notorious stories surrounding Zareef al-Toul in Palestinian folklore, involves his attempt to win the hand of a wealthy woman in marriage. The story goes that Zareef fell in love with the daughter of a rich and powerful man, but the father was not willing to let his daughter marry someone from a lower social class. Undeterred, Zareef hatched a plan to win over the father and convince him to give his blessing for the marriage. (El-Tamer & Perkins, 2015; Abu-Eid, 2016).

Zareef knew that the father was a man who loved to show off his wealth and power, so he came up with a plan to appeal to the man's ego. He went to the father and said that he had heard of the man's great wealth and that he wanted to become his servant. The father was pleased to hear this and accepted Zareef as his servant. Over time, Zareef became a trusted and respected member of the household. He worked hard and showed loyalty to the father, and in time, he asked for the daughter's hand in marriage. The father, however, was still not convinced and demanded a large sum of money as a dowry (El-Tamer & Perkins, 2015; Hamammi, 2018).

Zareef accepted the challenge and said that he would bring the dowry within a week. He went away and found a group of merchants who were traveling to a distant land. He convinced them to take a large chest of gold with them and promised to pay them handsomely when they returned. When the merchants returned with the chest of gold, Zareef took the chest and went to the father's house. He presented the chest to the father and said that it was the dowry he had asked for. The father was impressed and immediately agreed to the marriage (El-Tamer & Perkins, 2015; Hilal, 2017).

Zareef had once again used his wit and resourcefulness to achieve his goal and win the woman he loved. The story is often told as an example of Zareef's ability to overcome social and economic barriers through his intelligence and cunning. The character has become a cultural symbol for resistance and embodies the creative and unyielding spirit of the Palestinian (Kanaaneh, 2016; Hilal, 2017).

References:

Abu Eid, M. (2016). Palestinian storytelling and the performance of collective identity. Ethnologies, 38(1-2), 69-87.

El-Tamer, N., & Perkins, C. (2015). The Palestinian Trickster Revisited: A Comparative Study of Folktales from Palestine and Syria. Journal of Arabic Literature, 46(1-2), 176-191.

Hammami, R. (2018). Palestine’s Zarif al-Toul: A Historical and Anthropological Analysis. Folklore, 129(3), 211-229.

Hilal, R. (2017). Palestinian Oral History: Arif al-Toul as a Source of Narratives on the Nakba. Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies, 16(2), 171-186.

Kanaaneh, R. A. (2016). The politics of folklore: Art, contestation, and identity in Palestine. Indiana University Press.