Hospitality in Moroccan fairy tales

In Moroccan fairy tales, hospitality (ḍiyāfa) occupies a central place that goes beyond simple social courtesy. It functions as a fundamental narrative principle through which moral values and social norms are expressed. Based on a corpus of orally transmitted Arabic and Amazigh tales, this article examines the different forms of hospitality, its symbolic representations, and the ways in which it may be diverted or corrupted. Attention is given to hospitality rituals, the language accompanies acts of welcome, and their narrative and semiotic roles within the tales. These narratives frequently oppose the safe and protective home to the cannibal cave, sacred speech to betrayal, and the gift to acts of devouring. In this context, hospitality appears both as a moral trial imposed on characters and as a social contract that structures human relations. The study highlights the ethical and anthropological depth of hospitality in Moroccan folk culture, showing it as a cultural value that promotes dialogue, reciprocity, and recognition of the Other.