The Adyghe Khabze or Circassian Khabze, also known as Khabzism, is the worldview and moral code of the Circassian people. Circassian society dictates that a Circassian must always live according to rules defined by the Khabze with little exceptions. Tenets of Khabze include special respect for elders and women, a policy of only marrying those from Circassian culture to protect the endangered culture, and the values of truthfulness, honor and bravery. While rooted in thousands of years of tradition, Khabze is evolving and ever-changing, and is reformed to fit the needs of the Circassian community. This is usually led by a themade (; "regional elder").
Khabze, as a set of laws, includes the norms and moral principles that determine an individual's behaviour. It represents social rules in all areas of life. However, the set of rules and regulations of Khabze are not static, and in the past were not officially defined. Khabze almost ceased to exist in Circassia after the Circassian genocide.
In every community of Circassians around the world, a local advisory council known as the Khase can be found. The goal of such councils are to provide Circassians with a comfortable place where they can speak Circassian, engage in Circassian cultural activities, learn about the laws of Xabze or ask for advice. These advisory councils are coordinated on a local and regional basis, and communicate internationally through the International Circassian Association (ICA). Xabze is sometimes associated with Circassian nationalism.
Etymology
"Khabze" (Хабзэ) is a Circassian compound made up from хы (khy), meaning "vast" or "universe", and бзэ (bze), meaning "language". Thus, its meaning roughly translates to "language of the universe" or "word of the cosmos", perhaps comparable to the concept of Dharma. Over time, the word "Khabze" has come to mean "rule", "custom", and "tradition" in the Circassian language.
Traditions
Khabze is a social and moral code. It is one of the oldest products of Circassian history, dating back to at least 3000 BC. The simplest sanction that can be applied to those who act against Khabze is to exclude them from society. Excluding someone from society, not attending their funeral or wedding, and completely ignoring their existence is a tiring punishment, and for this reason Circassians follow the Khabze traditions, to avoid this sanction.
The past and the present are tied to each other with many threads, ranging from biological and genealogical phenomena in the nature of men and ending with social, cultural, moral, and religious aspects. Everything that is created by the human mind, by his intellect and his hands, is the element of history and national originality. In this are included the dress and means of production, household utensils, the means of running a household and even selecting the famous Kabarda horse (, Adygesh), and national holidays.
Adyghe Khabze is also about refraining from deceiving others. It despises interfering in the affairs of other people. It discourages subservience and genuflection to those who are powerful. Adyghe Khabze encourages respecting the opinions of others, understanding their situation, helping and protecting the weak, doing good deeds, standing up for the degraded and insulted and living by honest work. The goal of a person practicing Khabze is to live as honorably as possible. In Circassian society, the individual who behaves in accordance with Khabze becomes respected in society, and is also consulted at social events. Knowing and practicing Xabze well is very important to Circassians.
One Circassian tradition requires individuals to stand up when someone enters the room, provide a place for the person entering and allow the newcomer to speak before everyone else during the conversation. In the presence of elders and women, respectful conversation and conduct are essential. Women are especially respected, and disputes are stopped in the presence of women so as to not disturb them. A woman can demand disputing families or people to reconcile and they must obey her request.