Running head: ARABIC CULTURE 1
Arabic Culture
Student's Name
Institutional Affiliation
ARABIC CULTURE 2
Arabic Culture
Introduction.
This paper analyses the Arabic culture of the Middle East countries in terms of their
family structure, values, and religious context. The article looks at the system of the Arab family
and cultural values exhibited in the extended family and their social obligations. This paper gives
insights into the attitudes, beliefs as well as stereotypes encompassing the Arab world. For
example, the family is the dominant social institution that defines religion, Identifies social status
and classes, Sexuality as a discipline is a rare topic in the Arabic world, and stereotypes of the
Muslim Arabs being perceived as violent. In addition, the paper provides information on the
Arabic customs, the Islamic religion whose place of worship is the mosque. The societal
perceptions that have posed challenges to Arabic people at international levels and historical
events have significantly led to the current state of the Arabic world.
Key Things Learnt
Arabic culture is one of the Middle Eastern cultures among the Middle East people,
including the Lebanese, Moroccans, and Palestine. Twenty-two countries are speaking Arabic,
with 414.5 million people (Greer, 2021). Arab culture, values, and religion are immensely based
as guided by the environment, and religion is one of the distinct aspects of the Arab. They are a
heterogeneous group that is characterized as being multiracial, multiethnic as well as
multicultural.
In Armenian families, respect for elders is highly valued, as traced back to the Islamic
faith. The Surat al-Isra of the Quran reminds Muslims to speak politely to the elders while giving
them the utmost respect. The elders provide the necessary information concerning families, such
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as issues dealing with childbirth and childbearing. Privacy as a cultural value is a priority. In
Iran's Arabic culture, a person's life is predominantly dominated by extended and nucleated
family relationships. Thus, members rely on family connections to secure power and influencing
social security (Marriage and Family Encyclopedia, n.d). Sexuality as a discipline is a rare topic
in the Arabic world; therefore, there is no condoning sexual inappropriateness such as
homosexuality. Open and direct kind of communication is regarded as rudeness and destroys
good relationships. The extended Lebanese family helps in support of childbearing, medical
emergencies, and financial resources. The traditional pre-Islamic culture that dominated the
Arabic world also encourages endogamy. The marriage of cousins in the same lineage remains a
norm to indicate that the family and the tribe are the basis of the community instead of
individuals (Marriage and Family Encyclopedia, n.d). Therefore, the kind of economic and blood
kinship needed to continue the tribe lies primarily on the close kin marriage. The follower of the
religion is referred as Muslims and are about 1.3 billion worldwide. The Arabs Muslims account
for 12% of the total while Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims while Saudi Arabia
and Egypt account for the most Arabic populated countries.
Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values.
Arab culture has a strong attitude and foundation on the family as the dominant social
institution that defines religion, Identifies social status and classes. The family is patriarchal and
follows a hierarchical order concerning age and sex. The communication follows such a
hierarchical style and what befalls one member of the family, bringing forth shame or honor in
the family (Marriage and Family Encyclopedia, n.d.). Arabic culture discourages public talking
of personal matters outside the family congregation and discusses one's relatives negatively.
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Group Self-perceptions and Issues Related to Stereotyping
Women are viewed by the westerners as oppressed by men and the whole society which
the male dominates. The dressing of the hijab is seen as an exploitation of women. However, this
is not true since the dressing has a religious significance. In contrast, most Arab women work
outside their homes, and sometimes others engage in business deals wither husbands
(McGoldrick et al., 2005). The Muslim Arabs are perceived as violent since Islam as a religion is
viewed as a violent religion through its teachings of Jihad, which is misunderstood. Such makes
the rest of the non-Muslim people believe that all Arabs are violent and like causing social
disorders for their religion, which is not the case.
Customs, Practices, Behaviors
The traditions of the Arab cultures value the succinct of marriage as it is the basis of
family stability. Marriage(nikah) is sacred and religious. The Hanafi laws only allow the man to
marry a non-Muslim woman but prohibits the woman from being married by a non-Muslim man.
Allows a man to marry up to four women. The father is the head of the family who has dominant
authority in the family, while in the extended family, the authority is given to the oldest male
(McGoldrick et al., 2005). Women take care of the domestic responsibilities in their husbands'
homes and are expected not to open any public disagreement with their husbands. Therefore,
they must always be submissive. In case of a misunderstanding with the husband, children and
in-laws come in to solve the matter. Children look at their parents as role models and learn their
roles according to their gender. Girls are taught the female qualities and how to manage the
house, as boys are taught their duties as men who take care of their female counterparts and the
entire family. The children stay with their parents till when they get married (McGoldrick et al.,
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2005). The Arabs are hospitable people; there is an Arabic saying that generosity helps conceal
several shortcomings. The females do not speak until the visitor introduces themselves. Some of
the eating table etiquettes include decline first when offered a snack, never refuse a drink, refusal
to break bread is seen as an insult, and one should eat and drink using the right hand.
Spirituality/Religion
Most of the Arab world countries embrace Islamic religion whose place of worship is the
mosque. The term Islam in Arabic means submission to Allah's will and obedience to his laws.
Allah' who is an immortal God in Islam, is strictly one God. Thus Islam has a monotheistic
religion. God used Muhammed as His prophet to teach and provide a Godly example to his
people. Hence Muhammed is respected in the Islam religion (NO, 2006). Imam is the religious
leader; Sharia is the Islamic law, while SUNNI and SHI'A represent the main branches of Islam.
The Islam religion is based on the core five pillars of faith, namely. SHAHADAH means
declaration of faith to serve and obey God, SALEH means prayer five times a day, ZAKAH
means almsgiving, SAWM means fasting, and HAJJ means visiting or pilgrimage to Mecca.
Societal Perceptions, Opportunities, and Barriers in the U.S. and Internationally
Most Arab who get the opportunity to go to the USA for studies face extremists of
Muslims challenges. The societal perception of Jihadist Muslims who target to kill citizens for
the sake of defending religion, political and social, sees Islam as a violent religion. Therefore,
most Muslims in the USA and internationally get discriminated against on such a basis (Pew
Research Center, 2017). For instance, research done in the United States found out that the
majority of the Republicans perceive Muslims in the U.S. to be Anti- American. The perception
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perceives Islam to lack democracy as its teachings gender and Sexuality are not consistent with
democracy.
Key Historical Events and Figures Impacting the Culture
The cultural characteristics of the Arab culture and religion are significantly impacted by
the historical events between the 7th and 10th centuries. The event saw a considerable rise and
spread of Islam religion. During this period, the spread of Islam by Prophet Muhammed led to
the spread of the Arabic language and civilization. The Arab world remained under the control of
the Ottoman Empire for four centuries till after the second world war where the Arabic states
adopted new forms of governance from their European colonials (McGoldrick et al., 2005).
However, Arabic cultures were preserved while adopting European ideas. Further creation of
Israel as a state led to the falling of old regimes of the Arab states through a political reaction in
1948. The 1991 Gulf War conflicts between the Arabs separate them further from the West,
while the bombing of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in 2001 and the invasion of
Iraq have welcomed a low period in History between the Arabs and the Arab Americans.
Key Things Learned Through Internet/Media
The Arabi house is designed and partitioned to hold male visitors and female guests
separately. Thus, a guest cannot see and meet family members they do not intend to meet. The
culture does not allow a female member to greet the man with a left hand. The female further
does not shake hands, not until she offers her first hand for greetings. As a guest, one is not
supposed to ask about the whereabouts of the Arab man's wife, daughters, or sisters. The culture
further directs one to stand up once higher rank or elderly members enter the same room.
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Some of the countries in the Arabic world have changed the marriage doctrines, such as
the number of women a man can marry. For instance, Tunisia has forbidden polygamy while in
Lebanon and Morocco. The wife insists on the premarital clause to divorce her husband if he
decides to marry the second wife. Since most marriages are family-arranged from the extended
family, divorce occurs during the engagement period or after two years of marriage (McGoldrick
et al., 2005). The primary Sacred scripture of Islam is the Quran given to prophet Muhammed by
Allah, whose Old Testament advocate for revenge which is the most vital cultural aspect in the
Arabic world. The Arab-Israel war of 1960 led to the defeat of Syria, Egypt, and Jordan. This
situation geared disunity and halted the goal of Arab countries of independence from
superpowers and social reforms of equality.
Surprises
Women take care of the domestic responsibilities in their husbands' homes and are
expected not to open any public disagreement with their husbands. Therefore they must
always be submissive. In case of a misunderstanding with the husband, children and in-
laws come in to solve the matter.
The females do not speak until the visitor introduces themself.
The female further does not shake hands, not until she offers her first hand for greetings.
As a guest, one is not supposed to ask about the whereabouts of the Arab man's wife,
daughters, or sisters.
Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims
Impact on Expectations
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The research on the internet has shed light on how I should take my immersion activities
once in the Arab world. I will be expected to learn the Arabic language to help me get the
necessary assistance on the activities I will be undertaking. I have learned some essential
customs that will help in my interactions. Most notably, I have to employ common sense in
social meetings not to offend my respondents. In my immersion plans, I have to start practicing
the eating table etiquette of declining first and accepting the offers to make my host feel offended
if I accept without first refusing. My immersion questions will not include questions on Sexuality
since it's not a subject of discussion in the Arab world. To my respondents, I have to start
selecting the choices of words to use that are gender-sensitive since the Arab world is male-
dominated.
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References
Greer, G. (2021, May 30). Arab culture: A quick guide to Arab traditions and habits.
Retrieved July 11, 2021, from https://kaleela.com/arab-culture-a-quick-guide-to-arab-
culture-and-traditions/
Marriage and Family Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Ethnic variation/Ethnicity. Retrieved July 11, 2021,
from https://family.jrank.org/pages/464/Ethnic-Variation-Ethnicity-Middle-Eastern-
Families.html
McGoldrick, M., Giordano, J., & Garcia-Preto, N. (Eds.). (2005). Ethnicity and family therapy.
Guilford Press.
NO, T. D. H. (2006). Arab Cultural Awareness: 58 Factsheets.
