By David Livermore, PhD, Cultural Intelligence Center
For many Westerners, the Arab cluster feels less familiar than any other cluster. We see images on the news that portray facts about Arab culture filled with conflict and unrest, but how accurate is that portrayal?
This is the third article in our series on Arab culture. You can read the previous articles here:
Understanding Arab Culture—Islam and the Five Pillars of Faith
Life in the Arab Cluster—What Does it Mean to Be An Arab?
Getting Beyond the Stereotypes
When it comes to facts about Arab culture, it’s worth getting beyond the stereotypes. We can start by looking at a few key contrasts between the Arab world and the so-called Western perspective, which could include Anglo, Germanic, and Nordic. Perhaps it’s best to demonstrate the contrast between the Arab and Western perspectives through a quick true-or-false quiz.
True or false? It is not uncommon for Arab men to walk hand in hand in public. It is purely a sign of friendship. What do you think? It’s true, despite a strong masculine orientation among men in this cluster, they’re often very expressive in their touch with each other.
This is a transcript from the video series Customs of the World: Using Cultural Intelligence to Adapt, Wherever You Are. Watch it now, Wondrium.
True or false? Before commencing a business meeting in the Middle East, it is customary to engage in some initial small talk. This helps create a more relaxed and familiar environment in which to conduct business. This is true. There’s a high priority on being in relationship-building across the cluster.
One more. True or false? Arab businesspeople emphasize written agreements; a written legal contract is binding. What do you think? This one is false. In the Arab cluster, the spoken word has much more weight than written agreements. An agreement is only final when both parties have parted. Until then it’s open to negotiation, even if the contract has already been signed.
Learn more about how virtually every aspect of our lives is shaped by culture
The Left Hand in the Arab World
Left-handed people have a bit harder time traveling throughout the Arab world than right-handed people do. If at all possible, you want to avoid touching anyone or anything with your left hand when you’re interacting in or traveling through the Arab cluster and region. If needed it’s permissible to accept something with both hands, but never with just the left hand alone. This custom is true in some other places around the world, too, including certain places in Africa and Asia, but it’s a rule to be conscious of when traveling in the Middle East.
This is one of those small things, but a little effort to account for this custom will go a long way when encountering people from the Arab cluster. According to Islam, the left hand is considered unclean and it’s reserved for personal hygiene. Arabs traditionally use the right hand for all public functions, including shaking hands, eating, drinking, and passing objects to another person. Traditionally, parents try to teach their children to be right-handed, regardless of their natural dexterity. The left hand is used to clean yourself in the bathroom.
Learn more about how to enhance your own cultural intelligence
The Role of Men in Arab Families
The family model is very patriarchal and hierarchical. The fathers and elder men are the ones who dominate the family. For an Arab, the larger the family the better; large families are believed to provide economic benefits, particularly given the possibility that a son will care for his parents in their elder years. Large families provide the father with the prestige of virility.
For an Arab, your family is the most important part of your identity, next is your clan or tribe, and only after that comes your national identity.
As you might imagine male offspring are the favored children since a son is expected to care for his parents in their advanced age, whereas a daughter becomes part of the son-in-law’s family. Also, a son can bring a family honor, whereas a daughter can only bring her family shame. For an Arab, your family is the most important part of your identity, next is your clan or tribe, and only after that comes your national identity. It’s striking how little nationalism plays a role in the identity of many Arabs.
The Koran and Religious Extremists
The Quran (/kɔːrˈɑːn/kor-AHN; Arabic: القرآن al-Qurʾān, literally meaning “the recitation”; also romanized Qur’an or Koran) is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God (Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. – Wikipedia
It’s important to note that the extremist actions of al-Qaeda and other fundamentalist groups should not be equated with what the Koran teaches or the dominant beliefs of most Muslims. It’s unfortunate that the Muslim faith has been co-opted by some to fuel extremist terrorist acts. Christians, too, have to acknowledge that the same thing has happened in the name of Christianity. Koran-burning evangelical pastors believe that they are acting on behalf of the Bible and Christianity, but they’re not representative of most Christians. These extreme expressions should not be used as the predominant caricatures of Islam or Christianity.
Learn more about the contrast between individualist and collectivist societies
Tips for When Visiting the Arab Cluster
Once again, let’s conclude with a few do’s and taboos. If you travel to this part of the world or interact with someone from the Arab cluster, by all means, respect the cultural norms regarding men and women. You don’t have to agree with them, but be respectful. Women will often socialize in rooms separate from men. Avoid extended eye contact with the opposite sex or shaking hands unless they initiate it. Keep in mind that most Muslims won’t eat pork or drink alcohol, and they’ll only eat food prepared following the teachings of the Koran, halal food. Avoid using your left hand.
Do travel to this part of the world. Talk to the locals. Learn and discover this ancient culture, roam around the market or souq, and soak in the ancient civilization. Enjoy the contrast between this part of the world and almost any other part you’ll ever experience.
Common Questions About Arab Culture Facts
Some facts about Arab culture are that it is heavily based on the Qur’ān and a shared belief in Islam as a way of life. Arab culture is conservative, religious, and very traditional.
Although the Qur’ān does not expressly prohibit or allow smoking, in Arab culture, there are prescriptions not to do oneself harm and thus legal pronouncements based on health have been made in recent years to curb smoking.
Alcohol is widely used in Arab culture to some moderation. It is haraam (forbidden), but only in the most extremely conservative countries does that make it banned from sale and use.
Arab culture is widely spread across the world. The primary location of Arab culture is in what is now called the Middle East but stretches from Mauritania all across southwestern Iran, the Atlantic coast of Africa, much of north and northeast Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula.
