SouthWest Asia Culture

SAUDI ARABIA
The cultural setting of Saudi
Arabia is Arab and Islam, and is deeply
religious, conservative, traditional, and family
oriented. Many attitudes and traditions are
centuries-old, derived from Arab civilization.
However, its culture has also been affected by
rapid change, as the country was transformed
from an impoverished nomadic society into a
rich commodity producer in just a few years in
the 1970s.

The Wahhabi Islamic movement, which arose
in the 18th century and is sometimes described
as austerely puritanical, now predominates in the
country.
Following the principle of "enjoining good and
forbidding wrong", there are many limitations on
behaviour and dress are strictly enforced both
legally and socially, often more so then in other
Muslim countries. Alcoholic beverages are
prohibited, for example, and there is no theatre
or public exhibition of films.

Daily life is dominated by Islamic
observance. Five times each day, Muslims are
called to prayer from the minarets of mosques
scattered throughout the country. Because
Friday is the holiest day for Muslims, the
weekend is Friday-Saturday. In accordance
with Wahhabi doctrine, only two religious
holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, were
publicly recognized, until 2006 when a non-
religious holiday, the 23 September national
holiday (which commemorates the unification
of the kingdom) was reintroduced in 2006.

Bedouin
The original inhabitants of the area that is
now Saudi were desert nomads known
as Bedouin. They remain a significant and very
influential minority of the indigenous Saudi
population, though many who call themselves
"bedou" no longer engage in "traditional tribal
activities of herding sheep and riding camels.

Greetings
- Have been called "formal and proscribed" and
lengthy. Saudis (men) tend "to take their time and
converse for a bit when meeting". Inquiries
"about health and family" are customary, but
never about a man's wife, as this "is considered
disrespectful." Saudi men are known for the
physical affection they express towards total
strangers (i.e. Saudi male strangers), thought by
some to be a continuation of the desert tradition
of offering strangers hospitality to ensure their
survival.

Clothing
Saudi Arabian women are required,
according to Islamic Law, to cover
their bodies in “abaya” (black robes
and face coverings) as a sign of
respect for Muslim
modesty laws.

Saudi men and boys,
whatever their job or social
status, wear the traditional
dress called
a thobe or thawb, which
has been called the
"Wahhabi national dress".
Headress pattern might
be an indicator of which
tribe , clan or family the
wearer comes from.

Socializing
Traditionally social life in the kingdom has
revolved around the home and family. Saudis
regularly visit family members, particularly
those of an older generation. For women,
most of whom have domestic servants and no
job, it is routine (in fact the only outside
activity) to pay visits to each other during the
day, though the ban on women driving can
make transportation a problem.

For men, traditional hours involve a nap in late
afternoon, (after work if they are employed), and then
socializing that begins after maghrib (roughly between
5 and 6:30 pm) and can last until well after midnight.
Men gather in groups (known as shillas or majmu'as) of
close friends of similar age, background, and
occupation. Men typically relax, gossip, and joke while
smoking shisha and playing balot (a card game), and
have a meal around midnight before returning home.
The groups may meet in diwaniyyas in each other's
homes or a residence rented for the occasion.

Families
Large, extended families live together, and
nepotism is encouraged.
Saudis tend to prefer to do business with,
socialize with, and communicate with family
members rather than outsiders, be they
foreigners, or Saudis from other clans.

Marriage
Families arrange marriages with the tribe or
family's considerations in mind, rather than
Western/modern ideas of romantic love and self-
identity. Sons and daughters have been encouraged to
"marry cousins or other relatives in order to increase
and strengthen" the extended family or tribe, "or
occasionally to marry into another tribe in order to
heal rifts”.
Traditionally men having more than one wife
(polygyny) was "fairly common", but marriage has
become increasingly monogamous as income has
declined and western ideas of mutual compatibility
between husband and wife have taken hold.

Divorce
Saudi Arabia allows the traditional practice
of "triple talaq" (divorce), where a man can
divorce his wife simply by saying ‘I divorce
you’ (talaq) three times.
He can rescind the divorce if this was done
in the heat of the moment, but only if the wife
agrees (and only on three occasions).

LGBT Sexuality
Saudi is one of ten countries where homosexuality
is punishable by death (the punishment of
stoning to death may be applied to married men
who've engaging in sodomy or any non-Muslim
married or unmarried who commits sodomy with
a Muslim,) although the sentence is more likely to
be a public flogging and a long confinement in
prison, and even more common than
punishment, is a refusal to acknowledge the
existence of gay sex in the kingdom.

Other Customs
Saudi practices that should be avoided…
• anything that would cause someone (or at least
another Saudi) embarrassment and loss
of face, criticism by outsiders must be delivered
indirectly, circumspectly, and never in front of
others;
• exposing the soles of the feet or footwear to
someone;(other insulting body language include
upward raising of the a single finger, excessive
pointing, fist clenching and pounding of the right
fist into the left palm)

• using the left hand when eating (that hand
traditionally being used for personal hygiene);
• rushing into doing business before conversation
and the drinking of tea and coffee (violation of a
desert code of hospitality, a code stemming from
the recognition that a desert traveler who is
denied hospitality might not survive).
• admiring a movable possession of a Saudi, since
an hospitable Saudi will feel obliged to offer the
possession as a gift to the guest admirer.

Bahrain
Marriage.
While arranged marriage is still common, the
bride and groom often have a chance to meet
before they marry. While it was traditional for
girls to be married at twelve or thirteen years of
age, they now tend to wait until they have
finished their education and have a job. Upon
marriage, a sum of money is paid to the bride by
the groom's family. Sometimes she keeps it for
herself, but usually the couple uses it to set up a
home.

Weddings
Weddings are huge, often with five or six
hundred guests. A wedding involves large
meals, a religious ceremony, and a henna
party in which the bride's attendants decorate
her with elaborate patterns. Sometimes
celebrations are mixed, but usually they are
divided along gender lines.

Etiquette
Greetings are generally lengthy and involve asking
about each other's health and family, although a
man does not ask about another man's wife.
Everyone stands when someone enters the room,
and that person then makes the rounds, shaking
hands. After shaking, one touches the hand to
the heart in a gesture of affection. Women and
men can shake hands, but only if it is initiated by
the woman. It is traditional upon visiting
someone to be served coffee or tea. This custom
includes visits to shops or offices. Failure to make
such an offer or to accept it is considered rude

Kuwait
Marriage
Most marriages in Kuwait are arranged, in
accordance with tradition. Intermarriage occurs
within clans, but not between social classes.
Women, regardless of their age, need their
father's permission to marry. Also, a woman
cannot marry a non-Muslim, although a man is
afforded this privilege. In addition, a woman can
only marry one spouse, while a man has the legal
right to four wives.

Etiquette
Kuwaitis, like other Arab populations, have
different personal boundaries than Westerners.
In general, they sit, talk, and stand closer to one
another. It is common for members of the same
sex to touch one another during their interactions
as an expression of their friendship, and men
often shake hands upon greeting and departure.
Socially, physical contact between men and
women is not acceptable. To Kuwaitis, honor,
reputation, and respect are primary concerns.

Jordan
Most marriages are arranged by the father of
the bride. Often cousins marry each other, and
the couple may barely know each other until the
engagement is announced. The wedding has two
celebrations: an engagement party and a
wedding party. After the engagement party, the
process of dating and getting to know each other
begins. After the engaged woman and man have
signed the papers at the engagement party, they
are legally married. If they choose not to
proceed, even though they have not lived
together, they must divorce.

Brides must be virgins on the wedding night.
After marriage, every aspect of a woman's life is
dictated by her husband. She cannot obtain a
passport or travel outside the country without his
written approval. At any time, a husband may
take another wife. Polygamy with up to four
wives is legal. Divorce is legal. When there is a
divorce, custody of the children automatically
goes to the father, and for this reason, women
choose to remain in a marriage even when there
are other wives. Divorced women are viewed as
outcasts.

Child Rearing
Women are primary caregivers for infants
and small children. After the first son is born,
the father and mother take the name of the
son. If the son's name is Mohammed, the
father becomes Abu Mohammed, meaning
"father of Mohammed," and the mother
becomes Om Mohammed, or "mother of
Mohammed."

Etiquette
Visitors and/or friends frequently are invited
into homes for dinner, where they are showered
with kindness and food. Women dress modestly
and often are offended by exposed flesh. Most
Muslims do not drink alcohol. Shoes are always
removed before entering a mosque, and this
custom extends to homes as well. Shib-shibs (flip-
flop sandals) are always put on before entering a
bathroom, the feet and are never put on a coffee
table, footstool, or desk.

It is forbidden and disrespectful to expose
the bottoms of the feet. Same-sex friends hold
hands, hug, and kiss in public, but there is
limited touching between men and women. A
man does not shake hands with a woman
unless she offers her hand first.

Lebanon
The Lebanese are very
gregarious.
The souks (markets) are
always crowded; shopping
downtown is very popular,
as is strolling with friends
along the busy streets.
Lebanese people usually sit
close together and interact
vivaciously.

Manners are important and are highly
influenced by French etiquette, especially in
matters of dress, address, and eating.
Strangers as well as acquaintances greet each
other respectfully, usually using French terms,
such as bonjour , bon soir , and pardon .
Hospitality is very important. Travelers to
Lebanon are received genially.

Israel
Clothing
Men wear yarmulkes , or skullcaps,
for prayer; more observant men
wear them at all times.
Conservative Jewish men can be
distinguished by their black hats,
whereas liberal Jews wear white
crocheted caps. In the strictest
Orthodox communities, men dress
all in black and wear peyes , long
sidelocks.

Infant care
Babies are generally adored and
showered with affection. The
extended family plays an
important role in helping to
raise the baby, but the mother
generally takes primary
responsibility. Jewish boys are
circumcised eight days after
birth in a religious ceremony
called a bris.

Etiquette
Israelis are very informal in social
interactions. Their standards would, in many
other countries, be considered rude. For
example, store clerks do not act at all
solicitous or even acknowledge a customer's
presence until the customer approaches.
"Please" and "thank you" are not uttered
lightly. Despite this apparent brusqueness,
touching and eye contact are common in
social interactions.

Oman
Marriage. Marriages are normally
arranged. The preferred marriage is
to a cousin. First choice is to a
patrilateral cousin, and second
choice is to a matrilateral cousin.

Etiquette
• Omanis are very polite and formal in public.
Upon meeting, formulaic greetings must be
exchanged before a discussion can ensue. To
do otherwise would be considered rude.
Although men and women may interact in
public, their contact should always be
chaperoned or in the open. Even educated
elite women often find it necessary to be
chaperoned by a male relative at public
events, parties, or receptions.

• Omanis tend to stand close to one another as
Arabs do, and it is common for friends and
relatives of the same sex to hold hands. Two
or more men or women entering a doorway at
the same time always try to persuade the
others to enter first, although a man always
invites a woman to enter first. On the other
hand, forming lines in shops, banks, and other
public places is not a cultural trait, although
women invariably are encouraged to go first.

United Arab Emirates
Marriage. Arranged endogamous marriage
within the kinship (tribal) units was the preferred
pattern in the preoil period, but this pattern has
changed somewhat. Individuals now have greater
choice, yet many nationals still prefer arranged
marriages. Emiratis are strongly discouraged from
marrying nonnationals, and a young man receives
$19,000 from the Marriage Fund if he marries a
national. As prescribed by Islam, a man is allowed
up to four wives, but most men have only one
wife.

Etiquette
Social customs are shared throughout the
Gulf Arab countries. An Islamic greeting ( al-
salam alaykom )is the most appropriate, and
men follow this with a quick nose-to-nose
touch while shaking hands. Women greet each
other by kissing several times on both cheeks.
Men normally do not shake hands with
women in public.

• It is customary to ask about the health of a
person and his or her family several times
before beginning light conversation.
Refreshments usually are served before
serious matters are discussed.

It is customary not to use first names but to say
"father or mother of (oldest son)." Respect
and courtesy are shown to elders, and in their
presence young men are expected to listen
more and speak less. Sex segregation is still
evident in social life. Men are entertained
in majlis (large living rooms, often with a
separate entrance), while women entertain
friends in the home. It is customary to take off
one's shoes before entering a private house.

• All writings in prose or verse of an imaginative
character
• All such writings having permanent value,
excellence in form
• All writings of a particular time, or country on a
particular subject
LITERATURE

Iran
Omar Khayyam (?-1123)
Khayyam, signifying
“Tentmaker”,
is his father’s name.
Young Omar,
a native of Naishpur, was
educated
in the learning of his day.

The Rubaiyat
I
Wake! For the Sun, who scattered into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heav’n and strikes
The Sultán’s Turret with a Shaft of Light

Lebanon
Kahlil Gibran
(Jan. 6, 1883-Apr. 10, 1931)
Born in Bsharri, Lebanon. As a young
man, he immigrated with his family to
the US, where he studied art and
began his literary career, writing in
both English and Arabic.
Gibran is regarded as a literary and
political rebel. His romantic style was
at the heart of a renaissance in modern
Arabic literature especially prose
poetry, breaking away from the
classical school in Lebanon, he still
celebrated as a literary hero.
He is well-known for his 1923 book “The
Prophet”.

THE PROPHET
Kahlil Gibran’s most popular work. In the long
poem, Gibran states his philosophy of life: a
glorious enjoyment of the good things in life, a
high moral regard for his fellow men and an
awareness of the importance of the least of
things in existence.

FromTHE PROPHET
You work that you may keep pace with the earth
and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger
unto seasons, and to step out of life’s
procession, that marches in majesty and
proud submission toward the infinite.

Jordan
• For a country with such a rich
history, it is somewhat
surprising that few classical
writers have emerged from this
region.
• One Jordanian poet, however,
who stands out from the crowd
is Mustafa Wahbi al-Tal. Born
in Irbid in 1899, he was
renowned for his incisive and
humorous poems about Arab
nationalism and anticolonialism. Mustafa Wahbi al-Tal

Thank You!!!
Mar John A. Gallego
M.A.Ed. (Social Studies)

SouthWest Asia Culture

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