The Prophet is quoted as calling for marriage to be announced in public and accompanied by the beating of drums, which has led many to believe that a large public ceremony is preferable to the private mahr. Arabic Customs & Culture for the Business Traveller Around 1 million British nationals visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) every year. Greetings between Saudi women tend to be very affectionate, involving hugs and two or three kisses on each cheek. The standard greeting is Ahlan wa sahlan – which means welcome - and this will become familiar to all who visit Dubai. This is the greeting used for Ramadan in Egypt, but رمضان مبارك (ramaDān mubārak) is often used in other areas. As a visitor, you needn’t ever say ahlan wa sahlan yourself, but you’ll have to field torrents of them from the locals. Recitations of the Quran as well as poetry are common at weddings and to mark other important events. As a further etiquette of greeting others, the Prophet also said: Topics for include, among others, mealtimes and typical food, national drinks, toasts, table manners, tipping etiquette, business lunch etiquette, host etiquette, guest etiquette, regional differences, dining etiquette in the home, and dining etiquette at a restaurant. Marhaba is the simplest type of greeting that is used across the Arabic speaking world. In a greeting between a man and woman, typically a woman will extend her hand first. Muslim Greetings and Response against it: At the time of meeting a Muslim should greet his brother with the words: “Assalaam –o-Alaikum”. Reply ‘Misa a noor’ to ‘Misa al khayr’, and ‘wa anta (or anti, depending on the gender of the other person) to reply to Tisbah ala Khayr. Step 1 Do not touch a Muslim woman when you greet her. And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better greeting or at least return it. Hand shake – handshaking is a basic greeting in Indonesia. Whether you are meeting a business colleague, a stranger, a close friend or new relative, knowing the rules about greeting a Muslim ensures everyone feels comfortable. In the same way the soles of the shoes or feet should never be shown as this is perceived as insulting to the host, and highly offensive. Hands and feet also feature prominently within Saudi etiquette and are linked to specific customs. Greetings between individuals of the same gender who know each other well are often warm and include hugs and embraces. Tibetan monks stick their tongue out to greet people. Indonesian Formal Greetings Customs The formal Indonesian greeting customs are mostly used in formal occasion such as at office, business occasion, or when greet older people. The Arab world is made up of 25 countries and territories that span the Middle East and northern Africa including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Enjoy the challenge of learning and practicing Muslim etiquette, if and when you visit. Read on for a basic primer on doing business in the Arabic culture. Handshakes are customary greetings between individuals of the same gender. This topic excludes military and ceremonial salutes but includes rituals other than gestures. An Arab may use the sign in conjunction with verbal curses. To signal yes, dip your head down with… Learn or review dining etiquette for Saudi Arabia. Guidelines on Muslim Greeting. With hospitality a fundamental part of Arab culture, there’s no warmer or more open-hearted phrase in the language. While greeting customs are highly culture- and situation-specific and may change within a culture depending on social status and relationship, they exist in all known human cultures. Literature and Classical Arabic poetry is highly valued. The Arab world consists of many shared traditions and cultures, including national holidays that have existed for centuries. The addressees should later respond with the words: “Wa Alaikum Assalaam'”. Salamo Alaykom – “Peace be Upon You” Salamo Alaykom was the traditional Arabic greeting that was practised when Islam first started spreading. Alternatively, there is defined etiquette involved with greetings between a Muslim and someone of a different faith, gender or both. The most common greeting is “salaam” which means peace. Even in today’s modern times, the tradition carried over and touching anything with the left hand makes the food unclean and unfit to eat. In Arab culture as well as many from the east, the left hand is considered unclean. They may be greeted with a kiss on the forehead. How to reply to Arabic Greetings. Greetings in Egypt are based on the class and religion of the person so it is best to follow the lead of the person that you are meeting. If she does not, then the man will bow his head to greet her. Say hi in Tibet: Stick your tongue out. After shaking the host’s hand, it is part of the Arabic culture and customs to ask about their well-being. The standard greeting is Ahlan wa sahlan – which means welcome - and this will become familiar to all who visit Saudi Arabia. Across the whole world, the Muslims greet each other in the same words. Travel and Culture; Reference . Every culture has a unique way of greeting people and we’ve found the most unique ways to say hello around the world! And across that huge geographic area there is a lot of variation. Cultural do’s and don’ts are one of the most important parts of diversity in the workplace training. However in the Arab world, if the gesture is shaken at another person it symbolizes the sign of the evil eye. If this is you about to embark on your first visit, this will make for a very useful read. ”I wish you harm” -Hitting the right fist into the open palm of … This is because of the old school nature in many Arabic greetings and speaking countries it is thought of as bad manners for men and women to greet each other in public. They take an older person’s hand and press it gently to their foreheads. Marhaba is the ideal general greeting: it is soft to say and is considered to be polite and neutral. The customs and rituals involved in greeting someone are often different from country to country, and unfamiliar customs can sometimes be confusing. Due to not familiar with the Arabic language, we often say wrong words. Arabs love greetings and welcoming guests, so it’s only respectful to show that you’re also thankful to be in their home. You may not agree with what is happening around you, but that matters little in the world where all you really need to know is where you are positioned in relation to Mecca. It’s certainly worth learning enough Arabic to communicate the pleasantries, greetings and responses of the country you’re living in. 2. Arabic culture is rich in customs and traditions that focus largely on the importance of religion and family. Meeting & Greeting: A long but steady handshake is common. 35 ETIQUETTE OF MUSLIM GREETINGS (Dr. Qazi Muhammad Barkatullah) THE HOLY QURAN 1. This means greeting seniors and older folks before younger people and always using culture-specific titles and terms of respect upon first meeting. Islamic culture rules forbid … Different greetings require different replies: When someone wishes you Sabah Al Khayr or Sabah a noor, you should say ‘Sabah an noor’, which means ‘a morning of light’ or ‘a beautiful morning’. Saudi Arabian Dining Etiquette. Arabic food and traditions are greatly influenced by the geographic areas that make up the Arab world. These wrong words sometimes constitute the meaning wrong, and even we do not know. The UAE is a Muslim country and the laws and customs are very different to here in the UK. Arabic is one of the world’s major languages, spoken throughout North Africa, much of the Middle East, and beyond. In the Philippines, locals have a particularly unique way of showing their reverence. When Iranians meet each other they shake hands and sometimes kiss each other. Also read How to Say Hello in Indonesian. Muslim marriage sites are often chosen for their proximity to a mosque, although it isn’t a strict requirement that the ceremony be performed there. In the morning, you can say “Sabah al-khayr” meaning, “good morning”. These 14 Arabic words and phrases can be used and understood in all Arab countries, however, gestures when greeting can differ from country to country and are often influenced by the culture. It’s certainly worth learning enough Arabic to communicate the pleasantries, greetings and responses of the country you’re living in. A high degree of respect is paid to elders in Saudi Arabian society. “O ye who believe, enter … culture the "A-OK" sign is a positive gesture. 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