Living in an Islamic Culture
Moving from liberal western societies to the Arabian Gulf may require a considerable adjustment, particularly as the cultural foundations of each country are built on the tenets and traditions of Islam. There may be occasionally be a considerable difference in the levels of tolerance and understanding displayed toward Westerners in some countries, but at the same time Arab hospitality is legendary and in most cases visitors will be welcomed as "guests". In each case, it is important that you consider and respect the customs in the country to which you are relocating to.
This may include the standard and modesty of dress, for both male and females, use of cameras in public (for both cultural sensitivity and security reasons). Arab Islamic culture can sometimes be characterised by strict social etiquette and you should determine such protocols in your new destination. These may include not shaking hands with female Arabs and observing social customs in a meeting situation or passing food or drink only with the right hand.
There is a rich history in archaeology, architecture and the arts within the Islamic world and a good reference site is the Tareq Rajab Museum located in Kuwait - click on:
www.trmkt.com
There are numerous other Islamic museums around the world and these can be easily located in a Google search.
The History of Islam
The Islamic religion influences many aspects of life in an Arab culture. The Prophet Mohammed was a member of the Quraishi tribe in charge of the pagan pilgrimage site in Mecca. He lived from 570 AD - 632 AD. In 622 AD, after successfully spreading his message in the face of entrenched opposition, Mohammed, moved to Medina, where he succeeded in establishing the Ummah or 'community'. At this time the Byzantines, under Heraclius succeeded in overcoming the Persian Sasanid Empire, with Heraclius rising to prominence in Christianity as he restored the True Cross to Jerusalem.
At this time Islam was developing its roots and spreading throughout the Arabian Peninsula, as Mohammed concluded peace and co-operation treaties with numerous Sheikhs. Supported by a force of 10,000 men, Mohammed marched from Medina on Mecca in 630AD, eight years after he had fled. The city surrendered without a fight. The power that gravitated to the Prophet enabled him to then march northwards into Syria with a force of 30,000 men spreading the influence of Islam northwards to the borders of the Byzantine Empire.
Mohammed was especially tolerant of Christians, guaranteeing the safety of their persons, houses and places of worship and providing that they not be converted to Islam by force.
The Prophet Mohammed died of natural causes in 632AD and Abu Bakr was selected as his successor. Abu Bakr called himself Khalifa (Caliph), meaning deputy to the messenger, to clearly define his authority as drawn from the Prophet and not directly from Allah.
This meant that the Prophet Mohammed was established as the permanent and universal head of the Muslim community. The Muslim Arabs overwhelmed the Sasanid Empire in less than 20 years between 632 and 651AD. The Muslim conquerors recognised Islamic beliefs were built upon Judeo-Christian traditions. They recognised both the Old and New Testaments as having been revelations of the Divine Book through Moses and Jesus and viewed the revelations as being completed through Mohammed. Conversion to Islam progressively took place on a large scale in Persia.
Considerable internal conflict now arose within Islam, resulting in the assassination of the 3rd and 4th Caliphs, who consolidated the Muslim Empire under dynastic rather than democratic rule, while continuing to expand eastwards through Persia and westward into North Africa. The new Caliph Muawiyah was descended from pagan Omayyad rulers and not from the Hashemites leaders (who drew their legitimacy from selection by consensus of the Ummah). Muawiyah had his son Yezid recognised as the next Caliph, thus establishing the Omayyad Dynasty. The ensuing controversy dogged Muawiyah until his death in 680AD and continues to divide the body politic of the Islamic world to this day. Matters came to a head when Husain, the grandson of the Prophet and the surviving son of the 4th Caliph Ali, refused to recognise Yezid.
Husain enjoyed the support of the Kufans as Kufa had been the seat of the Caliph Ali. Husain travelled to Kufa where he was surrounded by the Omayyad army at Karbala, a major city near modern-day Baghdad. Husain's army was crushed. Husain himself was decapitated and his head presented on a spear to the Omayyad commander. Outrage sparked a split with Ali's Shias (meaning 'Partisans') becoming consolidated into the Shia religious sect. The Shias demanded the replacement of the Caliphate by an Imam, where the Imam would carry the original divine inspiration of the Prophet. This split has never been bridged and results in rivalry to this day between Shia and Sunni communities.
The five pillars of the Islamic religion are as follows:
1/ Profession of Faith (Shahadah)
2/ Prayer (Salat)
3/ Alms Giving (Zakat)
4/ Fasting (Saum)
5/ Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
The daily lives of Muslims are organised around the five daily prayers with a number of other cultural and dietary rules. Muslim culture is highly family-oriented and upholds very strict moral standards. Fasting takes place during the holy month of Ramadan from sunrise until sunset.
