When shaking hands or accepting refreshment, for example, the right hand should always be used, as the left is considered unclean. This means greeting seniors and older folks before younger people and always using culture-specific titles and terms of respect upon first meeting. The Arab world consists of many shared traditions and cultures, including national holidays that have existed for centuries. In Arab culture as well as many from the east, the left hand is considered unclean. The most common greeting is “salaam” which means peace. Marhaba is the simplest type of greeting that is used across the Arabic speaking world. As a visitor, you needn’t ever say ahlan wa sahlan yourself, but you’ll have to field torrents of them from the locals. Greetings can be expressed both audibly and physically, and often involve a combination of the two. culture the "A-OK" sign is a positive gesture. Every culture has a unique way of greeting people and we’ve found the most unique ways to say hello around the world! Learn or review dining etiquette for Saudi Arabia. If she does not, then the man will bow his head to greet her. It’s certainly worth learning enough Arabic to communicate the pleasantries, greetings and responses of the country you’re living in. Apart from the accent, there are also a few differences that are noticeable in each country starting with our greeting rituals. Greeting eachother around the world is much more than a wave or a handshake. Hands and feet also feature prominently within Saudi etiquette and are linked to specific customs. Arabic food and traditions are greatly influenced by the geographic areas that make up the Arab world. 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. Also read How to Say Hello in Indonesian. It’s certainly worth learning enough Arabic to communicate the pleasantries, greetings and responses of the country you’re living in. Enjoy the challenge of learning and practicing Muslim etiquette, if and when you visit. However in the Arab world, if the gesture is shaken at another person it symbolizes the sign of the evil eye. Business Etiquette United Arab Emirates Greetings Acknowledge and greet the most senior person in the room first – doing so is a sign of respect in the Muslim culture. ”I wish you harm” -Hitting the right fist into the open palm of … Greetings and Customs Around the World A guide through various interesting gestures and greeting cultures . Salamo Alaykom – “Peace be Upon You” Salamo Alaykom was the traditional Arabic greeting that was practised when Islam first started spreading. The standard greeting is Ahlan wa sahlan – which means welcome - and this will become familiar to all who visit Dubai. Say hi in Tibet: Stick your tongue out. Recitations of the Quran as well as poetry are common at weddings and to mark other important events. Thanks to Cultural Atlas and Commisceo Global, we can learn more about each country’s unique characteristics […] It is part of Arabic culture and customs to make an effort to be acquainted with everyone. Hand shake – handshaking is a basic greeting in Indonesia. 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. ... Handshakes are a common greeting to men only and should never be done to women. With hospitality a fundamental part of Arab culture, there’s no warmer or more open-hearted phrase in the language. Ensure you only use your right hand. Literature and Classical Arabic poetry is highly valued. These wrong words sometimes constitute the meaning wrong, and even we do not know. 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. Greetings between Saudi women tend to be very affectionate, involving hugs and two or three kisses on each cheek. An Arab may use the sign in conjunction with verbal curses. After you being to feel the rhythm and reason of the Muslim world, the customs and etiquette will begin to make sense. Time-Specific Greetings. 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. As discussed above, the Islamic greeting has Arabic origin; that is why the words of Islamic greeting are from the Arabic language. 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. Everybody uses it, in all situations of meeting and greeting, often repeated like a mantra in long strings. The novel has slowly become popular among both men and women due to the influence of writers from Egypt and the Levant. Languages; Common Questions About Languages; Wall of Thanks! Basic Greetings in Arabic . The standard greeting is Ahlan wa sahlan – which means welcome - and this will become familiar to all who visit Saudi Arabia. The customs and rituals involved in greeting someone are often different from country to country, and unfamiliar customs can sometimes be confusing. This is the greeting used for Ramadan in Egypt, but رمضان مبارك (ramaDān mubārak) is often used in other areas. Happy Eid: عيد مبارك (3īd mubārak) Response: الله يبارك فيك (allāh yibārik fīk) This is the greeting used for the Muslim Eids (holidays/festivals): Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha. Guidelines on Muslim Greeting. They take an older person’s hand and press it gently to their foreheads. It’s appropriate for non-Muslims to greet their Arab hosts with “assalamu alaikum,” which means “peace be upon you” and return the greeting with “wa alaikum assalam,” meaning “peace be upon you, too.” Handshakes are customary greetings between individuals of the same gender. You can also greet people according to the time of the day. The UAE is a Muslim country and the laws and customs are very different to here in the UK. Arts, Humanities & Popular Culture. However, women tend to be less physically affectionate if they are greeting in public or are in the view of men who are not family members. 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’. 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. 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. Saudi Arabian Dining Etiquette. As-salamu alaykum (Arabic: ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ ‎, as-salāmu ʿalaykum, [as.sa.laː.mu ʕa.laj.kum]) is a greeting in Arabic that means "Peace be upon you". In the morning, you can say “Sabah al-khayr” meaning, “good morning”. 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. To signal yes, dip your head down with… 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. And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better greeting or at least return it. 35 ETIQUETTE OF MUSLIM GREETINGS (Dr. Qazi Muhammad Barkatullah) THE HOLY QURAN 1. Muslim Greetings and Response against it: At the time of meeting a Muslim should greet his brother with the words: “Assalaam –o-Alaikum”. Due to not familiar with the Arabic language, we often say wrong words. In a greeting between a man and woman, typically a woman will extend her hand first. They may be greeted with a kiss on the forehead. Arabic culture is rich in customs and traditions that focus largely on the importance of religion and family. Cultural do’s and don’ts are one of the most important parts of diversity in the workplace training. Across the whole world, the Muslims greet each other in the same words. 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. A high degree of respect is paid to elders in Saudi Arabian society. If this is you about to embark on your first visit, this will make for a very useful read. 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. When entering an Arab home, be sure to greet everyone there individually with a warm smile and handshake if initiated. Travel and Culture; Reference . 2. Arabic is one of the world’s major languages, spoken throughout North Africa, much of the Middle East, and beyond. Step 1 Do not touch a Muslim woman when you greet her. Marhaba is the ideal general greeting: it is soft to say and is considered to be polite and neutral. To signal to someone, put your hand out with your palm down, and curl your fingers in a scratching motion. As another example, when greeting a group of people, it is best to greet each person in the group one at a time from right to left to ensure that each person gets a proper greeting as well as their proper respect. While learning the Arabic language is an important part of doing business in the area, you also need to be familiar with local business customs to avoid offending your hosts and colleagues. How to reply to Arabic Greetings. 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. Alternatively, there is defined etiquette involved with greetings between a Muslim and someone of a different faith, gender or both. “O ye who believe, enter … Don’t immediately sit down unless offered a specific seat. These words are indeed a supplication for the addressee for peace and blessings. Unlike in English greetings, there are several replies to this greeting in Arabic, depending on the mood and creativity of the speaker. Arabs love greetings and welcoming guests, so it’s only respectful to show that you’re also thankful to be in their home. After shaking the host’s hand, it is part of the Arabic culture and customs to ask about their well-being. Meeting & Greeting: A long but steady handshake is common. Tibetan monks stick their tongue out to greet people. Surely, Allah takes account of all things.” (4:87) 2. When Arabs say ‘hello’ this is how they greet one another in their country. The addressees should later respond with the words: “Wa Alaikum Assalaam'”. As a further etiquette of greeting others, the Prophet also said: And across that huge geographic area there is a lot of variation. Arab men or women may decline to shake the hands of those from the other sex. Greetings between individuals of the same gender who know each other well are often warm and include hugs and embraces. 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. Islamic culture rules forbid … Arabic Customs & Culture for the Business Traveller Around 1 million British nationals visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) every year. 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. 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. 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