ARABIAN

RELIGION,
CUSTOMS,
TRADITIONS,
AND LITERATURE
SHANE MICHAEL A. VERGEL DE DIOS
CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

The Saudi Arabian government recognizes the Quran as the

Constitution of the country.

Hospitality and guest care are primary features of the

customs and traditions in Saudi Arabia.

The culture of Saudi Arabia is framed by the customs and

traditions in Saudi Arabia.
CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

Since most of the religion in Saudi Arabia is Islam, most of

their customs overlap with Islamic customs.

There are certain customs pertaining to the admittance of

animals into the realm.

The Arabians are dignified and hospitable people. Work and

social life are strictly divided by sex.
EDUCATION IN SAUDI ARABIA

Education in Saudi Arabia is segregated by sex and divided

into separately administered systems:

1. General education for boys

2. Education for girls
3. Traditional Islamic education (for boys)
EDUCATION IN SAUDI ARABIA

Their education system has five divisions:

1. Kindergarten (3-6 years old)

2. Elementary (6-11 years old)
3. Intermediate (12-14 years old)
4. Secondary Level (15-18 years old)
5. University level (typically 19-24 years old)
 FREEDOM OF RELIGION

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Islamic theocratic monarchy

in which Islam is the official religion.

Non-Islamic proselytism is illegal, and conversion by

Muslims to another religion (apostasy) carries the death
penalty.

Islam does not have ordained clergy or priests.

 FREEDOM OF RELIGION

THE BIRTH OF ISLAM

Around the year 610, Muhammad, a native of the thriving

commercial center of Makkah received a message from Allah
through an angel named Gabriel.

In 622, learning of an assassination plot against him, he led

his followers to the town of Yathrib, which was later named
Madinat Al-Nabi (City of the Prophet), now simply known as
Madinah.
 FREEDOM OF RELIGION

WHAT IS ISLAM

The word “Islam” in Arabic Language means “submission”

and “peace”.

A Muslim is a person who submits to the will of Allah and

finds therein peace.

Islam is derived from the Arabic word “Salaam” meaning

peace.
 WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?

The Arabic word “Muslim” literary means “someone who

submits to the will of God”.

A Muslim is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs

and faith on the will of Almighty God.

MOHAMMEDANS - a word often used to label Muslims.

 MECCA

The Islamic religion’s holiest city of Mecca (also known as

Mekka or Makkah) is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Muslims face Mecca during their daily prayers and one of

the key tenets of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once
in Muslim’s life (known as Hajj).
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

These are the five basic acts in Islam, considered obligatory

for all believers. The Quran presents them as a framework
for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

1. Testimony (Shahada) - which is the basic creed of Islam that

must be recited under oath with the specific statement:

“ ’ashadu ‘al’la ilaha illa-llahu was’ashadu ‘aana muhammadan

rasulu-llah” or

“I testify there are no dieties other than God alone and I testify
that Muhammad is the Messenger of God”.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

2. Prayer (Salat) - ritual prayers must be performed five times a

day. It is a compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed
depending on the circumstances

A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims who often refer to it

by its Arabic name, Masjid.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

3. Fasting (Sawm) - fasting from food and drink (among other

drinks) must be performed from dawn to dusk during the month
of Ramadhan.

Sawm is not obligatory for several groups whom it would

constitute an undue burden.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

4. Alms-giving (Zakat) - is giving fixed portion of accumulated

wealth by those who can afford it to help the poor or needy,
and also to assist the spread of Islam.

It is considered as a religious obligation that the well-off owe to

the needy because their wealth is seen as a “trust from God’s
bounty”.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

4. Alms-giving (Zakat) - is giving fixed portion of accumulated

wealth by those who can afford it to help the poor or needy,
and also to assist the spread of Islam.

It is considered as a religious obligation that the well-off owe to

the needy because their wealth is seen as a “trust from God’s
bounty”.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj) - during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah

in the city of Mecca.

Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must make the

pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.
 FAMOUS WRITERS

1. Abdo Khal - his works, written in a distinctive style that

blends Qur’anic Arabic with dialectal Arabic. He studied
political science before becoming a novelist and his works
criticized the corruption of the very wealthy in the Arab
world.
 FAMOUS WRITERS

2. Khalil Gibran - a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer.

He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923
book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction
including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic
English prose.

Gibran is the 3rd best-selling poet of all time, behind

Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
 FAMOUS WRITERS

3. Ali Bader - an award winning Arabic novelist and film

producer. His novels are considered unique in Arabic fiction,
with critics already spotting what they believe to be clear
imitations.
 KORAN

KORAN

The greatest book of the Arabs is the Koran, also spelled as

the Quran, which contains the revelations of their God,
Allah, to Mohammed.

Before they open the Koran, they kiss it and touch it to their
forheads in token of deep reverence.
 KORAN

KORAN
It is an exact record of words revealed by God through the
angel Gabriel to the Muhammad. He memorized it and then
taught his companions.

It deals with all the subjects that concern all human beings:
wisdom, beliefs, worship, and law.

It also provides guidelines for a just society, proper human

relationships, and equal divisions of power.