Customs, Manners and Beliefs as Reflected by Some Arabic Proverbs and Idioms

Abstract

Proverbs and idioms are part and parcel of the ethos of the area in which they are current, and Arabic proverbs are no exception. However, as Arabic has, since the advent of Islam, been the vernacular of millions of speakers, in three continents, who use scores of Arabic dialects and have many customs, manners and beliefs in common, it is not surprising that we find some of these echoed in the thousands of Arabic proverbs and idioms, which are found in both literary and colloquial Arabic. This paper attempts to trace back certain customs, manners and beliefs which were, and to a certain extent, still are, current among Arabs, as reflected by some Arabic proverbs and idioms.