Arab Culture Research Articles

From Power to Pleasure: Homosexuality in the Arab-Muslim World from Lakhi’a to al-mukhannathun

We propose a historical-philological analysis of the attitudes in Islam and Arab culture toward practices of masculine homosexuality (from the pre-Islamic period until end of the first century of Hijra) based on a review of scriptural (Qur’an, Sunnah, fiqh) and literary sources. We hypothesize the existence of a historical dialectic between two ideological models: on the one hand, the heterosexual norm intertwined with patriarchal domination and Islam; on the other, the existence of homosexual love and other forms of sexuality and gender. First we have discovered that the earliest myth concerning sodomy dates back to a much earlier era than has been assumed in modern studies of homosexuality. Then we propose the thesis according to which in pre-Islamic times homosexuality was associated to power relations, but that homosexual imagery and practices linked to pleasure already emerged at the time of the Prophet. In the prophetic era, the visibility of male homosexuality—which we have been able to analyze only indirectly, i.e., through the treatment reserved for the mukhannathun—was regulated through a socio-political compromise aimed at mediating between hadith of explicit condemnation and tolerance of sexual attitudes and behaviors considered less subversive. Starting from the following era (after Othman’s admission of the mukhannathun to Medina), homosexual practices would begin to conquer more and more spaces of visibility and freedom.

Feminist Emergence in a Traditionally Male Industry: Case from Jordan—The Jordanian Banking Industry

Purpose: This research explored the role of female managers as change agents and the “problem of making women visible,” specifically in top management positions in in Jordanian banking industry. Methods: This research design is built on the basis of qualitative research, analyzing the perceptions in the mind of research subjects. Interviews were conducted with 32 participants from the Jordanian banking industry. Findings: Our research has revealed different and important insights into the changing role of Jordanian female workers, not only in such a male-dominant industry but also more broadly in Jordan’s wider society, in which the Arab masculine culture has been dominant. The positive impact of increased acceptance of females’ roles is significantly evident in our research, and we support the assertion that women can survive and prosper in the face of Arab or Eastern culture traditions. In addition, we asserted that females’ managers are deemed to be internal change agents through their knowledge, experience, and leadership traits and behavior. Conclusions: We shed the light on emancipation, in which females have had the opportunity to cross previous social and taken-for-granted boundaries, and which has eroded gender-biased boundaries and behavior as a response to the situational demands.

Afro-Iraqi Rituals: Stigma, Discrimination, and Resilience

Afro-Iraqis represent 5% of the Iraqi population (approximately two million people), and Iraq has been their home since the ninth century, as part of forced immigration due to the slave trade. Throughout their history, Afro-Iraqis have been subjected to oppression, racism, and discrimination. Their rituals–assembled from a broad mix of African diasporic lineages–have been disparaged as barbaric and irreligious. In addition to providing a brief history of Afro-Iraqis and anti-Black racism in Arab culture, this paper describes and examines the significance of Afro-Iraqi rituals and Afro-Iraqis’ resilience in facing stigmatization and discrimination in Iraq.

Peninggalan Kesultanan Langkat Dalam Perkembangan Pendidikan Islam Di Tanjung Pura

Sultan Tengku Abdul Aziz Jalil Rahmadsyah Al-Hajj carries a modern education which is full of logic and rationality and then juxtaposes it with a strong ethical and aesthetic based tradition. Sui-generis of modern and traditional education which places the value of modernity on the one hand and traditionality on the other, will synergize with each other to become alternative knowledge that is rich in perspective but is timeless from the spirituality that is its root. Azizi Mosque which is a historic building inherited from the Sultanate of Langkat, North Sumatra. The mosque which was founded by the Langkat sultanate still has ornaments and carvings on the original building design since 1902. This is an attraction to enjoy the splendor of the mosque which has cultural values ??of the Malay tribe. The Azizi Mosque is located at the Medan - Aceh road crossing, to be precise, in Tanjung Pura District, Langkat Regency. The Azizi Mosque is a witness to the history of the spread of Islam in the Malay lands. Even though it has been 120 years since its establishment in 1902, the Azizi Mosque building is still sturdy and majestic. Dominated by a very thick yellow color, Masid Azizi has elements of Malay culture and there are also various ornaments in the form of carvings on the windows, domes and even the minarets of the mosque which are influenced by Persian, Indian, Arabic and Turkish cultures, adding to the grandeur of the Azizi Mosque. Not only the ornaments, but the walls are also decorated with Koranic, geometrical and floral calligraphy which makes this historic building beautiful. Apart from being a witness to the spread of Islam in Malay lands, the Azizi Mosque during the Langkat Sultanate was used as a court and palace mosque. Islamic education is different from other education. Islamic education prioritizes Islamic values ??and is focused on the formation of human beings who have good morals and are obedient and subservient to Allah alone. Meanwhile, non-Islamic education does not place too much priority on Islamic elements and values, the only priority being the fulfillment of sensory needs. There were three main buildings as educational institutions at that time, including the Maslurah Madrasa which was founded in 1912, the Aziziah Madrasa in 1914 and the Mahmudiyah Madrasa in 1921. The three educational institutions were then named the Jama'iyah Mahmudiyah college. In 1923 to improve the quality of education at the Jama'iyah Mahmudiyah college, most of the teaching staff were teachers who had studied in the Middle East such as Mecca, Medina and Egypt.

AKULTURASI PADA ARSITEKTUR MASJID SYEKH ZAINAL ABIDIN HARAHAP DI KOTA PADANG SIDEMPUAN

This research examines the Syekh Zainal Abidin Harahap Mosque as the oldest mosque in Padang Sidempuan City which was founded in 1880 which was self-educated by one of the religious leaders in Padang Sidempuan City, Syekh Zainal Abidin Harahap and still exists today. The study is seen from various sides, namely the development of mosques, acculturation of mosque architecture, and the role of the Sheikh Zainal Abidin Harahap mosque. This mosque has its own uniqueness from other mosques, namely the acculturation of culture found in the mosque, this is the reason why pilgrims visit this mosque for religious tours in addition to performing worship. The acculturation comes from Arabic, Javanese, and Hindu cultures. The Sheikh Zainal Abidin Harahap Mosque has been legalized as a Cultural Heritage object. This type of research is qualitative research using 4 stages of the historical method, namely, 1) Heuristics, 2) Source Criticism, 3) Interpretation, 4) Historiography. This research will be very useful for the field of education, especially the history of the entry of Islam into Indonesia and local history.

Adapting the socio-cultural adaptation scale (SCAS-R) to Arabic: A study on the Syrian migrants living in Gaziantep province of Türkiye

This study aims to investigate the validity, reliability, and Arabic language equivalence of the Socio-cultural Adaptation Scale (SCAS-R) created by Colleen Ward and Antony Kennedy (1999) and revised by Jessie Wilson (2013). A sample group of 424 Syrian Migrants (18 years and older) living in Gaziantep province of Türkiye from different neighborhoods, economic status, and socio-demographic backgrounds are included in the research, and the scale is examined via commonly used validity and reliability analysis methods. It is obtained that the Cronbach’s Alpha of the items is higher than 0.7 and the corrected item-total correlations are above the threshold value (0.2) in item analysis, nearly 69% of the total variance is explained by 5 factors in Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and the Goodness of Fit Indexes (χ2/sd = 1.521, CFI = 0.958, and SRMR = 0.048) are within the good/acceptable range in Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). It has been understood that the SCAS-R is a valid and reliable scale for Arabic culture. The results of this study may provide a valuable tool for policymakers, researchers, and humanitarian workers studying migration issues.

Acting Across Diaspora: Transnational Spaces and Voices in Hala Alyan’s The Arsonists’ City

In The Arsonists’ City (2021), Arab American novelist Hala Alyan casts a piercing spotlight on how diasporic and transnational voices are burdened with cultural ambivalences, negative stereotypes, prejudices and discriminations. This paper shows how Hollywood cinema does not help the protagonist, Mazna, to remodel her diasporic identity to be a successful actress. A Syrian actress who has emigrated from Syria to Lebanon and then to the USA to achieve her dream and identity, Mazna’s life turns upside down when Hollywood forces her to take on negative terrorist, sexualized and culturally insensitive roles in films. As this article discusses, Alyan uncovers how these roles dehumanize and trample the Arab races and cultures. It is in this sense that the diasporic novelist draws attention to Hollywood’s negative stereotypes, prejudices and injustices in relation to the representation of an Arab actress in Hollywood cinema. In being thus represented, Mazna is exploited and humiliated when she is forced to perform in naïve and trivial scenes in American movies. Alyan explores Mazna’s diasporic journey as an exterior space over which political, religious and cultural dilemmas conglomerate. Consequently, Alyan opens up spaces based upon cross-cultural tolerance, acceptance, living with difference and valuing religious and cultural diversity.

Face Veil and Lawo-Lambu: Negotiating Religious Practices Among Muslims and Catholics in Ende City

ABSTRACTThe phenomenon of wearing a face veil in Ende City has received a rather negative response from Catholics. The Catholics think that the face veil worn by Muslim women has created a social and emotional distance that disrupts the kinship system of Muslims and Catholics of the same ethnic culture. This study explores and analyzes the motivation for Muslims wearing the face veil, the reasons behind the response of Muslims and Catholics, and the negotiation efforts made by Muslims in responding to and accommodating the local culture of dressing among the Ende people. This study is qualitative research through in-depth interviews with Muslim and Catholic sources as well participant observations. This field study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2021. The data analysis process used was descriptive and interpretive. The findings of this study show that; first, the choice to wear the face veil comes from personal motivation towards piety of the faith of Muslim women. A face veil is not an expression of a suspicious radical movement and will not disrupt the kinship system as perceived by the Catholics. Second, it turns out that the response of the Catholics is due to the assumption that Muslim women who wear the face veil have left the local dress culture because they are adopting Arab culture and causing social rifts in daily life even though they are ethnically still brothers and sisters. Third, Ende Muslims combine the face veil with local clothing, the lawo-lambu, on different occasions. This combination is a negotiation process between personal autonomy towards a true Muslimah and a strategy to accommodate the beauty of the local dress, the lawo-lambu, so as not to lose their identity as Ende people who are predominantly Catholics.

The Arab Influence in Robert Browning’s Poetry: The Arab Culture in Browning’s Poetry

Robert Browning is one the famous poets of the Victorian era. He wrote a lot of great poems in addition to many other literary forms. Upon reading his poetry, one may feel the taste of the Arabic flavor, I mean the Arabic influence. Browning, like many 19th-century poets, was exposed to Arabic literature wrapped in what is known as the literature of the Orient. The following paper is going to explore the Arab influence on Robert Browning’s poetry. Few famous poems have been chosen to trace the Arab impact on Browning’s poetry. Our focus will be on the content more than the form, mainly, wisdom and other cultural affairs.

Bridge among Cultures and Worlds

The relations between the Arab world and Hungary have a long history, in which the role of such influential personalities like István Zimony is of paramount importance. In case of two distant cultures, where there is not any common ground for effective communication, these people can make the missing bridges to construct links. Prof. Dr. István Zimonyi is the head of the Department of Medieval Studies at the University of Szeged, a well-known researcher of Hungarian early history and the medieval Turkic speaking nomads living in Eastern Europe, as well as the director of the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Cairo between 2007 and 2011. Nevertheless, Zimonyi is also an Orientalist with a deep knowledge of the Arab world, language and culture. In his work as a researcher the collection and translation with commentary of Arabic sources has an important role. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of diplomatic and cultural relations between the Arab world, in which there is a special focus on Egypt, and Hungary, as well as to demonstrate the role of István Zimonyi's work in this context.

Концепт «судьба» в арабской лингвокультурной картине мира

One of the key concepts of the Arab worldview is «fate». Fate - (Arabic - al-qadar) - is the most important category of consciousness, with the help of which the Arab conceptual picture of the people’s world is built. To describe the concept of «fate», those concepts are distinguished that are associated in the minds of representatives of the Arab culture with this concept and reveal it, such as «al-qadar», «al-qadaa», «al-maniya», «kisma», « nasib» and others. This article attempts to analyze the linguistic means that represent the concept of «fate» in the Arab mind. The significance of this concept is determined, first of all, by its religious aspect. Fate and predestination are fundamental categories in the Islamic faith. The article examines the various contents of the concept of «fate» in the material of classical and modern media texts, and identifies the linguistic means by which it is represented in the linguistic consciousness. Through the analysis of the concept of “fate”, an attempt is made to comprehend, using semantic-cognitive methods, the social behavior of representatives of the Arab culture. The object behind the given word does not exist in empirical experience as a kind of reality, it is multidimensional and allows for a number of interpretations. When considering the concept of «fate», the methods of modern linguists are used, in particular, its gestalts are studied, such as «al-Qadar» (predestination), «al-Qadaa» (decision, predestination), «al-Maniya» (predetermined death), « kisma, nasib «(share, lot). These words emphasize the postulate that «every good and bad is from Allah.» When analyzing the concept of «fate», its close connection with another important concept of the Arab worldview - «freedom» is emphasized.

Male Student Challenges in a Maternity Nursing Clinical Course in a Middle Eastern Country: Strategies for Improved Performance and Future Implications for Nursing Education and Practice

Introduction As the number of males, entering nursing and midwifery increase in number, challenges faced by these males during training sessions also is on rise. Since these challenges vary from culture to culture, it is essential to understand the experiences and challenges of male nursing students during their nursing education. Aim To explore the challenges faced by male nursing students in learning maternal health nursing and the remedial strategies to improve their performance as identified by the students. Design A descriptive qualitative research design using focus group discussion method was used. Methods Twenty-two (22) undergraduate male nursing students enrolled in the Maternal Health Nursing Course during the Academic Years 2017 and 2018 were purposively selected to participate in the study through five (5) focus groups each comprising between four to six students. Results Three themes emerged from the study: (a) cultural constraints in the clinical learning process; (b) traditional gender-biased role expectations, and (c) alternative teaching strategies. In terms of “ cultural constraints,” the students felt the Arabic culture was the main barrier in direct patient care in midwifery practice. In relation to “ gender-biased role expectations,” the students reported that they felt “ not accepted and isolated” in midwifery clinical areas. Thirdly, the “ alternative teaching strategies” relate to the student's remedy to the cultural constraints and the gender bias faced that undermined their learning and overall performance in maternity nursing course . These alternative ways of learning included, “ increased involvement of nurses and midwives in teaching learning”; “ cultivating positive relationship between the clinical instructor and students,” and the “ use of high fidelity simulation to learn skills in midwifery education.” Conclusion The study findings revealed that male student nurses face significant challenges in maternity nursing course.

Development of some self-care skills for children with an autism spectrum disorder

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention program implemented in Saudi Arabia, aimed at equipping children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with essential self-care skills. The research employed a quasi-experimental design, encompassing both an intervention group and a non-intervention group. The results of the study revealed that following the implementation of the intervention, the experimental group exhibited a noteworthy enhancement in their self-care capabilities in comparison to the control group. The results of the study revealed a noteworthy disparity in the post-test scores between the experimental group and the control group, thus providing compelling evidence for the effectiveness of the training program in fostering the development of self-care skills. The findings align harmoniously with previous research endeavors that have explored effective strategies for enhancing self-care skills among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The intervention demonstrated a commendable display of cultural sensitivity by duly considering the intricacies of Saudi Arabian culture, which places great value on the significance of familial and communal bonds. The efficacy of the intervention can be attributed to its astute consideration of cultural norms and its inclusive approach involving parents and other caretakers. The results of this study suggest that the integration of culturally appropriate modifications to evidence-based interventions holds promise in facilitating the development of self-sufficiency and improving the overall quality of life for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study's limitations, including its modest sample size and absence of extended follow-up, warrant further inquiry into strategies to enhance the study's robustness and applicability.

Expressive Speech Act in Comments on Instagram BBC Arabic

A language reflects the culture of the speakers. The use of language on social media platforms without an editor creates several issues, one of which is that it can spiral out of control. The goal of this research is to categorize and analyze expressive speech acts of praise and criticism in BBC Arabic Instagram comments. This is a descriptive-qualitative study with data sources in the form of netizen comments on BBC Arabic between January and February. There are two hundred data in total and they were obtained using a purposive sample technique. According to the findings of this research, many users of social media express criticism more often than they express praise or appreciation, with a ratio of 87:13. Being outspoken in their criticism will become the character and culture of social media users over time. This is clearly not in line with Arab culture, where Islam is the dominant religion. As a result, that was expected that research based on this model will be able to influence how language is used on social media.

The Suitability of Visual Images in Baina Yadaik Arabic Textbook

This study was brought up due to 308 mismatches of images with the written vocabulary in the Baina Yadaik Arabic textbook. This research focused on the compatibility of visual images with written vocabulary. The object used was 1386 images in 8 chapters of the Baina Yadaik Arabic textbook volume 1A. Baina Yadaik Arabic book is an Arabic learning book used to help learners learn everyday vocabulary for beginners. This research used the visual representational mode theory by Kress and Van Leeuwen. The methodology of this study was a descriptive qualitative with multimodal discourse analysis. The VGG Image Annotator corpus tools assisted this research to analyze images with written vocabulary. This study concluded that visual images are one of the essential components of learning Arabic. Many images in Baina Yadaik Arabic textbook volume 1A do not match the written vocabulary. This book still adheres to Arabic culture, which is very different from the culture in Indonesia, and needs special attention for teacher to use this book as a learning tool.

CULTURAL PATTERNS: REPRESENTATIVES OF ARAB CULTURE IN UKRAINIAN UNIVERSITIES

Objective. The objective of the article is to analyze and compare Arab Cultures Cultural awareness; to dentify communication barriers in order to enable effective intercultural communication and successful management of the educational process for foreign students from the Arab states because there is a direct dependence on the critical communication skills of university administration and educators, involved into both recruitment of foreigners as candidates for study and educational process of Ukrainian universities. Methods. The main scientific results are obtained using the method of theoretical generalization, which made it possible to determine and nature of intercultural communication, its features and communication barriers; comparative-pedagogical — to compare historical-pedagogical phenomena, events and facts of the socio-cultural life of the studied culture; the problem-genetic method — to justify the provisions regarding the analysis of problems that may hinder effective intercultural communication between representatives of Ukrainian culture and Arab culture studying in Ukrainian educational institutions. Results. The theoretical analysis of the nature of intercultural communication made it possible to identify the types of possible barriers that prevent effective intercultural communication of representatives of Ukrainian and Arabic culture, studying in educational institutions of Ukraine. Interpretation and analysis of the genesis of possible barriers will lead to effective intercultural communication and successful management of the educational process for foreign students because there is a direct dependence on the critical communication skills of university administration and educators, involved into both recruitment of foreigners as candidates for study and educational process of Ukrainian universities.

PROVERBIAL USE OF FAUNA IN ARABIA: A THEORETICAL, THEMATIC AND TRANSLATIONAL ACCOUNT

This paper attempts a theoretical, thematic and translational analysis of fauna-based popular proverbs that are frequently used in the Arab culture. The study selects the Jordanian and Yemeni cultures and analyzes a group of 200 animal proverbs that are commonly used in these two Arab sub-cultures. Findings of the study reveal that animal proverbs constitute a major component of the repertoire of proverbs in both Jordan and Yemen, a fact which is ascribed to the prominent role animals have always played in the Arab nomadic and agricultural lifestyle. Although most proverbial themes heard in Jordan are also heard in Yemen, the corpus reveals some contrasting features in terms of wording and icons employed. In terms of translation, animal proverbs can travel into English supported by annotation or relevant contexts. In particular, the process of intercultural transfer is largely enhanced by accessing familiar proverbial templates in the target language.

The Shift toward Fusha (Classical Arabic Language) Reconstruction of the Concept

This research aims to re-formulate the concept of conversion to classical Arabic, in light of the challenges it faces in the era of globalization, and the failure of attempts to impose fusha in the street and in schools and universities, By trying to uncover pragmatic methods, that succeed in bringing life back to Standard Arabic in different sectors, But with a less perfect outlook, more closer to the user's need, it suggests various ways to achieve this. In this context, the research seeks to answer questions such as: Does speaking “ fusha” represent a priority issue in light of the rampant weakness in public education? can the project of “ shifting to fusha” in the street and in the classroom succeed? What is the purpose of shifting to fusha? How does Fusha contribute to preserving and strengthening Arab culture? Who should undertake this task? What are the roles of the different parties to achieve the required goal?

Analisis Buku Bahasa Arab Kemenag RI 2020 Untuk Kelas XI MA Dalam Perspektif Abdurrahman Ibrahim Al Fauzan

Purpose- This study aims to analyze Qiraah teaching materials in MA class XI Arabic books published by the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia in 2020 in detail and comprehensively from the perspective of Abdurrahman Ibrahim Al Fauzan. Design/Methodology/Approach- This study uses library research methods (library research). Where data collection techniques are carried out through a review of various books, literature, records, and reports related to the problem to be solved. Findings- The results showed that good Qira'ah teaching materials have at least thirteen philosophical and technical criteria according to Abdurrahman Ibrahim Al Fauzan namely: comprehensive, integrated, synergistic, and simultaneous which means that teaching materials teach language along with its three components, namely: phonemes (ashwat), morpheme (mufradat), and structure (taraakiib) also cover the four language skills, namely: listening (istima’), speaking (kalam), reading (qira’ah), and writing (kitabah). The other criteria are gradual, using fushha Arabic, marked, without intermediary language, using Arabic and Islamic culture, direct discussion, varied reading texts, equipped with learning evaluations, making conversation as an introduction and learning axis, having qualified lay out, design, and appearance, supported by supporting supplements, and has been scientifically tested. Research Limitation/Implications- This research is limited to MA class XI Arabic books published by the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia in 2020. In addition, this research is still theoretical in nature without any field tests as a comparison instrument. However, this research can be the first step in the assessment and evaluation of these teaching materials, whether they are based on the scientific hypotheses of experienced Arabic learning experts or not.

Tension of Religious-Traditions and the Ideas of Women's Liberation in Dreams of Trespass’ Novel by Fatima Mernisi

This article examines a novel titled “Dreams of Trepass: Tales of a Harem” as the literature work represents Fatima Mernissi’s critical thought in fighting for gender equality. The research methodology used is qualitative approach with textual analysis method. Based on research findings, Fatima Mernissi narrates the women liberation discourse through literature works which is not entirely fiction for its rooted from Fatima Mernissi’s own experiences who originated from harem-living family. The work is a reflexive of reality, as well as an aspiration for the ideal future in terms of the equal roles and rights between women and men. It concludes, feminism critical thought’s Fatima Mernissi needs to put on the living context where the work was created and historical time on which recounted, namely related to Arabic culture and Islamic religiosity in the 20th century Morocco. In that period, the world was transiting from colonization era to the movement of global nationalism in colonized countries, including Morcco. Therefore, there is collision between tradition and modernity which influencing women’s thoughts and thoughts of women in regards of universal humanism values with religious interpretation on the Islamic holy Qur’an.