What is the difference between Iranian and Arab cultures? Best answer on the web
Posted in: darrelrussell.com edit
07 Jan 2009
No, being Iranian does not mean they are "still Arabs". Iran as a people, a country, and a civilization has existed for over 5,000 years and Iranians don't tend to consider themselves as Arabs, because they are not. They are Arians by race.
And as for language... in Iran many languages are spoken. Farsi is the main, with many different dialects. But then we have Kurdish, Azeri Turkish, Dari, and many more in various regions.
There are many cultural differences, whilst there are some similarities too. People must remember that sharing a religion does not mean sharing the same culture. It is true that Iran is now predominantly Muslim by faith, but the Zoroastrian religion pre-dates Islam and was the main faith followed Iran pre-Islam.
Culture, music, education, upbringing of off-springs, cuisine, arts, fashion and values are all areas which could show differences between Iranians and Arabs.
Arab is a language & cultural grounds meaning it has not got one culture but a vast collection which includes Iranian culture.
Here are some differences in culture:
Music
Iran music has its origins in Sassanid Empire
Arab music is predominately from Cairo, Egypt
Religion
Iran - Shia branch of Islam
Arab - General Islam
Cuisine
Iran- Persian food plums, pomegranates, quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins
Arab- Predominately North African berbers food dates, wheat, barley, rice and meat
Language
Iran - Persian & Arabic
Arab - Arabic
And by the way, when you classify everyone in the middle east as an Arab, you kinda insult us... There are many kinds of Arabs, we're a nation, just like you'd classify Europeans as Europeans. There are Iraqi's, Afgans etc, just as there are Italians and Germans in Europe.... I'm Lebanese, and I would not want to be classified as just an Arab, for want of not being mistaken as an Iraqi!