Arab culture

Arabic culture refers to the culture in the countries in which the official language is Arab (although the Arabic language in some of minority), and the west officials and scholars used to call them "Arab countries" of Western Asia and North Africa, from Egypt to the Arabian Sea. Language, literature, gastronomy, art, architecture, music, spirituality, philosophy, mysticism (etc.) are all part of the cultural heritage of the pan-Arab world.

The Arab world is sometimes divided into separate regions including Nile Valley (consisting of Egypt and Sudan), Al-Maghrib Al-Arabi (consisting of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania), Fertile Crescent (consisting of Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan) and the Arabian Peninsula (consisting of south Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Al Ahwaz Al Arabiya, Oman and the UAE) and the Arabian Peninsula's Al-Janoub Al-Arabi (consisting of Yemen and Oman).

The Arab culture is divided into three main parts, the urban culture (Al-Mudun), the rural culture (Ar-Reef), and the nomad culture (Al-Badow). Typically, most of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, along with parts of Jordan and Iraq, are considered Badow (Bedouins). Other countries' countrysides such as Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Algeria and Tunisia are considered rural cultures. Their cities are considered to be urban cultures. In fact, most of the Arab major cities are recognized with urban cultures, like Jaffa (pre-Israel), Cairo, Jerusalem, Beirut, Baghdad, Alexandria, Damascus, etc. The Levant, particularly Palestine, Lebanon, Syria as well as Egypt are known to have a long urban culture history.

Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by speakers of the Arabic language. It does not include works written using the Arabic alphabet but not in the Arabic language such as Persian and Urdu literature. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a word meaning "to invite someone for a meal" and implies politeness, culture and enrichment. Arabic literature emerged in the 6th century, with only fragments of the written language appearing before then. The Qur'an, from the 7th century, had the greatest and longest-lasting effect on Arabic culture and literature. Al-Khansa, a female contemporary of Muhammad, was an acclaimed Arab poet.

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