Religion

GTA 24-01-003 November 2004

Iraq Culture Smart Card
The practice of slam is based upon five pillars:
Faith:
Allah is the
one true God.
Prayer:
Pray five
times a day.
Alms/Charity:
Assistance to
the needy.
Fasting: Ramadan-
month of fasting
from sunrise to sunset.
Pilgrimage
to Mecca in
Saudi Arabia.
1 SALAT SHAHADA 2 ZAKAT 3 SAWN 4 HAJJ 5
FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
ISLAMIC FLAG MEANINGS
ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS TERMS
MusIims often fIy coIored fIags
to observe various hoIidays or
dates of personaI significance.
Each coIor carries a specific
meaning. Green is the coIor
of IsIam and is particuIarIy
meaningfuI to the Shia.
KORAN: IsIamic HoIy Book, given by AIIah to the Prophet
Mohammad.
MULLAH: LocaI reIigious Ieader.
MADRASSAH: IsIamic educationaI system.
WAHABBIs: PuritanicaI MusIims from the HanbaIi schooI of
Sunni IsIam. Never shave their beards.
FATWA: An order from a MusIim reIigious Ieader.
SHARIA: MusIim Iaw.
SUNNI: CaII their reIigious Ieaders Imams, but to Shia, the Imam
is a supreme reIigious Ieader descended from Mohammad.
SHIA: Form majority of MusIims in Iraq, but Iess than 10% gIobaIIy.
SUNNI and SHIA: Two main branches of IsIam.
MOSQUE: MusIim house of worship.
IsIam Sacrifice Purity Martyrdom
Guide for
Cultural Awareness
Religious Holidays
KEY RELIGIOUS DATES
2004
IsIamic CaIendar foIIows the Iunar
cycIe. BeIow are the approximate
dates on a Western CaIendar.
Prayer:
Many IsIamic hoIidays
incIude pubIic dispIays
of piety and prayer.
CeIebration:
Eid aI FiItr is a three-day
ceIebration at the cIose
of Ramadan.
Procession:
Some IsIamic hoIidays
incIude a mass procession.
Ashura,
incIudes pubIic,
seIf-infIicted mutiIation
30 Jan - 03 Feb 04 Hajj
01 Feb 04 Eid aI-Adha
22 Feb 04 IsIamic New Year
02 Mar 04 Ashura
02 May 04 Mohammad's Birthday
15 Oct - 13 Nov 04 Ramadan
07 Nov 04 LayIa tuI-Qadr
14 Nov 04 Eid aI-Fitr
2005
WHAT TO EXPECT
19-23 Jan 05 Hajj
21 - Jan 05 Eid aI-Adha
10 Feb 05 IsIamic New Year
19 Feb 05 Ashura
21 Apr 05 Mohammad's Birthday
05 Oct - 04 Nov 05 Ramadan
29 Oct 05 LayIa tuI-Quar
03 Nov 05 Eid aI-Fitr
2006
29 Dec - Jan 01 06 Hajj
10 Jan 06 Eid aI-Adha
10 Feb 06 IsIamic New Year
19 Feb 06 Ashura
21 Apr 06 Mohammad's Birthday
5 Oct - 24 Oct 03 Ramadan
29 Oct 06 LayIa tuI-Quar
04 Nov 06 Eid aI-Fitr
Fasting/Prayer
CeIebration
Procession
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Descended from nomadic Bedouin tribes.
CuIture cIoseIy intertwined with IsIam.
65% Shia MusIim / 35% Sunni MusIim
Most are members of one of Iraq's 150 tribes.
Arabs: 18.5 MiIIion
EthnicaIIy distinct from Arabs, Turks, and Persians (Iranians).
"Kurd" originaIIy used to denote non-Arab nomads.
Speak Kurdish, a Ianguage distinct from Arabic and Turkish; simiIar
to Persian.
Most are Sunni MusIim. Sufi orders are prevaIent and infIuentiaI.
Kurds: 5 MiIIion
Ethnic Groups
Kurd
Sunni
Shia
CIaim to be heirs to the ancient civiIizations of Mesopotamia.
Christians.
Live in urban areas and throughout northern Iraq.
Assyrians/ChaIdeans: 800,000
EthnicaIIy reIated to Turks and Azeris.
66% are Sunni MusIims and 33% Shia MusIims.
Primary Ianguage is Turkish. Most are aIso fIuent in Arabic.
Most Iive in Iraq's northern cities.
Turkoman: 500,000
Cultural Customs Cultural Groups
HONOR AND SHAME
ARABS
SHIA AND SUNNI ARAB
KURDS
FAMILY
Admitting "I don't know" is shamefuI for an Iraqi.
Arabs view Kurds as separatists within Iraq and are wary of their desire
for autonomy.
Tension exists between Shia and Sunni Arabs over access to poIiticaI
and economic power.
Kurds are openIy hostiIe toward Iraqi Arabs and seek to assert their
poIiticaI and cuIturaI independence.
Kurds are distrustfuI of the Turkoman, as they have competing cIaims
over Kirkuk.
Kurds do not interact much with Assyrians and ChaIdeans.
Sunnis bIame Shia for undermining the mythicaI unity of IsIam and they
view them as Iess IoyaI to Iraq.
Shia bIame Sunnis for marginaIizing the Shia majority and resent Sunni
attempts to question their IoyaIty to Iraq.
Arabs view the Christian Assyrians and ChaIdeans as Iraqis, but recent
IsIamic extremism has sparked some hostiIity towards them.
Arabs Iook down upon the Turkoman because Arabs generaIIy view Turkish
cuIture as inferior.
Arabs view Iranian Persians negativeIy and fear the historicaIIy strong
poIiticaI and cuIturaI infIuence of Persia.
Constructive criticism can be taken as an insuIt.
Women wiII often wear head scarves as a show of
respect, even if wearing Western cIothing. Women
are rareIy without a maIe reIative or friend for
escort.
FamiIy is the center of honor, IoyaIty, and reputation.
Men are aIways the head of the famiIy. No
direct attention shouId be given to femaIe reIatives.
ASSYRIANS
Assyrians experienced persecution by both Kurds and Arabs.
ChaIdeans rejoined the CathoIic Church in the 18th century and do not
beIieve that they are simiIar to Assyrians.
Turkoman view themseIves as a marginaIized repressed minority and seek
greater infIuence in Iraq.
As a reIigious and ethnic minority, the ChaIdeans distrust both Kurdish
and Arab intentions.
They have peacefuI reIations with Turkoman.
Assyrians beIieve they have much in common with the ChaIdeans,
incIuding ethnic and Christian reIigious heritage.
Assyrians recognize their minority status as a reIigious and ethnic group.
PERSONAL SPACE
SOCIALIZATION AND TRUST
Iraqis do not share an American concept of "personaI space"
in pubIic situations, and in private meetings or
conversation. It is considered offensive to step or
Iean away from an Iraqi.
When conducting business, it is customary to
first shake the hand of aII the maIes present,
taking care to grip neither too firmIy nor too meekIy.
AIIocate pIenty of time for refreshments before
attempting to engage an Iraqi in business
conversation. It is important to first estabIish
respect and trust.
Women are an exception to this ruIe. One shouId not
stand cIose to, stare at, or touch women.
CHALDEANS
TURKOMAN
Turkoman fear Kurds, and there has been a Iong history of confIict between
the two groups.
Turkoman identify cIoseIy with Turkey and the Ottoman period of Iraqi history
Clothes / Gestures
MALE DRESS
FEMALE DRESS
GESTURES
Has not made the
hajj, or piIgrimage
to Mecca.
TraditionaI
Dress
Right
hand
over
heart is
a sign of
respect
or
thanks
Right
hand, paIm
up, fingers
touching,
means to
sIow down
or be
patient.
Quick
upward
head
snap with
tongue
cIick
means
no.
Western
Dress
From a country with
PresidentiaI ruIe (i.E.
Libya or Egypt) and
has made the hajj.
From a country with a
monarch (i.e. Saudi
Arabia or Jordan) and
has made the hajj.
Arab women often wear Western dress with
a shawI or head scarf.
Devout or conservative women wear a hejab,
a fuII head covering, and an abaya, a body
covering made of dark coIors.
Western dress is common in urban areas, but
traditionaI dress is stiII prevaIent in ruraI Iraq.
White BIack and White Red Checkered
Hand is
MotionIess
InstabiIity from 1958 to 1968 untiI Ba'ath Party takeover,
Sunni Arabs dominate Iraq by oppressing Shia Arabs and
Kurds.
FoIIowing the 1979 Shia revoIution in Iran, Saddam Hussein
feared a Shia uprising.
The Iran-Iraq war from 1980-1988 exacerbated reIigious and
ethnic tensions, Ieading to numerous Kurdish and Shia
uprisings-aII were brutaIIy repressed.
Cultural History
BabyIonian Empire seen as cradIe of modern civiIization
Iraq consisted of three semi-Independent provinces.
The British forged modern Iraq in 1921 under an
appointed Sunni King.
The Kurds became a stateIess ethnic group spIit
among Turkey, Iraq, and Iran.
British and Sunni forces repressed a Shia and
Kurdish revoIt. Sunnis dominated Iraqi society.
The 1958 coup brought independence and
repubIican ruIe.
The Turks Ottoman Empire supported Sunni
governance to counter infIuence from
Shia Safavid Iran.
PersIa sponsored Shia missionaries during the
1800s. The majority of Iraq's popuIation converted
from Sunni to Shia.
Ancient Mesopotamia 18th - 6th Centry B.C.
The Ottoman Period 1534-1916
The British Mandate and Monarchy 1920-1958
Modern Iraq 1958-Present
MosuI
Baghdad
Basra
Questions
Do you speak EngIish? / tiHchee ingIizi?
Do you need heIp? / tehtaj musa-aada?
Where are you injured? / wayn mit-aawer?
Do you have...? / aandek...?
Do you need..? / teHtaj...?
Who is in charge? / minu aImas-'uuI?
Which direction? / bi-ay it-tijah?
Is it far? / baa-id?
How many? / ish-ged?
Who? / minu?
When? / sh-wa-kit?
What? / shinu?
Where? / wayn?

Social Structure
Pan-Arabism
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State
ReIigion
CIan
Tribe
FamiIy
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High
Medium
Low
None
CLANS are extended famiIies that trace their Iineage to one
patriachaI figure.
PAN-ARABISM emphasizes soIidarity between Arabs across
nationaI borders.
TRIBES usuaIIy consist of severaI cIans, aII of which cIaim
a common ancestor. Tribes mediate confIict and distribute
economic goods. Tribes cuItivate vaIues, such as IoyaIty,
bravery and shame. These are centraI to Arab identity.
Do This
IN GENERAL
Shake hands gentIy in greeting and departure, but aIways
with your right hand.
Respond to a woman's greeting onIy when she initiates the
contact. AIIow her to shake hands using onIy her fingertips.
Refer to the entire famiIy when making inquiries, weII wishes,
or bIessings.
Be patient; the Iraqi approach to time is sIow and reIaxed.
IN IRAQI HOMES
Try aII food offered to you, even if in smaII portions. FeeI
free to ask about the cuisine or its preparation.
Appear reIaxed and friendIy; sociaI interaction is criticaI
in buiIding trust.
AS A GUEST
Be gracious; do not appear anxious to Ieave.
Offer profuse thanks to host and wish his famiIy weII.
Arrive on time for meetings, but expect casuaI conversation
and a graduaI approach to a business discussion
Don`t Do This
Don't use your Ieft hand for contact with others, eating, or
gestures. It is considered uncIean.
Don't point with a finger; it is a sign of contempt. Instead,
point with your entire hand.
Don't ask for a singIe opinion on an issue, as Iraqis often
first repIy with the answer they think you want to hear, rather
than an honest response.
Don't sIouch, Iean, or appear disinterested when conversing
with Iraqi men. Do not expose the soIes of feet or shoes.
Don't back away from an Iraqi during conversation. CIose
personaI interaction is customary and distance is
considered rude.
Don't offer a MusIim food or drink or consume either
pubIicIy during Ramadan. Never offer a MusIim aIcohoI
or pork.
Don't engage in reIigious discussions.
Don't make the "OK" or "thumbs up" signs; they are
considered obscene.
Don't praise an Iraqi's possessions too much. He may give
them to you and expect something of equaI vaIue in return
Commands
stop / awgaf
do not move / Ie tet-Harak
Iower your hands / neziII eidayk
turn around / in-dar
drop your weapons / Dhib is-Ia-Hak
move / it-Ha-rak
hands up / irfaa eidayk
move sIowIy / it-Ha-rak aaIa kay-fak
come here / ta-aaI hena
no taIking / Ie teH-chi
waIk forward / it-qa-dam Ii-gi-dam
surrender / seI-Iim nefsek
come with me / ta-aaI wi-ya-ya
caIm down / aaIa kay-fek
do not resist / Ia it-qa-wem
form a Iine / awgaf bi-ss-ira
stay where you are / ib-qa makanak
one at a time / waHid waHid
speak sIowIy / iH-chee aaIa kayfak
Iie on your stomach / in-baT-aH
Numbers
1 / waHid
2 / ithnayn
3 / thaIatha
4 / arbaa
5 / khamsa
6 / sit-ta
7 / sabaa
8 / thamanya
9 / tisaa
10 / aash-ra
20 / aaish-rin
30 / tIatheen
40 / arbaa-een
50 / khamseen
60 / sit-teen
70 / sabaa-een
80 / thmaneen
90 / tisaa-een
100 / mi-ya
1000 / aIif
more (than) / akthar (min)
Iess (than) / a-qaI (min)
Helpful
Words / Phrases
heIIo / marrhaba
good-bye / maa as-saIama , a-IIa wiyakum
heIp me / sa-aaid-ni
thank you / shukran
yes / no / ee / Ia
good / bad / zayn / mu zayn
north / shimaI
south / jinub
east / sharq
west / gharb
food / ak-iI
water / may
danger / kha Tar
sheIter / meI-ja'
medicine / duwa
mines / aIgham
weapon / is-IaH
we are Americans / iH-na amerikan
Abu Yusuf
(ParentaI TitIe)
Father of Yusuf
Muhammad
(First Name)
AI-Tikriti
(BirthpIace,
occupation)
from Tikrit
AI-Sayf
From the
AI-Sayf
FamiIy
Umm Yusuf
(ParentaI TitIe)
Mother of Yusuf
RahiI
(First Name)
bint Hassan ibn Ibrahim
(famiIy hertiage)
Daughter of Hassan, and
Hassan, son of Ibrahim
AI-Saddaf
From the
AI-Saddaf
FamiIy
Yusuf
(First Name)
ibn Muhammad
(FamiIy Heritage)
Son of Muhammad
AI-Sayf
From the
AI-Sayf
FamiIy
Understanding Arabic Names
An Arabic name may be speIIed severaI different ways in EngIish.
Information provided by:
Marine Corps InteIIigence Activity (MCIA)
QuaIity and Dissemination Branch
3300 RusseII Road, Suite 250,
Quantico,VA 22134-5011
CD-ROM dissemination:
COM: 703-784-6167 DSN: 278-6167
For additionaI information see MCIA's
CD-ROM "CuIturaI InteIIigence For
MiIitary Operations: Iraq
When incIuding famiIy heritage in names, women use "bint,"
meaning "daughter of," and men use "ibn" or "bin", meaning
"son of ."
Women do not take their husband's name. Parents add a titIe to
their name that incIudes the name of their first son.
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