Arabs, peoples, tribes...

O mankind, We created you male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may come to know one another. The noblest among you in God's sight are the most pious.

In the previous chapter of this endless book about the Middle East, speaking of Arabs, I mentioned a possible key, a necessary one even, for understanding the topic: the Arabic language. I said, however, that I wasn't yet ready to undertake this sophisticated discussion, of which I am still a learner. Nevertheless, I will make a brief reference to the language and its effects just below.

Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash

I also said that the other key, which perhaps works in the opposite direction, for thinking about Arabs, was that of a lasting tendency, always resurgent, towards division, internal conflict, dissent. And I said I would deal, initially, with this discussion. That's what I continue to do here.

Before moving forward, you might find it interesting to go back to the previous texts. The most recent can be found here:

Before speaking of division and, in some way, of hopelessness, I'll tell you about a small experience that concerns the Arabic language and its power...

As many readers may know, in June 2024 I was in Iran to discuss, alongside other guests, the role of International Law in addressing the Palestinian tragedy. There was one person from each of the following countries: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan. I was the only person from the Americas.

It was very interesting to observe, from the first day, almost the first moment, how the Arabs, despite coming from different countries, with diverse policies, sometimes divergent, and despite living different realities, seemed to form a homogeneous group, marked by a special solidarity, a group of mutual recognition: all were bonded to some degree, spoke much more freely among themselves, all differentiated themselves from the Iranian hosts and also from the non-Arab guests.

It's true that all were Muslims (those who know the Arab world know that there was a Sunni majority and a Shiite minority), but the miracle was operated through language, despite different accents and some specific vocabulary choices. I don't say this recognition was due to language; I think there's something deeper that leads Arabs to believe in this familiarity, this common identity. But I say that without the language it wouldn't be possible to express, to experience, this identification.

I, arriving from Brazil, was immediately recognized as Lebanese, by name and by the known fact that, in Brazil, most Arab descendants are of Lebanese origin. This recognition, however, wouldn't have taken me further if I couldn't exchange with them in current Arabic. I was integrated, then, and had throughout the time access to a world proper to the Arabs of that group, to a way of looking, understanding, commenting, criticizing, laughing and joking. I had access and participated because, it must be said, the language came to me throughout a lifetime of coexistence with these ways of being and existing in the world.

Several of our African colleagues, as well as those from Pakistan, were equally Muslim and it's equally true that Muslims tend to recognize each other and see themselves as brothers in religion, but the lack of Arabic language created a divide. This was visible in a strangeness that someone would occasionally express when noticing that people spoke of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, as if they weren't part of Africa!