Popular Proverbs: An Entrance to Palestinian Culture

by Nasser M Isleem

This monumental collection of over one thousand proverbs from Palestine and across the Arabic-speaking world provides an informative and entertaining treasure trove of knowledge for anyone with interest in this remarkable culture. The central role of proverbs in daily speech originates from a universal reverence in Arab culture for language and especially poetry. The Arabic language has enjoyed a long tradition of both secular and religious poetry, beginning with the pre-Islamic Jahiliyya poets and continuing today in popular verse. Arabs everywhere take great pride in this tradition and in the Arabic language itself, a pride which is evident in the frequent usage of proverbs in literature, the media and every-day conversation. Given the integral role of proverbs in Palestinian life, and indeed throughout all Arab cultures, the study of such proverbs as used by Palestinians offers a unique perspective on the beliefs and values shared among all Arabs.

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009