[Oorang]

Thanks for keeping up with this Cindy.

In contrast, in Arab culture, there is time in abundance. It can be wasted indefinitely. After all, it is not necessary to do everything here and now. This is one of the prominent cultural phenomena of what is humorously defined as an IBM culture: inshaAllah (if God wills it), buqra (tomorrow), Ma`lish (it is nothing). This is the reason for the totally different approach to negotiations among the Arabs, for the lack of speed in agreeing to accords, and for the tendency to postpone till tomorrow dealing with complex problems. In Western culture, everything is viewed as a “window of opportunity”, in an admired and attractive expression. Time is valuable and should be quickly and efficiently exploited. Meanwhile, in Arab culture, the belief is that one should not hurry, since haste is the work of Satan (al-`ajalah min al-shaitan), and one should not hurry, not even for blood vengeance.

Excerpted

http://www.acpr.org.il/ENGLISH-NATIV/issue1/bukay-1.htm

[GOPJ]

Meanwhile, in Arab culture, the belief is that one should not hurry, since haste is the work of Satan (al-`ajalah min al-shaitan), and one should not hurry, not even for blood vengeance.

Is this part of the reason Arabs seem so creepy?

[Cindy]

Kind of has that cairish feel to it.
Thanks Oorang.