It is not unusual to hear often the associations that are made between being Arab and Muslim , as if they were something indivisible, as if both were variables dependent on each other or, directly, synonyms. This is, in part, because of the centuries of orientalist scholars who (erroneously) identified Arab ethnicity with the religion of Mohammed.

Ignorance is the big problem in confusing these terms. In Spain, specifically, the concept “moro” is used to refer to any person who professes the Muslim religion or belongs to the countries that are part of the Middle East. In this article we will review precisely what the differences are between being Arab and being Muslim so that it is clear that both concepts refer to very different things. Let’s start with a couple of basic definitions.

What does it mean to be Arabic?

Paradoxical as it may seem, the fact of being Arabic responds to a fundamentally linguistic and geographical cause . Geographically, Arabs extend from North Africa to Western Asia, where curiously some of the countries with the most Muslims to their credit, with approximately 90% of the population, are excluded from this category.

And here is where the surprise comes: in Turkey, with almost one hundred percent of citizens of the Muslim faith, they are not Arabs. Indonesia, another exaggerated example of the same character, has 97% of Muslims residing in the country. Pakistan or Iran are other of the clearest examples of differentiation between Muslim and Arab .

And be a Muslim?

The story is very different when it comes to religion. The prophet Mohammed himself preached an Islam without borders, as if it were a transnational organization, from which the term “Ummah” was born, meaning the encompassing of the entire Islamic community worldwide, regardless of sex, origin, nationality or ethnicity, among others.

Nor should we confuse being Muslim with being Islamic. In this article of differences between Islam, Muslim, Islamic and Jihadist we already categorize what each specific case involves.

Differences between Arabic and Muslim, in 6 points

These are the 6 basic differences that exist between being Muslim and being Arab.

1. Territory

It’s perhaps the most distinctive element of all the rest. Islam does not conceive of borders , does not recognize the modern system of states and its followers do not pay homage to any flag or political ideology. The Arabic language, on the other hand, is well defined geographically.

2. Culture

Culture is another reason to uncheck Arab with Muslim. In itself, Islam offers patterns of behaviour for very specific aspects of life, which strictly adhere to the parameters of the Koran, such as avoiding depicting human figures in the nude, or the prohibition of drawing Saints and Prophets. However, throughout the length and breadth of the planet, Muslims live according to a whole series of cultural nuances and variations that make them a diverse community.

3. Music

There is much controversy regarding music in the Islamic community. For some purists who are experts in the interpretation of Islam, music is forbidden. It distracts from prayer and the obligation to recite the Qur’an. However, this is not a view shared by all Muslims.

4. Culinary differences

The ban limits the culinary taste of Muslims. As may be the case with vegans, for example, Muslims are strictly restricted from eating pork, as well as other products derived from the same animal (sweets, jellies, handmade pastries). But in addition to this characteristic, Arab culture has an associated type of diet and cuisine that does not exhaust all the gastronomic possibilities that a Muslim person chooses .

5. Language

As we pointed out in the introduction, the fact of being Arab practically forces the subject to be knowledgeable and practising of the Arabic language in order to recognise this identity and integrate into the countries that are part of this group. Without it, for example, it is very difficult to find a job, in the same way that someone who does not know Spanish will have difficulties in Spain.On the other hand, a Muslim cannot be required to know Arabic.

6. Politics

As far as political regulation is concerned, Muslims or Muslim countries are usually governed by the Sharia , a very strict way of applying politics within society. However, Arabs in general, even within Islamic countries, tend to dissociate themselves from this trend by advocating cultural integrity, the secularity of the state and greater gender equality.

7. Religion

This is another of the great differences between Muslims and Arabs. The Muslim, by definition, follows the precepts of the Koran, but not all inhabitants of Arab countries are Muslims. The Copts, the Druze, the Maghrebi Jews and the Christian communities in general that live in Arab countries are also part of this type of society.