Arabs vs Persians: Difference and Comparison

Arabs and Persians refer to people belonging to a specific culture and ethnicity. There are instances when Arabs and Persians are mistakenly classified as the same community of populations.

However, it is true that Arabs and Persians stand differentiated on the grounds of their location, language, ethnic history, tradition, and several other factors. 

Key Takeaways

1. Arabs are an ethnic group that speaks Arabic and originates in the Arabian Peninsula, while Persians are an ethnic group that speaks Persian and originates in Iran.
2. Arabs are predominantly Muslim, while Persians are predominantly Shia Muslim.
3. Arabs and Persians have distinct cultures, histories, and languages.

Arabs vs Persians 

Arab population’s ancestry traces to the original inhabitants of tribes of Arabia who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula, while Persians are a part of the Iranian peoples who belong to the Indo-European family. Arabs speak Arabic, while Persians speak the Iranian language.

Arabs refer to the community of people who live in the Arab World, i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. The language spoken by Arabs is  Arabic and its various varieties.

The basis of classification for Arabs is their language, culture, and genealogy. In addition, the people of Arab origin are united by a shared culture and history.

Persians refer to a community who are part of the people termed “ The Iranian people.” The name ‘ Persian ’ comes from the word Persis which is located in the Northern part of the Persian Gulf.

They inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West. Persians speak the Iranian language and dialects. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Arabs	Persians
Definition	Arabs are the people who inhabit the Arab World i.e. North Africa and Western Asia.	Persians are the people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West.
Language	The language spoken by Arabs is  Arabic and its various varieties.	Persians speak Iranian language and dialects.
History of origin	The ancestry of Arabs can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the Arabian tribe who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula.	Persians are a part of the people termed as The Iranian peoples who belong to the Indo European family.
Religion	Most Arabs practice the Sunni branch of Islam.	Most Persians practice the Shia branch of Islam.
Important Ceremony	The most important holiday for Arabs is Eid al-Fitr.	The most important holiday for Persians is Narooz i.e. the Persian New Year.

What are Arabs?

Arabs refer to the population that lives in the Arab World, i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. The Arab community inhabits countries like Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Algeria, Bahrain, and more.

The basis of classification for Arabs is their language, culture, and genealogy. In addition, the people of Arab origin are united by a shared culture and history. The dominant language of Arabs is the Arabic language and its various varieties.

 The ancestry of Arabs can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the Arabian tribe who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula.

Most Arabs follow the Sunni branch of Islam. In fact, the Arabs don’t consider Iranians as true Muslims owing to the stark difference in the rituals and ceremonies practised by them as followers of the Shia branch of Islam. 

The most important ceremonial holiday in the Arab World is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, i.e. the holy month in which Muslims fast. The Hijra calendar used by Arabs begins from the Islamic New Year in 622 CE.

In addition, it marks the day when the prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina as they were fighting native pagans. Conclusively, Arabs have a rich and varied history which can be traced to their ancestors. 

What are Persians?

Persians refer to the community of people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West.

The name ‘ Persian ’ comes from the word Persis which is located in the Northern part of the Persian Gulf. They are part of the people termed “The Iranian people,” who are a part of the Indo-European family. Persians speak the Iranian language and dialects. 

Most Persians practice the Shia branch of Islam. They adhere to Twelve Chiism, which refers to the belief that twelve imams descended from Ali. Owing to their background and Zoroastrian past, Persians developed a culture distinct from that of the Arabs. 

The most important ceremonial holiday for Persians is Narooz, i.e. the Persian New Year. Yalda night is another ancient Persian festival that marks the longest light of the year and is enthusiastically celebrated by the Iranians.

The calendar used by Persians is based on the calendars used by their ancestors in the Pre-Islamic period. In a nutshell, Persians have emerged as an independent community with traditions and ceremonies specific to their cultural practices. 

Main Differences Between Arabs and Persians 

1.  Arabs are the people who inhabit the Arab World, i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. On the other hand, Persians are the people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West.
2.  Arabs speak Arabic and all varieties of Arabic, whereas Persians speak the Iranian language and dialects. 
3. The ancestry of Arabs can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the Arabian tribe who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula. Persians, however, are part of the people termed as The Iranian people who belong to the Indo-European family.
4. While most Arabs practice the Sunni branch of Islam, most Persians practice the Shia branch of Islam. 
5. The most important ceremonial holiday for Arabs is Eid al-Fitr. In contrast, the most important holiday for Persians is Narooz, i.e. the Persian New Year. 

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303846712006051