In memory of Mame Lambeth, my person. And in memory of Aminah Abulhawa, the person I always waited for.
ALSO BY SUSAN ABULHAWA
Mornings in Jenin
My Voice Sought the Wind
The Blue Between Sky and Water
Contents
I. Kuwait The Cube, East
Dance, Ruby River
Um Buraq
II. Iraq The Cube, West
Six Months
III. Jordan The Cube, North
Unsteady Earth
IV. Palestine The Cube, South
The Layers of Absence
A World Beneath & “Our Spot” Above
V. Jordan, Again The Cube, Up & Down
Money Softens the Heart
VI. Palestine, Always The Cube, the Space Between
Anatomy of Home
Chaos Theory
Harvest
Homecoming
A Time for Us
Redeeming History
VII. Between Freedom The Cube, the Unreachable Beyond
Day One
Week Two
Week Three
Weeks Four & Five
Weeks Six, Seven, Eight & Nine
Joy
Acknowledgments
GLOSSARY
abaya
A simple, loose overgarment or cloak, worn by some women in parts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In Kuwait, they are traditionally black and are worn by both men and women.
adan
Muslim call to worship.
ahlan
One of the many forms of “welcome” in Arabic.
alhamdulillah
Gratitude to God.
alhamdulillah assalameh
Gratitude to God for your safety (safe arrival).
Allahu akbar
God is bigger. This phrase is used in every conceivable situation to invoke a belief that God is bigger than any circumstance, and God is all-knowing in whatever afflicts or blesses humans.
Allah yustor
God protect.
almas
Diamond.
ammi, ammo
Palestinian colloquial for “uncle,” used to address older male relatives or any elder men as a sign of respect.
argileh
Hookah, smoking pipe.
aseeleh
A woman rooted in tradition and good manners.
babbour
A type of kerosene camp stove.
bismillah
In the name of God.
bizir
Roasted watermelon seeds.
booza
Ice cream. Booza dhahab is a popular ice cream in Kuwait.
dabke
dawali
Grape leaves.
dhuhr
Noon.
dinar
A unit of currency; the Kuwaiti dinar (KD) is roughly three times stronger than the US dollar. One KD equals approximately 3.37 USD as of late 2019.
dishdasha
A loose, ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, worn throughout Africa, Persia, the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, and Iraq. Men’s disdashas are simple, traditionally white or gray, whereas women’s dishdashas vary from simple to ornately patterned and colorful.
diwaniya
A large room where men in the Gulf region receive male guests to conduct business or socialize. Traditional diwaniyas boast seating on floor cushions that line the walls around the room. Sitting or hosting a diwaniya is an important feature of the social and economic fabric of male life in Kuwait.
dua’a
A prayer to God.
dunum
A unit of land equivalent to approximately one quarter of an acre.
el hilw ma byinsa el halawa
The sweet do not forget the sweets.
enshallah
God willing.
fajr
Sunrise.
fajr salat
Sunrise worship, the first of five daily worships in Islam.
fallahi
Singular masculine form of fallah, which refers to the peasant class.
Fatiha
Generally means “the opening,” but specifically refers to the opening Surah in the Quran. In the context where it’s mentioned in the prose, the Fatiha is traditionally recited for the souls of the dead.
fattoush
A Levantine salad common to Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. It typically includes lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and fried pieces of pita bread. Some families also like to add green peppers, green onions, and parsley. In Arabic, the word fattoush is derived from fatteh, which literally means “crumbs” (which is also the origin of the word feta for cheese).
frangie
Westerners.
fuul
Fava beans, usually in the form of a paste dipped with spices and olive oil.
ghada
Lunch, the biggest meal of the day in Arab societies.
ghutra-o-egal
Traditional headwear of Arab men. The ghutra is the cloth head covering, which is held in place with an egal, a black chord, worn doubled on the crown of the head.
habibi
Singular masculine form of “my beloved.”
habibti
Singular feminine form of “my beloved.”
haader, ya sit el kol
The literal translation—“present, lady of all”—is an affectionate way of saying “yes, ma’am.”
ha’ek alay
A way of saying “my bad” or “please forgive me.” The literal translation doesn’t make sense in English: “your justice is on me.”
hajjeh
A title of respect for an elderly woman, particularly if she undertook the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
hammam
Public bathhouse associated with Islamic culture. Bathers begin by relaxing in steamy hot rooms, where they are then lathered and scrubbed with special loofas to remove layers of dead skin, followed by a massage with essential oils and a cooling period. Variations include dips in ice-cold water before the massage, or relaxation on hot tiles in dry rooms.
hara
Neighborhood, typically in poorer areas.
haram
Sinful.
hawiyya
Identity, ID card.
hummus
A protein-rich paste made with tahini (ground sesame seeds), garbanzo beans, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. For centuries, hummus has been a staple food in Levantine societies—Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan—though it is common throughout the Arab world.
ibriq
Coffee- or teapot.
immi
Palestinian colloquial for “my mother.”
istaghfar Allah
Literally translates to “I seek forgiveness in God.” It is often uttered in proximity to transgressions, misdeeds, or evil as supplication. It is also used in humor.
jafra
A popular dabke style that encompasses an entire genre of songs, which can vary significantly but still keep a basic rhythm that is recognizable from one song to another, lending itself to consistent forms of dabke dances.
jameed
Hard, dry, salted yogurt made from sheep or goat milk. It is the main ingredient in mansaf. The milk is filtered through fine cheesecloth to make thick yogurt, to which salt is added daily to further thicken the yogurt and drain away the whey. When it is sufficiently thick, it is balled into spheres and dried for days in th
e shade.
khala
One of the many ways to say “auntie.”
Khaleeji
Of or pertaining to the region of the Arabian or Persian Gulf.
khamr
Literal translation refers to a fermented or brewed substance. In the prose, it means alcohol.
khaneeth
Faggot.
khanjar
A traditional dagger with an extremely sharp curved edge, originally from Oman. Often ornate, they are worn by men for ceremonial occasions.
kheir
Blessings. Can be used as a question—Kheir?—meaning “What?”
khobz
Bread.
knafe
A cheesy dessert.
kuffiyeh
Checkered scarf, traditionally worn as men’s headdress, but popularly around the neck among young people of all genders. The black and white version is typical among Palestinians, and has come to symbolize Palestinian nationalism. A red and white version is also worn among Palestinians as well as Arabs throughout West Asia and North Africa.
kuzbarat el ajooz
Literally meaning “spice of the old lady,” but specifically refers to wild Venus-hair, an herb.
labneh
A type of soft cheese made by straining yogurt (laban). Typically eaten as a snack or light food in the Levant region (Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan).
mansaf
Popular Levantine dish of lamb cooked in a jameed sauce (fermented dried yogurt) and served over rice, with nuts and other garnishes. It is the national dish of Jordan, but also common in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and some Gulf countries.
maqlooba
Traditional Palestinian dish eaten throughout the Levant. It consists of layers of meat, rice, and vegetables in special spice mixtures. The name translates to “flipped” or “upside down,” because the pot is flipped upside down when served.
mashawi
Grilled meats.
matchboos
A national dish of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, it consists of rice cooked in a special spice mix (cardamom, peppercorns, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, paprika) with black lime and topped with a browned and spicy tomato sauce.
mezze
Snack foods or appetizers, typically consisting of various cheeses, salads, and spreads (such as hummus, mhammara, labneh).
mhammara
Translates to “reddened,” and refers to a dip originally from Syria. It is made from roasted Aleppo peppers, garlic, crushed walnuts, olive oil, pomegranate, and breadcrumbs.
mistika
A resin obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). Also called Arabic gum; used to flavor foods and desserts.
mitkawteen
Non-Kuwaiti natives who are granted Kuwait citizenship.
mlookhiya
The leaves of a jute plant, typically eaten as a stew by the same name. The dish is thought to have originated in ancient Egypt or India. It is traditionally cooked with chicken or chicken stock and garlic, and served with rice and squeezed lemon.
mo’akhar
Part of Islamic marriage contracts, which list two types of mahr (dowry): The muqaddam is paid up front to seal the marriage. The mo’akhar is a deferred payment in the event of divorce or death of the husband.
msakhan
A traditional layered Palestinian dish, with a large piece of taboun bread at the base, covered with heaps of caramelized onions and generous spicing with sumac, topped off with roasted chicken, toasted almonds, and pine nuts.
mukhtar
The “chosen,” refers to an elder elected by the village council as a leader and arbiter of dispute.
Nabulsi cheese
A white brined cheese that originated from Nablus, Palestine, 7000-9000 years ago.
nahr
River.
ney
A wind instrument similar to the flute, traditionally made from hollow cane or reed with holes for the fingers and thumb. It is one of the oldest musical instruments still in use.
niqab
A face veil that leaves openings only for the eyes.
osool
Derived from the word “origin” or “roots,” it refers in the prose to having principles and traditional good values.
qabbah
Embroidered chest piece of a thobe (caftan).
radah
Embroidered shoulder piece of a thobe (caftan).
Rashida, habibit Baba
Rashida, Daddy’s beloved.
Romi
Refers to the era of the Roman Empire.
sabaho
Mornin’. Shortened way of saying “good morning.”
salamtik, alf salamah
Literally means “blessings on you, a thousand blessings,” but is meant to convey gratitude to God for someone’s wellness, especially after being ill.
salat
Worship.
shabab
The youth.
shabka
Literally means “binding” or “web.” It refers to the gold jewelry, including the wedding ring, that’s meant to “tie” the newlyweds. It is considered an important part of weddings in Arab societies, as it is also meant to offer some financial security for the bride.
shakshouka
An Arab dish that originated in Morocco, whereby eggs are poached in a tomato base with chili peppers, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne, paprika, nutmeg, and other spices. Shakshouka is among a long list of Arab cuisines being appropriated as “Israeli food” even though these dishes predate Israel by hundreds of years.
sharmoot
Whore, singular masculine form; in context, “sharmoot, ibn sharmoota”: whore, son of a whore.
sharmoota
Whore, singular feminine form.
sidi
Palestinian colloquial for “grandfather” or “papa.”
sirwal
Baggy trousers made from light material, typically worn under a dishdasha in Arab countries. Different forms of the sirwal are also worn in Iran, India, and Pakistan.
sitt
Ms.
sitti
Palestinian colloquial for “grandmother” or “granny.”
souq
Market.
subhan Allah
Praise God.
taboon
A clay oven used for thousands of years in Palestine to bake bread. It has an opening at the bottom where the fire is stoked. Traditionally used communally by villagers or large families. The flat bread made in a taboon is called by the same name.
takht
Literally means “bed,” but refers to the musical ensemble typically from Egypt and the Levant and consisting of the oud, qanun, kamanjah, ney, riq, and darbakka instruments.
taqseem
Literally means “division,” but refers to instrumental improvisations that precede traditional musical compositions.
tarab
There is no equivalence to this word in the English language. It describes the emotional, even spiritual, transformation that occurs when one feels a convergence with music. The phenomenon of being “transported” by music is epitomized by tarab. Appreciating classical Arabic songs involves an understanding of this concept.
tatreez
Embroidery.
tfadaloo
Welcome (plural).
thobe
Traditional embroidered caftan.
thuhr
Afternoon.
um
Mother of.
waleh
A versatile word in colloquial Arabic that can range from an insult to an endearment, depending on context. Waleh is the feminine form of wala. An English equivalent might be the urban use of the words girl and boy. Said among friends, “girl” is familiar and endearing. But said by a white supremacist to a black or brown woman, it is an insult. The context in this book is the former.
wudu
Ablution. Ritual cleansing in Islam before worship practices.
&nb
sp; ya Sater
O Protector. Referencing God to call for protection, it is an expression meant to convey caution, trepidation, or generally fear of the unknown.
yalla
A versatile word in the Arabic language. Translates to “let’s go” but can be used in a wide range of contexts with different meanings. For example, it can mean “get over it,” “forget it,” “do it,” or “get moving.”
yaqoot
Ruby; gem.
yis’ed soutik
Literal translation is “may your voice be happy.” It is meant to convey love and joy at hearing the voice of a dear one.
yumma
Palestinian fallahi (peasant) colloquial for “mother.”
za’atar
Thyme, often crushed and combined with sesame to be consumed with olive oil and bread.