Glossary
Bint Allah
| Literally, ‘Daughter of God’.
|
Bank of Faith
| Banks which call themselves Islamic Banks and engage in all kinds of speculations, maintaining that they do not pay interest but rather profit, since to pay interest is usually prohibited by Islam.
|
Fadl Allah
| Literally, ‘God’s bounty’.
|
Gahglouls
| Names given in folk tales to those who are failures or slothful.
|
Hizb Allah
| Literally, ‘Party of God’.
|
Hizb al-Shaitan
| Literally, ‘Party of Satan’.
|
Imam
| Religious leader and ruler of the Muslims.
|
Imam Allah
| Religious leader and ruler, representative of God on earth.
|
Kaaba
| The black stone around which pilgrims to Mecca circle seven times.
|
Khawaga
| Literally, ‘Foreigner’; a slightly derogatory term.
|
Law of Obedience
| A ruling in Muslim jurisprudence which obliges a wife to return to her husband if she has left him without obtaining a divorce.
|
Marzouk
| Meaning, ‘Fortunate creature of God’.
|
Mawlanah
| He who is responsible for the people; the religious leader.
|
Milk brother
| Children breast-fed by the same woman; foster-brother.
|
Namrud, Safrut, Awisra’a
| Imaginary devils or evil spirits mentioned in incantations.
|
Nemat Allah
| Literally, ‘Blessing or gift of God’.
|
Night of the Revelation
| The night when the full moon appears at the end of the month of
Thoul Higa,
indicating the first day of the Big Feast.
|
Shari’a
| Muslim jurisprudence, which allows amputation of hands and legs for theft.
|
Siti al-Haja
| Literally, ‘My mistress who has done the pilgrimage to Mecca’. Used as a term of respect when speaking of or addressing a grandmother or an old woman with whom there is some intimacy.
|
Sourat
| Literally, ‘Chapter’.
|
Tree of Thorns
| The thorn tree from which twigs were taken to make a crown for Christ when he was crucified.
|
Vizir
| Literally, ‘Cabinet minister’.
|
eISBN: 978-1-84659-139-6
First published by Methuen, 1988
First Telegram edition, 2009
This eBook edition published 2012
Copyright © Nawal El Saadawi, 1988 and 2012
Translation © Sherif Hetata, 1988 and 2012
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