Against the Loveless World Read online

  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

  Literally means “stomping of the feet”; it is a native Levantine folk dance performed by Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, and Jordanians. The dance combines lines or circles of men and women, dancing in coordinated movements that vary from one region to another.

  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.

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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.