Girls of Riyadh (27 page)

RAJAA ALSANEA
grew up in Riyadh, the younger of two daughters in a family of doctors and dentists. She is currently living in Chicago, where she is pursuing a degree in endodontics. She intends to return to Saudi Arabia after attaining her degree. She is twenty-five years old, and this is her first novel.

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A very popular cartoon for the 1990s generation of Saudi Arabian children. Translated from Japanese, it’s a story of a boy trying to achieve his dream of becoming a soccer star.

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An expensive car with completely tinted windows often belongs to a man who does not want his wife and daughters exposed to the eyes of young men looking for fun. Nowadays, tinting is prohibited by Saudi law for security reasons.

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The weekend in Saudi Arabia is Thursday and Friday.

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In Islam, a
hijab
is any kind of head covering that conceals the hair and neck of a woman.

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The hadith are collections of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed.

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A famous Egyptian singer from the 1960s.

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The Internet provider company in Saudi Arabia.

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Sheikh Jassem Al-Mutawa’, a famous Kuwaiti Muslim televangelist who hosts a very well-known Arabic TV program called
Happy Nests
and is the chief editor of several magazines and the author of many Islamic books that discuss relationships between men and women, marriage and family matters.

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Among the different subclassifications of Saudi society, there are the tribals and the nontribals. Between those two classes/sectors there can be no marriages. A tribal family is one that can be traced to one of the well-known Arabic tribes.

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“Mama” can also be used as an expression to indicate surprise or fear (“Oh, God!”).

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Amr Khaled is an Egyptian Muslim activist and preacher. His popularity has now grown all over Arab countries. He is one of the most influential televangelists and authors in the Arab world.

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There is an Arabic proverb that says: “Better the shadow of a man than the shadow of a wall.”

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Manfooha is a very old and urban area south of Riyadh, and Olayya is a bustling area in Riyadh where real estate prices are high.

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After the death of Prophet Mohammed—peace be upon him—Muslims were split on who should lead them. Khalifah Abu Baker Al-Siddeeq, Prophet Mohammed’s loyal friend, was nominated, but there were those who rejected the choice and wanted Prophet Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali Bin Abi-Taleb, to succeed. Shiite Muslims are of the opinion of the last group and thus are referred to by some Sunnis as rejectionists.

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Breakfast meal in Ramadan.

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A popular Ramadan drink; juice of grapes, raspberries and black currants.

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The call for prayer.

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The religious sheikh who calls for prayers at a mosque.

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A city in the east coast of Saudi Arabia, with a big Shiite population.

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Of course they do! All men who wear
thobes
have to wear long white underpants—called Sunni underpants—underneath to prevent the thin material of their
thobes
from shearing. The name “Sunni” underpants is just a funny coincidence.

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Arabic incense. Wooden sticks that come from particular trees in India or Cambodia, and when burned, generate strong and beautiful lasting fragrance.

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Al-Hai’ah is a short name for the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, i.e., the Religious Police.

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Yalla
can mean “c’mon!” or “hurry up!”

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A short pilgrimage to Mecca undertaken by Muslims. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be done anytime of the year.

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Due to their darker complexions, Saudi girls tend to have darkened knees. Guys always pick on girls because of that, although they have the same problem! However, due to the hot climate of Saudi, dryness and the frequent use of Arabic sandals,
ni’aal,
guys tend to have very dry feet and dirty toenails. Girls pick on that, in return.

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Egyptian actor. The line comes from a famous black-and-white “classic” Arabic movie.

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Anonymous last names to protect the identities of those bold enough to offer a writing job to me!

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Tahini halvah: a type of dessert made of sesame paste.

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A saying used when you compare two things that are both worthless.

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A handsome, well-known Egyptian actor who starred in many Arabic romantic films.

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Taiba and Owais is a massive outdoor flea market where cheap goods are sold.

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Oh, wow!

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Male’s head covering in Saudi. Similar to a
shimagh
but has a plain white color instead of red and white checks.

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Ma shaa Allah
is an Islamic phrase that one says in order not to jinx someone’s luck.

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Famous Saudi critic.

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It is generally frowned upon for young Saudi women to be actresses.

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Saudi prince and famous poet.

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A type of tobacco pipe popular in the UAE.

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Male garment in UAE, similar to the Saudi
thobe.

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Turban.

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Old and famous Saudi singer.

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My love.

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Many native Hijazis prefer to shorten the engagement period and lengthen the time between the marriage contract-signing and the wedding, i.e., the
milkah
period. Unlike Najdis, who would not mind a long engagement period but do not like a long
milkah
period, when the couple are considered officially married and have the right to meet and go out even before the wedding ceremony takes place.

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God is Great. The starting line in every prayer.

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E Wallah
means swearing in God’s name that something is true.

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Nonobligatory prayers held right after Isha prayers during the whole month of Ramadan.

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Nonobligatory prayers held in the last third of night during the last ten days of Ramadan.

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Traditional black cloak that men wear on top of their
thobes
for important occasions or events.

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By Nabil Shu’ail, a Kuwaiti singer.

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Muhram men are men whom a woman is allowed to go without
hijab
in front of; e.g., male members of her immediate family.

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While Hijazi girls call their mothers-in-law Mama, Najdi girls find that disrespectful to their own mothers, so they call the husbands’ mothers Aunt.

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Here,
Sheikh
refers to the patriarch of an Arabian tribe or family.

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Jurists.

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A legal opinion or ruling.

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A female Saudi poet.

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A rephrasing of her name to make an affectionate nickname.

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A Lebanese singer.

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Expensive oil perfume that is extracted from trees in limited parts of Asia.

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An
abaya
is a long, loose black robe worn on top of clothes whenever a woman is outdoors.