Habba souda
: a mixture of corn cockle seeds
Hadarro
: modern-day river Darro that flows through Granada
Hajib
: Prime Minister
Hakkak
: masseur
Hammam
: bathhouse
Hashishin
: Persian assassins
Hawdaj
: a leather canopy
Hijab
: a veil
Hud
: enemies of the Nasrids
Ibn
: son of
Insha’Allah
: God willing
Jahannam
: Hell
Jarya
: concubine, plural
jawari
Jihad
: the struggle; a personal commitment to maintain the Islamic faith, to improve Islamic society and to defend Islam and an Islamic way of life against its enemies
Jubba
: floor-length robe with wide sleeves, opening at the neck, worn by both sexes of the nobility
Kadin
: favored concubine, who has also had children for her master
Khanjar
: dagger
Khassa
: collective Moorish nobility
Khil’a
: ceremonial floor-length robe with wide sleeves, opening at the neck, decorated with
tiraz
bands, worn by courtiers on special occasions
Kohl
: black eyeliner
Madina
: a city
Marinids
: rulers of modern day Morocco AD 1248-1548
Mashwar
: the council chambers of the Sultan’s chancery
Mihrab
: prayer niche
Naksh
: cursive style of calligraphy
Nasrids
: rulers of Granada AD 1232-1492
Nikah
: wedding ceremony
Niyyah
: declaration of the intent to perform prayers
Purdah
: room divider or screen
Qadar
: pre-destiny
Qa’id
: judge
Qamis
: long shirt of white cotton or linen, worn as an undergarment by both sexes, in all social classes
Qaysariyya
: the central marketplace in Granada
Qiblah
: the wall of a mosque facing the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Raïs
: provincial governor
Rak’ah
: prescribed series of movements and words during Muslim prayer
Rawda
: cemetery
Sabika
: the hill where the Alhambra was built
Salat al-Asr
: third prayer time, obligatory at afternoon
Salat al-Fajr
: first prayer time, obligatory at sunrise
Salat al-Isha
: fifth prayer time, obligatory at nighttime
Salat al-Maghrib
: fourth prayer time, obligatory after sunset
Salat al-Zuhr
: second prayer time, obligatory at noon
Sarawil
: trousers
Shahadah
: the Muslim Profession of Faith
Sharia
: the religious law of Islam
Shashiya
: skullcap
Tahinah
: sesame paste
Talib
: apprentice or student
‘Tharid
: dish of crumbled pieces of bread served in a meat or vegetable broth
Tiraz
: richly brocaded bands of cloth decorating the upper sleeves of a ceremonial garment, often bearing symbols, geometric motifs or script
Umm al-
Walad: literally ‘mother of a child’
Ummi
: my mother
Walima
: wedding feast
Wazir
: minister
Lisa J. Yarde writes fiction inspired by the Middle Ages in Europe. She is the author of two historical novels set in medieval England and Normandy
,
The Burning Candle
, based on the life of Isabel de Vermandois, and
On Falcon's Wings
, chronicling the star-crossed romance between Norman and Saxon lovers. Lisa has also written
Sultana
and
Sultana’s Legacy
, novels set during a turbulent period of thirteenth century Spain, where rivalries and ambitions threaten the fragile bonds between members of a powerful family.
Born in Barbados, Lisa currently lives in New York City. She is also an avid blogger and moderates at
Unusual Historicals
. She is also a regular contributor at
Historical Novel Reviews
and
History and Women
. Her personal blog is
The Brooklyn Scribbler
.
Learn more about Lisa and her writing at the website
www.lisajyarde.com
. Follow her on
Twitter
or become a
Facebook fan
. For information on upcoming releases and freebies from Lisa, join her mailing list at
http://eepurl.com/un8on
.
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