GlossaryAhmed Shawqi: Egyptian poet and dramatist, 1868-1932, known as the Prince of Poets, who introduced the genre of poetic epics to the Arabic literary tradition.
Ababil: birds, with the world’s largest wings, said in the Quran to have come down from heaven to protect Mecca from the Habashi army by dropping red clay bricks on their elephants as they advanced on the city.
abaya: a voluminous black garment worn over other clothes by some Muslim women.
baltu: an ankle-length overcoat (from the French paletot).
duha, witr, and tajahud prayers: optional additional prayers made at specific times between the five obligatory daily prayers in Islam.
hadith: a saying of the Prophet Muhammad transmitted by established Islamic sources which, along with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunn
