auspicious
prosperous, favorable, a sign of success; often used in connection to religion, like a 'good omen'
beatitude
a state of utmost bliss or blessedness
bey
a term that originated with the Ottoman Turks, meaning chieftain or leader of a tribal group; the term eventually evolved into a title for prosperous men
brazier
a container for fire or hot coals; the earliest version was found in Iraq in 824 BCE
hajj
the holy pilgrimage to Mecca, expected of any able-bodied and financially capable Muslim
hashish
a drug derived from cannabis
indignation
anger, wrath, or resentment provoked by perceived injustice
mosque
a place of worship for Muslims
palanquin
a vehicle or "litter" carried on the shoulders of four or more people
pasha
equivalent to the British title of 'Lord', and one of the highest titles given in pre-Republican Egypt
piaster
the number of units of currency, used in part to measure Egyptian pounds
Qur'an
the Islamic religious text
Saad Zaghlul
an Egyptian revolutionary and the country's Prime Minister from January-November 1924; a nationalist and leader of the Wafd Party in the 1919 Revolution, who led a delegation in Paris, demanding independence from the UK
sepulcher
a small tomb made from rock or stone
tarboosh
a brimless red felt cap with a silk tassel, common in the Middle East
the feast of al-Adha
an important Islamic holiday that honors the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God; also known as 'Eid,' or the Feast of Sacrifice
the Rebellion of 1919
the rebellion of the Egyptians against their British colonizers, led by Saad Zaghlul, the leader of the Wafd Party; its relative success allowed Egypt to draft a new constitution in 1923
the Well of ZamZam
a well in the Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca in Saudi Arabia; Muslims believe that the well is filled with water from God
till
a small compartment for money in a store
Wafd Party
a nationalist political party in Egypt led by Saad Zaghlul; it was founded during the 1919 Revolution and dissolved after the 1952 Egyptian Revolution
