Customs and Traditions
Names
Egyptians are generally known by three names: the name given to them at birth, their fatherâs name, and their grandfatherâs name. Thus Samir Hanna Sadeq denotes the name given to the infant, Samir; his fatherâs name, Hanna; and his grandfatherâs name, Sadek.
A small number of Egyptians have surnames or family names. The origin of this custom dates back to the nineteenth century. Muhammad Ali, viceroy of Egypt (1811â49), appropriated all the land of the country and became its sole owner. However, as a reward for various services rendered he bestowed gracious endowments on a few of his subjects in the form of land. These individuals became feudal landlords, and on their death their offspring naturally inherited the land. To emphasize their claim of ownership, these heirs retained the name of the original recipient and thus became known as the family Badrawi, Doss, and so on. Thus until today the concept of acquiring land through inheritance, as opposed to buying it, is stamped with the hallmark of prestige, prosperity, and good background.
Names sometimes bear a religious identity: Ragab, Ramadan, Shaâban (names of Islamic months), Muhammad, Hassan, and Zeinab are undoubtedly Muslim names, while Boctor, Kirollos, and Dimyana are distinctly Coptic. It is also common in Muslim families to register two names as a first name on their sonâs birth certificate, starting with the Prophetâs name, then following it with the chosen name. Thus in a family of two sons the birth certificates may read Muhammad Hosni and Muhammad Anwar, although the boys will be known as Hosni and Anwar. Meanwhile, some Coptic families will choose as a name for their newborn the first name they come across on opening the Bible at random. For this reason, names like Esther, Israel, and Rachel are not uncommon among Copts.
Names in Arabic usually have a meaning. They may be epithets like Karim (âgenerousâ) and âAdel (ârighteousâ) or a humble attribute to God such as âAbd al-Muntasir (âslave of the Victoriousâ), âAbd al-Hafez (âslave of the Preserverâ), and so on. As a result of travels and conquests, other foreign names, mainly Turkish, Persian, and British, have also infiltrated the naming rules and have become popular with the Egyptian community. Thus âEsmat and Mervat are Turkish names, Safinaz and Nermin are Persian, while William and Victoria are definitely British.
Names are always written in fullâthat is, the three names: the childâs, the fatherâs, and the grandfatherâs or the family nameâand initials are not used in Arabic. Although officially a person has three names, he or she is commonly known by only two. As a second name, some people will prefer to use their grandfatherâs name over their fatherâs and will attach it to their names, omitting the fatherâs name. This can naturally cause confusion, especially for westerners, as siblings will then have different second names, and outsiders are at a loss to understand the family link between them. For example, flautist Inas âAbd al-Dayem is the sister of soprano Iman Mustafa; writer Mursi Saad Eddin is the brother of composer Baligh Hamdi; and musician Mursi Gamil is the brother of singer Fayda Kamel. To overcome this ambiguous situation some familiesâmainly in the middle and upper-middle classesâhave recently started adopting the grandfatherâs name as a family surname.
Under all circumstances, women officially retain their maiden names after marriage and do not automatically assume their husbandsâ. This is a Muslim doctrine applicable to all women of both faiths and is related to ownership of property and the protection of womenâs rights. However, on the social level and as an exception to the rule, the presidentsâ wives, Jehan and Suzanne, are known as Jehan Sadat and Suzanne Mubarak.
Among the lower classes, some women prefer to conceal their names from strangers, and are called, for example, Umm Karim (âMother of Karimâ), Karim being the first-born son. Such women do not view this as a negation of their identity, but on the contrary are proud of this appellation and feel that it ennobles them. Men too are often pleased to be called, for example, Abu Karim, to show their pride in conceiving a son, although this is less common.
In the immediate aftermath of the July 1952 Revolutionâthe heyday of secular Pan-Arab nationalismâEgyptians tended to shun names too closely identified with religion, opting instead for names such as Samer (âentertainerâ) or Soha (the name of a star) that had no obvious religious connotations. Today, however, that tide has been reversed. A name like Islam was never heard of in the early 1950s, yet now it is not uncommon among Muslims, whereas Fadi (âsacrificedââreferring to Christ) is now in vogue among Copts.
Addressing people by their first names is less common in Egypt than in the west. A titleânot necessarily meritedâfrequently precedes the first name. Thus:
⢠Adults will address one another as Ustaz (Mr., literally âprofessorâ) or Anisa (Miss) or Madam (Mrs.).
⢠If a person has a professional degree, the first name will be preceded by his or her title: Mohandis (âEngineerâ) Medhat, Doctor Mona.
⢠As a mark of respect, a vendor may add Hagg or Hagga (literally, a person who has been on pilgrimage) before a customerâs name, even if he or she has never made a pilgrimage; or they might follow it with Bey or Hanem, thus conferring a respectable title on this person.
⢠A friendly epithet of Abla (âbig sisterâ) or Abey (âbig brotherâ) sometimes breaks the severity of mere acquaintance, and at the same time keeps a polite distance.
⢠Children will call any acquaintance of their parents âAmmu (âuncleâ) or Tante (âauntâ), rather than Mr. or Mrs., and definitely not by their first name alone.
⢠An older man of lower social status may be addressed as âAmm X (âuncleâ X), again to show friendship.
⢠Children among themselves will address one another as kabtin (âcaptainâ) if they do not know the other childâs name.
⢠Among the lower classes, womenâs names are seldom mentioned, and women are usually called Umm X (âmother of Xâ), as mentioned above.
Some Arabic names and their meanings:
Name | Meaning |
âAdel | Righteous |
Amal | Hopes |
Amani | Wishes |
Amin | Honest |
Amira | Princess |
âAzmi | My Will |
Badr | Full Moon |
Bahaa | Glory |
Basma | Smile |
Bushra | Annunciation |
Camelia | a type of flower |
Dalal | Coquettishness |
Doha | Dawn |
Farid | Unique |
Faten | Bewitcher, Seducer |
Fuad | Heart |
Gamal | Beauty |
Gamil | Beautiful |
Hadil | Cooing of Pigeons |
Haitham | Brave Lion |
Hana | Health and Happiness |
Hassan | Good, Beautiful |
Hosni | My Beautiful One, My Good One |
Kamal | Perfection |
Karam | Generosity |
Karim | Generous |
Khaled | Eternal |
Magdi | My Glory |
Maher | Adept |
Mahmoud | Thanked |
Manal | Aspiration |
Nada | Dew |
Nargess | Narcissus |
Osama | Brave Lion |
Rafiq | Friend, Companion |
Ragaaâ | Entreaty |
Reda | Accepting Destiny |
Safaaâ | Purity |
Sahar | Dawn |
Salah | Righteousness |
Salma | Safe |
Samer | Entertainer |
Sawsan | a type of flower |
Sherif | Honest |
Soha | the name of a star |
Suhail | the name of a star |
Tarif | Pleasant |
Tawfiq | Success |
Wadiâ | Tame, Gentle |
Zaghloul | Chick |
Zarif | Pleasant |
The Name of God
Egyptians are by nature religious at heart. They are forever invoking Godâs name at every occasion and circumstance: in love, hate, disapproval, despair, surprise, and so on. Punctuating all conversations with incantations of In shaâ Allah (âGod willingâ) and al-Hamdu li-llah (âthanks be to Godâ) is as natural to an Egyptian as breathing. This is not superstition but a deeply ingrained belief in Godâs power and a plea for benediction in all matters.
The simple word Allah (âGodâ) given different intonation or stress can have many different meanings, and will eloquently replace a whole sentence or expression. Thus, in admiration, the second syllable is stretched to sound like Allaaaah; in confusion the word is repeated two or three times: Allah, Allah, Allah; while in astonishment, surprise, or perplexity, the stress is on the first syllable: Aaallah.
Male names including the word Allah abound: Hamdallah, Shukrallah (both meaning âthanks to Godâ), and Saâdallah (âGodâs happinessâ), to name a few. At the same time, names starting with âAbd (âslaveâ or âservantâ)âsuch as âAbd al-Rahim (âslave of the Mercifulâ) and âAbd al-Muâti (âslave of the Giverâ)âare all expressions of servitude to God.
Muslim women often wear brooches, pendants, or other jewelry bearing the word Allah in beautiful calligraphy, accepted as a sign of piety and uprightness. A very popular gift to a newborn Muslim infant is a brooch bearing the word Allahâapart from its material value, it is an amulet believed to dispel evil spirits and bless the child.
In many Coptic families, the words al-Rabb (âthe Lordâ) or Rabbina (âour Lordâ) replace Allah.
The word Allah has become such a part of the language that expressions including the name of God abound. Following are some of the most common expressions used, with their meanings:
Allahu akbar (âGod is greatestâ): Apart from being the opening to the Muslim call to prayer, this expression is used to ward off the evil eye. To express admiration for a child or object without following it with Allahu akbar or Ma shaâ Allah (âAs God wishesâ) is inviting trouble (see the section on Superstition, below). Copts in this context will use the expression Bism il-salib (âIn the name of the crossâ).
Allah yiddilak tult al-âumr (âMay God give you long lifeâ), Allah yikhallik (âMay God keep you aliveâ), Allah yisâidak wiykhallik (âMay God keep you happy and aliveâ) are all wishes for longevity, and said as a favorable answer, as thanks, or simply in answer to a greeting.
Allah yigazik (âMay God punish youâ) is said jokingly in reply to a prank, or with great disappointment when someone fails to live up to expectation, but of course with a different tone of voice.
Allah yihfazak or Allah yikhallik (both meaning âMay God preserve youâ) are said to express appreciation or thanks.
Allah yirhamuh/yirhamha (âGod have mercy on him/herâ) is said when someone dies.
Astaghfar Allah (I ask Godâs forgivenessâ) is used to do just that or to modestly decline a compliment.
Bismillah (âIn the name of Godâ) is an expression used as an opening or foreword before any new venture, whether a speech, a journey, or a meal. This expression is used by both Muslims and Copts, unlike Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, which is used only by Muslims. It is expressed to validate important agreements, to give courage at times of uncertainty, and to lend auspiciousness to countless daily events. A Bismillah is also used as an invitation to partake of food. Any person, whether an acquaintance or a stranger, coming upon another person eating will automatically be invited to share the food using this expression.
al-Hamdulillah (âThanks to Godâ) is used at the end of a meal, or in answer to a question. The reply is the same whether it is in the affirmative or negative, but the inflection of the voice determines which is which. âDo you want another helping?â Al-Hamdulillah (meaning âNoâ). âDid you enjoy your outing?â Al-Hamdulillah (meaning âYesâ).
In shaâ Allah (âGod willingâ). It is unheard of to declare an intention to do something, go somewhere, or even plan an event without preceding or following it with In shaâ Allah. Even in answer to a questionâfor example, is Mr. Sherif going somewhere? Are you doing anything tomorrow?âwhen the answer is in the affirmative, the same expression, In shaâ Allah, is used, adding eloquence to the âyes.â
Ism Allah (Godâs name) is used both as an invocation to God for protectionâfor example, if a person is about to fallâor, with a different inflection of voice, contemptuous astonishment.
Khalliha âal-Allah (âLeave it to Godâ) is said when a problem is complicated and does not seem soluble.
Tawakkalna âal-Allah (âWe have placed our trust in Godâ) is said before starting on a journey or a new project.
Yarhamukum Allah (âMay God have mercy on youâ) is the expression used when a person sneezes.
Marriage
In Egypt, the peak of the crescendo of lifeâs events is marriage. This is one of societyâs major goals. Normally girls become eligible for marriage at the age of 18, and their chances of marriage dwindle as they approach 30. Men, on the other hand, have no age limitâif they are young when thinking of marrying, between 25 and 30, they are viewed as ambitious and eager to shoulder responsibility. If older, they are described as mature and able to afford a comfortable life for a family, as is expected of a breadwinner. It is said of an unmarried woman, Fat-ha il-âatr (âThe train has passed her byâ), and mention of her name is usually accompanied by Rabbina yifukk diâit-ha (âMay God relieve her of her difficultyâ).
The traditions binding marriage are very well defined. The parents are usually the sole authority when it comes to deciding matrimonial matters. They sit as counselors, judges, and executors of their childrenâs best interests. They ...