Qamar Haveli Moon House, the Waliullah mansion inLahore's walled city Moon House, the Waliullah mansion inLahore's walled city qaraquli, f. p. f. p.
fine lambskin, often used to make men's hats fine lambskin, often used to make men's hats qasid, f. a. f. a.
Indian courier; relay runners were usedthroughout India to carry urgent messages Indian courier; relay runners were usedthroughout India to carry urgent messages quatlame fried dough, given to horses in Turkmenistan;Uzbek word fried dough, given to horses in Turkmenistan;Uzbek word Qur'an, a. a.
the Muslim Holy Scripture, believed to havebeen dictated to the Prophet Muhammad bythe Archangel Gabriel the Muslim Holy Scripture, believed to havebeen dictated to the Prophet Muhammad bythe Archangel Gabriel R.
rezai, u. u.
a cotton-stuffed quilt a cotton-stuffed quilt rokho, u. u.
stop stop
S Sadozai Sadozai tribe of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Father of Afghanistan; Shah Shuja, the British puppetking, was Ahmad Shah's grandson tribe of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Father of Afghanistan; Shah Shuja, the British puppetking, was Ahmad Shah's grandson Safed Koh, u. f. u. f.
White Mountains: a group of mountains on theborder of Afghanistan, near Waziristan; thesame mountains are called Spin Gar in Pushto White Mountains: a group of mountains on theborder of Afghanistan, near Waziristan; thesame mountains are called Spin Gar in Pushto Sahib, u. a. f. u. a. f.
respectful form of address for elders; Britishmen were also addressed as Sahib respectful form of address for elders; Britishmen were also addressed as Sahib sandali, p. p.
square table with a quilt spread over the top towarm the legs of people sitting around it; abrazier of burnt charcoal sits under the table square table with a quilt spread over the top towarm the legs of people sitting around it; abrazier of burnt charcoal sits under the table Sarak-e-Azam, u. u.
Grand Trunk Road built by Sher Sah Suri in thesixteenth century; runs from Peshawar toeastern Bengal, a distance of some twothousand miles Grand Trunk Road built by Sher Sah Suri in thesixteenth century; runs from Peshawar toeastern Bengal, a distance of some twothousand miles sarod, u. u.
Indian stringed instrument with twenty-fivestrings, somewhat like a lute Indian stringed instrument with twenty-fivestrings, somewhat like a lute Sassanians dynasty of rulers originating in south Persia, who ruled an empire that included Afghanistanfrom the third to the seventh centuries dynasty of rulers originating in south Persia, who ruled an empire that included Afghanistanfrom the third to the seventh centuries AD AD sepoy, u. f. u. f.
Indian foot soldier Indian foot soldier serai, u. f. a. u. f. a.
resting place for travelers resting place for travelers shabnama, u. f. p. u. f. p.
night letter, used to spread secret news night letter, used to spread secret news shalwar, u. f. u. f.
long, baggy, gathered trousers worn by bothmen and women in northern India andAfghanistan; worn with Kameez long, baggy, gathered trousers worn by bothmen and women in northern India andAfghanistan; worn with Kameez sharab, u. a. u. a.
wine, forbidden to Muslims wine, forbidden to Muslims
sharif, a. a.
noble, glorious noble, glorious Sher Darwaza, u. u.
f. f. Lion's Gate, a mountain southwest of Kabul; the Kabul River flows through the Sher Darwazapass Lion's Gate, a mountain southwest of Kabul; the Kabul River flows through the Sher Darwazapass sirdar, u. f. u. f.
chief chief sura, a. a.
chapter of the Holy Qur'an chapter of the Holy Qur'an.
Sura Ha Mim, a. a.
Qur'anic chapter whose title is the Arabic lettersH and M Qur'anic chapter whose title is the Arabic lettersH and M Sura Inshirah, a. a. Sura Nur, Sura Nur, a. a.
Qur'anic chapter entitled "Expansion" Qur'anic chapter entitled "Expansion"
Qur'anic chapter entitled "Light"
T.
takht, u. f. u. f.
padded platform, also used as a throne padded platform, also used as a throne tandoori, u. f. a. u. f. a.
baked in a brick oven baked in a brick oven tashreef, a. a.
to confer honor upon an inferior, usually bygiving him a gift [see khelat] to confer honor upon an inferior, usually bygiving him a gift [see khelat]
taweez, u. a. u. a.
the Merciful Prescriptions: a series of cures andhealings practiced by the Sufis; in this case asilver box containing a Qur'anic verse andworn about the neck the Merciful Prescriptions: a series of cures andhealings practiced by the Sufis; in this case asilver box containing a Qur'anic verse andworn about the neck tik hai, u. u.
It is good, it is all right It is good, it is all right tujhun, p. p.
white Siberian goshawk, considered the rarestand finest hunting bird in Central Asia white Siberian goshawk, considered the rarestand finest hunting bird in Central Asia U.
uml, u. f. a. u. f. a.
Sufi practices that have been described ashalfway between magic and miracle Sufi practices that have been described ashalfway between magic and miracle
V.
vizier, u. f. a. u. f. a.
government minister government minister Y.
ya, u. f. a. u. f. a.
oh oh yabu, u. f. u. f.
small, hardy pack pony used for mountaintravel small, hardy pack pony used for mountaintravel yakhni, u. f. u. f.
broth made with mutton or chicken broth made with mutton or chicken yar, u. a. u. a.
friend [also Punjabi] friend [also Punjabi]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THALASSA ALI was born in Boston. She married a Pakistani, and lived in Karachi for a number of years. Although she has since returned to the United States, her deep connection to Pakistan remains unbroken.