Tales of Juha: Classic Arab Folk HumorSalma Khadra (ed.) Jayyusi Juha is an old Arab comic literary figure (known also to Persians and Turks) around whom countless popular anecdotes were written. He appears variously as preacher and beggar, porter and petty merchant, thief and honest man, judge and social critic, wise man and fool, jester and charlatan (though never as wealthy man or oppressor). While the subject matter is Arab or otherwise Islamic, the humor transcends national and cultural boundaries to achieve a universality that is instantly recognizable and accessible today. |
Common terms and phrases
afraid anecdotes of Juha Arab asked Juha baker balance of opposites bread brother brought buy a donkey carrying chicken claim claimant cloak clothes cook counted the donkeys curses day Juha dinars dirhams donkey's donkey's tail door eggs entourage fetch finally front furious gave geese give gone goose governor grilled hands happened he'd hear heard honey husband jackass Juha agreed Juha answered Juha asked Juha replied Juha retorted Juha told Juha took Juha was asked Juha's donkey Juha's house Konya Kufa Kuwait laughed leaving looking mandolin marketplace married meat merchant minaret moon mosque Muslim neighbor passed person piasters praise prince Quran Ramadan reciting recounted riding robe saddle scholar Shaikh Juha someone asked stupid Sultan tail Tamerlane Tamerlane's tell there's thief thieves things town turban turned walking wanted What's who'd wife woman دو وو