You know those times when you're just speaking about someone and he/she suddenly arrives? In some cultures they say "Ah! He's gonna live a 100 years!" but in Iran, it's more amusing. We say, "Ah! What a legitimate child!" (Halal Zadeh-ast!) No, seriously.
It's funny and offensive at the same time.
Recently at the namaaz khoone, an iranian girl besides me, asked me if the hajjagha (imam of the jamat prayers) had arrived yet? I replied no. And just as I said that, he entered the namazkhooneh. And she smiled and said... "Ah! He's a legitimate child!" and I was beyong surprised. I mean, he's the imame namaze jama'at! You can't say things like that about him! I laughed and thought- lucky guy! That's all cleared up for him now!
Recently at the namaaz khoone, an iranian girl besides me, asked me if the hajjagha (imam of the jamat prayers) had arrived yet? I replied no. And just as I said that, he entered the namazkhooneh. And she smiled and said... "Ah! He's a legitimate child!" and I was beyong surprised. I mean, he's the imame namaze jama'at! You can't say things like that about him! I laughed and thought- lucky guy! That's all cleared up for him now!
LOL. It must sound funny to an outsider. We do the same in Arabic-speaking countries- "ibn il halal". We don't really give it much thought because it's so integrated in the language that it's become one of those common phrases noone really takes literally.
ReplyDeleteLOL! At least they aren't calling him an illegitimate child haha
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