Romance

In this podcast, I speak with Nadia from Tunisia about relationships and the perception of sex in the Arab world. What is accepted, what isn’t, and what’s hypocritical about our current societies. This is an important discussion but still surprisingly a taboo in the MENA region. Amongst the things we discuss are: virginity, independence (specifically [...]

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These days, IRIB is broadcasting a movie serial about Joseph (Yusuf), called “Joseph, the Prophet”.
It’s the story of Joseph, a man who is known as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Many have also tried to find him in pharaohs’ dynasties as a real person, but haven’t been much successful. Many have attributed Yuya, [...]

A New York Times correspondent in Cairo has been putting together a series on Arab youth for the American media giant. The series, called “Generation Faithful” is an eye-opening opportunity for those of us who do not qualify as Arab youth, as well as an eye opening experience for Arab youth to realize how other [...]

The Zuender team has prepared new questions for us – this time they would like to know about our relationships.
What do your relationships look like?
* Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
* Do you live with them?
* Married/unmarried?
* Are you seeing several people at a time?
* And what would be your idea of a perfect [...]

I am a romantic at heart, and with all of this gloom, has there been any love stories that have blossomed between Muslim, Jew, Christian or other religions here in the Middle East?  Everytime I google the keywords for it, I find one, but it always ends up with with two sides fighting each other.  [...]

A lover asked his beloved,
Do you love yourself more
than you love me?
The beloved replied,
I have died to myself
and I live for you.
I’ve disappeared from myself
and my attributes.
I am present only for you.
I have forgotton all my learnings,
but from knowing you
I have become a scholar.
I have lost all my strength,
but from your power
I am able.
If I [...]