For my father, Fuad Mustafa Aboulela (1928–2008) in tribute to his love for his family. And in memory of his cousin Hassan Awad Aboulela (1922–1962), whom he spoke of often. May Allah Almighty grant them mercy.
Mahmoud Abuzeid (head of the Abuzeid family, married to two women)
1. Hajjah Waheeba, mother to his two elder sons, Nassir and Nur
2. Nabilah, his young Egyptian wife, mother to Ferial, his daughter, and Farouk, his youngest son. Nabilah’s mother Qadriyyah and her stepfather Mohsin live in Cairo.
Idris Abuzeid (Mahmoud’s younger brother, a widower with three daughters)
Halima
Fatma (married to her cousin Nassir) has two children, a daughter, Zeinab, and a son
Soraya (betrothed to her cousin Nur).
Ustaz Badr, an Egyptian, a teacher of Arabic and private tutor to the Abuzeids. He is married to Hanniyah, they have four young sons—Osama, Bilal, Radwan and Ali
Shukry, Ustaz Badr’s cousin.