Do as I say, not as I do

al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad’s motto should be the age-old adage “do as I say, not as I do.” He presents himself as an honorable, religiously conscientious, morally strict man who accepts no excuses from anyone, especially his children and wife. He is much like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde in that he presents completely opposite personalities in front of his family, and then with his friends, business associates, and just about everybody else besides his wife and children. Even in the first chapter, Amina states that if she did not see his jolly, cheerful side herself while waiting up for him to come home, she would never have known it existed. His children are outright afraid of him while the employee at his store “revered and loved him the way everyone did who had any dealings with him, whether of business or friendship” (36). He asks his son, Fahmy, if the youngest boy, or “son of a bitch” is doing his homework and studying in school (20). In reality, al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad never finished primary school, even though he can interact with attorneys and more educated people from keeping up with reading the newspaper and becoming friends with these attorneys and government officials. He describes his religion as having no room for “innovation” but clearly takes some aspects of it more seriously than others (42). He does not understand why he should not be allowed to drink wine with his friends when he is not hurting anyone or causing any harm to anything. This may be the only thing I like about al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad thus far: he challenges Shaykh Abd al-Samad and does not back down, even if he is somewhat sarcastic and Shaykh Abd al-Samad does not appreciate his answers or “excuses” (45). Had any of his children given him sassy answers or explanations like the responses he gives to the Shaykh, al-Jawad would have been furious. He also states that he “goes crazy for a pretty face” but does not marry them so he does not have to divide his assets and land among his existing children. Judging from the Shaykh’s response, it would be more honorable to marry these other women that he associates with.