1. Habibi, Hayati…your affection has no bounds
2. She’s more possessive than a jealous boyfriend
3. People often refer to you as “farha w marha” or “tanjara w la2it ghataha”
Among other things like “jawze w lawze” and “raya w skeeni.” There’s really no doubt that you two are inseparable.
4. You probably got your mom’s blessing before you embarked on your crazy friendship
Much like a >tolbe, your mom has probably taken it upon yourself how “right” that girl is for you. Sometimes, she will refer to her as your “soulmate”. Friendship is serious business in the Arab world.
5. Your family is crazy about her
Obviously, if she’s being invited to family occasions, your family loves her. Your aunts constantly talk to you about how she’s such a “bint mhazabi” and you can’t help beaming with pride. They talk about all her accomplishments and your mom has basically adopted her as a second daughter.
6. You are BFFs with her brother/sister, too
After spending countless hours at each other’s houses, you become accustomed to the siblings hanging around you. So much that you end up being close to them as well. And so, any invitation to your best friend is an extended invitation to her sister or brother, no questions asked.
7. Her cousins are in your social circle
Every Arab comes with a football team and a half of cousins. So by default, these cousins will be part of your immediate social circle.
8. Your family wants the 411 on your BFF
9. You respect her parents more than anything because you love them/don’t want to offend her
10. You have been an accessory to your BFF’s escape plans
Arab parents are hyper-protective. If you’ve helped her sneak out of the house to meet her boyfriend, or covered for her. You’ve cemented the friendship in stone.
11. Your best friend’s mom cooks your favorite meal for you sometimes
12. You’re overseeing her arranged marriage…to your brother
13. Your Arab BFF is your ultimate Sit Naseeha
It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t have a medical degree (my best friend does though *brushes invisible lint of shoulders*), your best friend will take all your symptoms into consideration and come up with a course of action for you to take to get better. These diagnoses also stretch beyond illnesses, and cover your stupid ideas, studying for a test, and appropriate behavior around dates.
14. The Boyfriend-screening process, more rigorous than a mukhabarat interrogation
15. Come not within the measure of her wrath
16. “Text me as soon as you get home”
With the over-protection comes having their safety in mind. We’re more than eager to drive the other home, and wait for them to get inside before driving away. If you’re driving yourself home, the first thing you do when you get home is text them saying you got home safe. When traveling, you call them before you depart and after you land, just in case.