Book overview Huda Fahmy

That Can Be Arranged: A Complete Book Guide

⚠️ Spoiler Warning
This guide reveals the entire story of That Can Be Arranged, including the outcome of Huda’s journey. Read the memoir first if you’d prefer no surprises.

Quick Facts

Detail Information
Author Huda Fahmy
Publication Year 2020
Genre Memoir, Humor
Setting Contemporary United States
Narrator Huda Fahmy (first‑person)

Short Summary

That Can Be Arranged is Huda Fahmy’s warm, laugh‑out‑loud memoir about navigating the world of arranged marriage as a hijabi Muslim American. From a childhood crush that breaks her doll’s voice box to a first proposal that teaches her red‑flag recognition, Huda learns to value herself beyond male approval. After rejecting an unsuitable coworker, she puts her trust in God (qadr) and focuses on self‑love. Four years later, at an Islamic studies conference, she meets Gehad—a man whose presence feels like destiny. Through chaperoned courtship, email love letters, and a mother who expects failure, Huda takes the initiative to build a relationship. The story culminates in a joyful kitab (wedding contract ceremony) and walima (reception), where she defiantly ululates and dances, ready to begin life with a partner worth waiting for.

Full Summary

Huda Fahmy opens her memoir by addressing readers directly. She explains her personal choice to never draw her character without hijab—even in private scenes—to avoid confusion about Islamic practice. She also clarifies that arranged marriage is not forced marriage; forced unions are prohibited in Islam. The book, she stresses, reflects her individual experience, not a universal Muslim one.

After a glossary of Arabic terms (aunty, qadr, zaghrouta, etc.), the story begins in childhood. At age five, Huda has a crush on a boy who breaks her doll Penny’s voice box. This incident triggers a panicked review of the strict Islamic rules of gender relations: no touching, no alone time, no dating. Despite her fear that she will never marry, she decides she would rather stay single than endure a miserable marriage.

During her teenage years, Huda wrestles with community pressure. In her community, an unmarried woman at 21 is “old news”; at 25 she is “broken.” When a 16‑year‑old friend announces her engagement, Huda panics and begs her parents to find suitors. They refuse, sensing she is not ready. She meets a first suitor, but he never calls back—confirming her parents’ judgment.

In college, Huda majors in English and reads Jane Austen, relating to the rigid courtship rules of the Regency era. At weddings, nosy mothers gossip and request her biodata for their sons, yet Huda never advances past the first round. Her personality, she feels, is not valued over conventional traits. Eventually, she decides to take the initiative and meet someone herself.

After graduation, a coworker proposes. Huda is initially flattered, but her father interrogates the suitor and disapproves. She notices red flags: controlling behavior, lies, and insults toward her family. Torn between fear of being alone and her discomfort, she ultimately rejects him. The experience forces Huda to confront how she had tied her self‑worth to male approval. Saying no becomes a pivotal step toward self‑love.

Now 21, Huda chooses to trust in God rather than date secretly. Over the next four years, friends marry and divorce, her sisters marry, and her own parents divorce. Though she grows in self‑love, loneliness lingers. She signs up for an Islamic studies conference. On the first day, she sees a man and immediately thinks, “It was qadr.”

During the conference, a friend tells Huda she has spoken to that man—Gehad—on her behalf. Huda deliberately avoids mentioning Gehad to Sheikh Z, the religious advisor, as a self‑protection measure. The sheikh advises her to seek a partner at a similar spiritual level, not someone far above. This advice lifts a weight Huda never realized she carried.

Biodata is exchanged, and Gehad calls Huda’s father, passing a tough interview. Huda goes on her first‑ever date—chaperoned at home—and they hit it off immediately. Her mother is certain it will fail, but Huda takes matters into her own hands.

They schedule regular chaperoned calls and emails. Huda’s mother tasks her hypervigilant little sister with reading the love letters. Huda reflects on the Islamic belief that souls meet before earthly life; she feels an undeniable recognition with Gehad. She meets both sets of his parents, exchanges traditional gifts, and finally arranges “THE date.”

The Islamic wedding unfolds in two parts. The kitab (or nikah) is the religious ceremony where the marriage contract is signed. Huda surprises everyone by making her own loud zaghrouta (ululation) entrance instead of acting demure. Three months later, the walima (reception) takes place, just weeks before Huda turns 26. Though the photographer is inexperienced and she remembers little of the day, she treasures the memory of dancing at her wedding, defying all aunty odds, and eagerly anticipating the next chapter with Gehad.

The final chapter is a promotional appendix listing other books from the publisher, containing no narrative content.

Main Characters

  • Huda Fahmy – The author and narrator, a hijabi Muslim woman learning to assert her own worth while navigating arranged marriage.
  • Gehad – The suitor Huda meets at an Islamic conference; after a chaperoned courtship, he becomes her husband.
  • Huda’s father – An involved parent who interrogates suitors and disapproves of the first proposal, showing protective paternal involvement.
  • Huda’s mother – Plans the kitab and walima and initially assumes the match with Gehad will fail.
  • First suitor (coworker) – A coworker who proposes after college; Huda rejects him after recognizing red flags and controlling behavior.
  • Sheikh Z – A religious advisor Huda consults during the conference; he advises seeking a partner of similar spiritual level.

Themes

  • Arranged versus forced marriage – The book clarifies that arranged marriage is a family‑facilitated choice, distinct from the prohibited forced marriage in Islam.
  • Self‑worth beyond marriage – Huda learns to value herself independently of male approval, especially after turning down her first proposal.
  • Family and community expectations – Huda navigates pressure from gossiping aunties, nosy mothers, and cultural deadlines that label unmarried women as “old news.”
  • Trust in divine destiny (qadr) – After rejecting a prospect, Huda places her trust in God’s plan; meeting Gehad is presented as qadr.
  • Chaperoned courtship and modern tradition – The memoir depicts an Islamic courtship involving family chaperones, email love letters, and formal introductions—blending tradition with contemporary life.

Symbols

  • Penny the doll – Huda’s childhood doll whose broken voice box marks the end of her first crush and the beginning of strict gender‑relation rules.
  • Hijab – Huda’s hijab represents her religious identity and personal choice; she never draws herself without it, even in private.
  • Zaghrouta (ululation) – A loud celebratory trill Huda makes at her kitab ceremony, symbolizing joyful defiance of demure expectations.
  • Kitab and walima – The two parts of an Islamic wedding—the religious contract (kitab) and the later reception (walima)—symbolize the communal and spiritual dimensions of marriage.

Ending Overview

The memoir concludes with Huda’s kitab and walima. She defies expectations by ululating at her own entrance, signs the marriage contract, and dances at the reception weeks before turning 26. Despite an inexperienced photographer and fuzzy memories, Huda feels fulfilled, ready to start life with a man worth waiting for. The ending underscores that patience, self‑love, and trust in qadr can lead to a meaningful partnership.

Chapter‑by‑Chapter Overview

Chapter Title Digest
1 Dear Reader Huda introduces herself, clarifies hijab choices, and distinguishes arranged from forced marriage.
2 Helpful Terms A humorous glossary of Arabic and Islamic terms used throughout the book.
3 The Rules A childhood crush breaks Huda’s doll; she recalls strict Islamic gender‑relation rules.
4 The Suitors Huda panics over marriage pressure, begs for suitors, meets one who doesn’t call back.
5 Courtship Huda relates to Jane Austen’s courtship rules, faces nosy mothers at weddings.
6 My First Proposal A coworker proposes; Huda’s father disapproves; she rejects him after noticing red flags.
7 Qadr (Destiny) Huda trusts God, focuses on self‑love; four years later at a conference she sees a man—qadr.
8 Arranged A friend speaks to Gehad; Huda consults Sheikh Z, who advises spiritual compatibility.
9 The First Meeting Biodata exchanged, Gehad passes father’s interview; chaperoned date goes well despite mom’s pessimism.
10 Soul Meets Chaperoned calls and emails; Huda feels pre‑earthly soul recognition; family introductions and “THE date.”
11 The Kitab and Walima Huda’s kitab and walima; she ululates joyfully, signs the contract, and dances at the wedding.
12 Other titles from AMP A promotional appendix listing other books from the publisher; no narrative content.

Common Questions

1. What is the difference between arranged and forced marriage according to the book?
Huda clearly states that arranged marriage is a family‑facilitated choice where both parties can say yes or no, while forced marriage is not allowed in Islam and involves coercion.

2. Why does Huda reject her first suitor (the coworker)?
She notices red flags: controlling behavior, lies, and insults toward her family. After her father’s disapproval, she listens to her gut and turns him down.

3. What does qadr mean in the context of the memoir?
Qadr is divine destiny. Huda trusts God’s plan after rejecting the coworker, and meeting Gehad at the conference is presented as qadr.

4. How does Huda meet Gehad?
A friend at an Islamic studies conference speaks to Gehad on Huda’s behalf. Huda also consults Sheikh Z (without mentioning Gehad) and then follows up.

5. What is a kitab and a walima?
Kitab (or nikah) is the religious marriage‑contract ceremony; walima is the reception held later. Both are parts of an Islamic wedding.

6. Why does Huda draw her character wearing hijab even in private settings?
She considers the character an extension of herself and makes a personal artistic choice to never draw her without hijab to avoid confusion about hijabi practice.

7. What does the broken doll Penny symbolize?
Penny’s broken voice box marks the end of Huda’s first childhood crush and the start of strict gender‑relation rules that make her question if she can ever marry.

8. How does Huda’s family influence her marriage journey?
Her father interrogates suitors and protects her from bad matches; her mother plans the wedding but initially doubts Gehad. Their involvement both pressures and supports her.

Deep‑Dive Resources