That Can Be Arranged Ending Explained: Huda’s Marriage to Gehad and the Power of Chaperoned Courtship

⚠️ Spoiler Warning
This article contains detailed spoilers for the entire memoir That Can Be Arranged by Huda Fahmy. If you haven’t read the book, consider reading it first—then return for analysis.

What Happens at the End? A Literal Account

The memoir closes with Huda’s Islamic wedding, which unfolds in two parts:

The Kitab (Nikah) – The religious ceremony where the marriage contract is signed. Huda’s mother plans the event while Huda attends a bridal shower and a surprise bachelorette party. At the kitab, the men and women celebrate in separate halls. Instead of making a shy, demure entrance as is customary, Huda walks in performing her own zaghrouta (ululation), embarrassing her mother. She and Gehad sign the contract amid loud ululations.
The Walima (Reception) – Held three months later, just before Huda turns 26. She remembers little of the day—partly because the photographer was inexperienced—but she vividly recalls dancing in her white gown and feeling eager to begin the next chapter of her life with “a man who was worth waiting for.”

The book ends on that note of anticipation. There is no epilogue; the final narrative chapter (chapter 11) is followed only by a promotional appendix. Huda does not depict married life or children.

The Climax: Saying Yes to Gehad

The true climax is not the wedding itself but the decision to marry Gehad, which builds across chapters 7–10. After four years of self‑growth following her parents’ divorce and a string of failed suitors, Huda attends an Islamic conference. There she meets Gehad—a man she instantly recognizes, believing their souls met in a pre‑earthly life (the Islamic concept of qadr). She approaches Sheikh Z to help arrange a match, and Gehad’s biodata confirms he is “as perfect on paper as he looked in person.” He calls Huda’s father, passes the rigorous interview, and begins a chaperoned courtship.

The couple schedules calls, emails (with Huda’s mom CC’d), and outings under supervision. Huda meets both sets of his parents, they exchange traditional gifts, and eventually arrange “THE date”—the formal step toward marriage. The climax is Huda’s conscious choice to trust the process, her family, and God, culminating in the kitab.

Major Character Outcomes

Character	Outcome
Huda	Marries Gehad at age 25, weeks shy of 26. She has grown from a self‑doubt‑ridden young woman into someone who knows her worth and celebrates her loud, joyful self.
Gehad	Becomes Huda’s husband after passing her father’s scrutiny and building a genuine connection. The memoir does not describe his life afterward.
Huda’s Father	Remains a protective “master interrogator” throughout the courtship. He approves Gehad. The book notes that Huda’s parents divorced during the four‑year gap, but their roles as co‑parents continue.
Huda’s Mother	Plans the wedding and, despite initial doubts that the match would work, supports Huda. She is present at every stage.
Sheikh Z	Plays a pivotal role by giving Huda real relationship advice and facilitating the introduction. After Huda’s conversation with him, Sheikh Z remembers Gehad and connects them. He does not appear again after the match is made.
First Suitor (Coworker)	Rejected by Huda after she recognizes his red flags (controlling, lying, insulting her family). He turns “psycho” after the rejection, but Huda feels no regrets. This experience sparked her journey to self‑worth.

Resolved and Unresolved Threads

Resolved

Huda’s fear of never marrying: Throughout her teens and early twenties, she worries she will be a “super ripe future cat lady.” Marrying Gehad resolves this anxiety.
Self‑worth beyond marriage: Early on, Huda ties her worth to a man’s approval. After turning down the creepy coworker, she learns to love herself. By the end, she marries not out of desperation but from a place of strength.
The “rules” of gender relations: The chaperoned courtship proves that Islamic guidelines (no dating, no being alone, no touching) can lead to a loving marriage without compromising values.
Family and community expectations: Huda satisfies her mother’s desire for her to marry (defying the aunties’ gossip) while also choosing a partner her father approves of.

Unresolved

Huda’s parents’ divorce: Mentioned as a background event, but Huda does not explore its emotional impact or how it affected her view of marriage. It remains an unresolved subplot.
Life after marriage: The book ends as the marriage begins. Readers do not see how Huda navigates married life, career, or continued family dynamics.
Gehad’s inner life: We see Gehad only through Huda’s eyes. His hopes, fears, and perspective are largely absent.

Theme Resolution

Arranged vs. Forced Marriage

The memoir’s central distinction is made clear: Huda’s marriage is arranged (families facilitate introductions, but the couple freely chooses each other) and never forced. Islam forbids forced marriage, and Huda exercises full agency—she rejects the first suitor, waits four years, and enthusiastically says yes to Gehad.

Self‑Worth Beyond Marriage

Huda’s journey proves that marriage does not define her value. She turns down a proposal, focuses on self‑love, studies Islam, and only accepts marriage when she is ready. The wedding is a celebration of her growth, not a rescue.

Family and Community Expectations

Huda navigates nosy aunties, her mother’s wedding planning, and her father’s strict vetting. She honors her family’s involvement without surrendering her own voice—as shown when she enters the kitab doing her own ululation.

Trust in Divine Destiny (Qadr)

Huda believes that her meeting with Gehad was destined (qadr). She put her trust in God after rejecting the first suitor, and the conference where she meets Gehad is framed as a result of that trust.

Chaperoned Courtship and Modern Tradition

The couple’s relationship—phone calls, emails, chaperoned dates—demonstrates how Islamic traditions can adapt to modern life. Huda describes it as “love letters” and romantic, not stifling.

Reasonable Interpretations of the Ending

Triumph of patient faith: The ending validates the author’s choice to wait and trust God. For readers who share Huda’s faith, it offers a hopeful model.
Rejection of passive femininity: Huda’s loud entrance at the kitab subverts the stereotype of the shy, demure bride. She claims joy on her own terms.
The memoir as a counter‑narrative: In a culture that often portrays arranged marriage as oppressive, Huda shows a consensual, loving version. The ending reinforces that arranged does not equal forced.
Ambiguity about “happily ever after”: The book stops before married life, leaving it to the reader to imagine whether the partnership matches Huda’s hope. Some may see this as realistic—marriage is a beginning, not an end.

6 Reader Questions Answered

1. Does Huda ever date Gehad before marriage?

Yes, but all outings are chaperoned (by her mother or sister). They also have phone calls and email exchanges, with her mom CC’d. This is their form of courtship within Islamic guidelines.

2. Why did Huda reject her first proposal?

The coworker showed red flags: controlling behavior, dishonesty, and insults toward her family. Huda’s gut told her she deserved better, and turning him down became a turning point in her self‑worth journey.

3. How do Huda’s parents react to Gehad?

Her father interviews Gehad thoroughly and approves. Her mother is initially doubtful the match will work but later supports it fully, even planning the wedding.

4. Is there an epilogue or sequel?

No. The last narrative chapter is the walima. The book ends with “Other titles from AMP,” a publisher’s appendix. Huda has not released a direct sequel as of 2024.

5. What role does Sheikh Z play?

Sheikh Z is the scholar Huda consults at the Islamic conference. He gives her blunt advice about not expecting a partner at a “higher spiritual level” to fix her, and later facilitates the introduction to Gehad.

6. Does the book show any conflict between Huda and Gehad?

No. The memoir focuses on Huda’s internal struggles and the courtship process. Gehad is depicted as compatible and respectful; no arguments or disagreements appear before the wedding.