AHMED HEARS THE DOORBELL
Ahmed, a young boy in a traditional Emirati home, hears the doorbell while standing near the door, wondering what to do.
AHMED FACES A CHOICE
What should Ahmed do? Choose his path...
AHMED CHOOSES TO GREET
Ahmed decides to uphold the tradition of generosity by greeting the guest, reflecting the Arab proverb, "A guest is a guest of Allah."
AHMED GREETS THE GUEST
Ahmed opens the door and greets the guest with the traditional Islamic greeting, "As-salamu Alaikum" (Peace be upon you). The guest, an older man in a kandura and ghutra, responds warmly and carries a dallah, a symbol of hospitality.
THE GUEST ENTERS
The guest enters and is seated on the majlis. Ahmed's father instructs him, "Now...serve the gahwa," as Ahmed prepares with the dallah and finjan on a tray, ready to learn the proper way to serve.
WRONG HAND SHOWN
Ahmed wonders which hand to use and hesitates, unsure of the proper etiquette.
CORRECT HAND
Ahmed offers the finjan with his right hand, adhering to cultural etiquette. The guest nods, appreciating the respect shown.
GUEST CORRECTS AHMED
The guest demonstrates the correct way to serve, explaining the cultural significance of using the right hand as a sign of respect and cleanliness.
GUEST APPROVES
Ahmed serves correctly, and the guest takes the finjan, smiling at Ahmed's effort to uphold tradition.
AHMED POURS GAHWA
Ahmed pours gahwa from the dallah, a ritual that symbolizes generosity, with the aroma of cardamom and saffron filling the air.
GUEST DRINKS & SHAKES THE CUP
The guest drinks the gahwa and shakes the finjan, a traditional signal in Arab culture to indicate he's finished and doesn't want more. This gesture is a key part of gahwa etiquette.
AHMED CHOOSES RESPECT
Ahmed recognizes the cultural signal and decides to respect it by taking the finjan, showing his understanding of gahwa etiquette.
AHMED CHOOSES REFILL
Ahmed considers refilling the finjan, unaware that the shake means the guest is done—a common mistake for someone learning the tradition.
TAKES CUP & RESPECTS SIGNAL
Ahmed takes the finjan, showing respect for the guest's signal, and the interaction ends on a positive note, reflecting the value of understanding cultural cues.
REFILLS CUP - GUEST SURPRISED
Ahmed refills the finjan, misunderstanding the shake. The guest looks surprised but accepts graciously, showing patience with Ahmed's learning.
FINAL MESSAGE
Ahmed and the guest share a warm moment, sitting on the majlis with the dallah between them. Ahmed learns the importance of hospitality and respect in Arab tradition.