The Awlad ‘Ali are a cluster of Bedouin people who live in North Africa. They are primarily based in Egypt. This is the group with whom Abu-Lughod lives, as she records in the text.

‘Agl means self-control and stoicism in the face of life. It is a particularly important quality for men in Awlad ‘Ali society, as it is seen as a test of masculinity and maturity, and it grants prestige. Abu-Lughod sees it as a form of veiling one’s emotions and therefore views poetry as a demonstration of ‘agl. Furthermore, as she explores the role of women and sexuality in Awlad ‘Al society, Abu-Lughod suggests that sexuality is the antithesis of ‘agl because it suggests that one cannot control their desires.

The Awlad ‘Al define aṣl as the nobility that is passed through the bloodlines of the Bedouin people. They view moral virtues like honor, modesty, generosity, hospitality, and courage as traits inherited through a pure Bedouin lineage. Abu-Lughod is interested in this concept partly because it refutes her ideas that the Bedouin way of life is declining.