History of Hookah

The Hookah was invented in India in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542 - 1605 CE)  Following the European introduction of tobacco to India, Hakim Abul Fateh Gilani who was a physician in the court of Mughal raised concerns after smoking tobacco became popular among Indian noblemen, and subsequently envisaged a system which allowed smoke to be passed through water in order to be 'purified'. Gilani invented the Hookah after Asad Beg, then ambassador of Bijapur, encouraged Akbar to take up smoking. Following popularity among noblemen, this new device for smoking soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry.

Depending on locality, hookahs may be referred to by many names, often of Turkish origin. Narghilè but pronounced "Argilah" is the name most commonly used in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Narghile derives from the Persian word nārghile, meaning coconut, which in turn is from the Sanskrit word nārikela, suggesting that early hookahs were hewn from coconut shells.

In Albania, Bosnia, Croatia the hookah is called "Lula" or "Lulava" in Romani, meaning "pipe," the word "shishe" refers to the actual bottle piece.

Shisha, meaning glass, is the common term for the hookah in Egypt and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf (including Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia), and in Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia, Somalia and Yemen.

In Iran, hookah is called  "Ghelyoon". In Uzbekistan, hookah is called "Chillim". In India and Pakistan the name most similar to the English hookah is used: huqqa.

The hookah is widely smoked in all of the Lebanese regions. It has different names although most citizens will call it Argilee/Nargeelee or Shicha. Embeded in the Lebanese folklore and history, the hooka is smoked by both teens and adults, rich and poor. The preferred tobacco is two apples by itself or mixed with Mint or Raisin.

The Lebanese have perfected the taste of the tobacco by adding as much ice to the water or simply inserting its water jar in snow.

Etiquette is created for the argeelee among teenagers. I.E. One should never light a cigarette from the burning coal on top of the tobacco bowl. Always fold the hose before passing it to someone else. He who prepares it should always light it. If females are present a man should always light it for them. Never use a ceramic head for the tobacco (ceramic burns the tobacco faster unlike clay). The original tweezers should be kept as long as possible and no Chicha should be left alone unsmoked.

Double hose , triple hose or more are less popular and very rare because they burn the tobacco faster.

Families and friends gather around the Argilee and it's not a rare sight to see 10 Arageel for 10 people. They are smoked on street corners, cafes, balconies, parks, weddings and even in cars while driving.