It is somewhat like the Irish expression, "Saving your presence, sir," when alluding to an unpleasant subject.
A Greek christian ( ?) in Tripoli came to an American Missionary physician and said, "there is a woman, 'ajell shanak Allah' here who is ill.

I beg your pardon for mentioning so vile a subject to your excellency." Said the doctor, "and who may it be ?" "Ajellak, it is my wife!" I remember once meeting the Mohammedan Mufti of Beirut in Dr.Van Dyck's study at the printing press.

The Mufti's wife, (at least _one_ of them,) was ill, and he wished medical advice, but could not insult the Doctor by alluding to a woman in his presence.

So he commenced, after innumerable salutations, repeating good-morning, and may your day be happy, until he could decently proceed to business.

"Your excellency must be aware that I have a sick man at my house.