The Satanic Verses

by

Salman Rushdie

The Satanic Verses Characters

Gibreel Farishta

Gibreel Farishta is a renowned Bollywood actor famous for portraying deities. Born Ismail Najmuddin, Gibreel had a tumultuous childhood, as both of his parents died before his 21st birthday. As an adult, he reinvents himself… read analysis of Gibreel Farishta

Saladin Chamcha

Saladin Chamcha is an Indian expatriate and voice actor who rejects his cultural heritage in favor of assimilating into British society. Born Salahuddin Chamchawala, Saladin has a troubled relationship with his father, Changez, and… read analysis of Saladin Chamcha

Alleluia Cone

Alleluia “Allie" Cone” is an English mountaineer known for her fearless spirit and strength. She becomes romantically involved with Gibreel Farishta after his arrival in London, serving as both his lover and a grounding force… read analysis of Alleluia Cone

Rekha Merchant

Rekha Merchant is the wife of a wealthy businessman who becomes Gibreel’s lover after he moves into her building. When Gibreel abruptly ends their relationship and abandons her, Rekha kills herself by leaping to… read analysis of Rekha Merchant

Changez Chamchawala

Changez is Saladin’s father and a prominent member of India’s nationalist movement. The public loves Changez, but Saladin has a difficult relationship with his father, who he feels withholds affection. From a young age… read analysis of Changez Chamchawala
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Pamela Lovelace

Pamela is Saladin’s wife. Their relationship is strained from the start, as Pamela refuses to open up to Saladin. Pamela has a tragic past, which she does not want to discuss, which puts strain… read analysis of Pamela Lovelace

Zeeny Vakil

Zeeny Vakil is a political writer and activist with whom Saladin carries out an affair when he returns to India to perform a play. Zeeny makes Saladin question his relationship to India and desire to… read analysis of Zeeny Vakil

Karim Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is a wealthy and powerful leader in the city of Jahilia, a fictionalized version of pre-Islamic Mecca. He is depicted as the head of the ruling Quraysh tribe and is a key opponent… read analysis of Karim Abu Simbel

Baal

Baal is a subversive poet living in the city of Jahilia. He is known for his satirical and blasphemous poems that openly mock Mahound and his followers. His works challenge the power and legitimacy of… read analysis of Baal

Ayesha of Dash

Ayesha of Dash is a young, devout woman who claims to receive divine visions from the Archangel Gibreel, leading her to convince the villagers of the town of Titlipur to undertake a pilgrimage to… read analysis of Ayesha of Dash

Mahound

Mahound is the novel's stand-in for the prophet Mohammed. He is the central figure of one of Gibreel's visions, which reimagines the founding of Islam. In this vision, Mahound as a businessman who becomes… read analysis of Mahound
Minor Characters
Nasreen Chamchawala
Nasreen is Saladin’s mother. Although Saladin gets along with her much better than he does Changez, Nasreen hates the idea of him going to England for his education. Nasreen dies during an air raid while attempting to show others that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Mirza Saeed Akhtar
Mirza Saeed Akhtar is a wealthy, rational landowner who becomes a key figure in the story of Ayesha of Dash. Skeptical of Ayesha’s divine visions and the pilgrimage she leads, Mirza Saeed tries to dissuade the villagers, especially his wife, Mishal, from following her.
Mishal
Mishal Akhtar is the wife of Mirza Saeed Akhtar. She becomes one of the most devoted followers of Ayesha of Dash. Suffering from a terminal illness, Mishal places her hope in Ayesha’s promise of a miraculous cure if she completes the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Nasreen Chamchawala (Stepmother)
After the death of Saladin’s mother, Changez marries another woman named Nasreen. This Nasreen does not have a relationship with Saladin because Saladin refuses to even meet her for much of his life.
Eugene Dumsday
Eugene Dumsday is an American southerner who is on Flight 420 with Saladin and Gibreel. Eugene is a staunch Christian who initially traveled to India because he wanted to warn people of the evils of Darwinism.
Rosa Diamond
Rosa is an elderly woman who discovers Gibreel and Saladin after they wash up on the beach near her home. She takes the two men in and briefly forms a relationship with Gibreel before dying.
Jumpy Joshi
Jumpy is Saladin’s childhood friend who almost immediately begins an affair with Pamela after he hears that Saladin died. Jumpy becomes morally conflicted once he realizes Saladin is still alive, though he continues seeing Pamela anyway.
Hanif Johnson
Hanif is a local lawyer who boards with the Sufyan’s. Mishal Sufyan enters into a relationship with him, which drives a wedge between Mishal and her mother, Hind Sufyan.
Uhuru Simba
Uhuru Simba is a doctor and Black activist whom the police attempt to frame for the “Granny Ripper” murders. Though the police ultimately fail to link Simba to the murders, he suspiciously dies while in their custody.
Otto Cone
Otto Cone is Alleluia’s father. Allie has a complicated relationship with him as a child, which only grows more strained after he dies by suicide when she is still a child.
Alicja Cone
Alicja is Alleluia’s mother. She tries her best to provide a simple and fulfilling life for Allie, and she does not like it when Allie begins seeing Gibreel.
Jack Brunel
Jack is a friend of Otto Cone, who becomes romantically interested in Alleluia. Although Allie does not have any interest in Jack, Jack’s interest in Allie makes Gibreel jealous.
Hagar
Hagar (Hājar) is the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim and the mother of Ismail, known for her unwavering faith, especially during her search for water in the desert, leading to the miraculous spring of Zamzam.
Ibrahim
Ibrahim (Abraham) is considered a major prophet in Islam and a patriarch of monotheism. He demonstrated absolute devotion to God, including his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of faith.
The Imam
The Imam is a fanatical religious leader who appears in Gibreel’s visions. He is exiled in London and hopes to return to his homeland to establish a strict theocratic regime.
Mr. Sufyan
Mr. Sufyan is the owner of the Shaandaar Café, which doubles as a boarding house. He takes pity of Saladin as Saladin is going through his transformation.
Ismail
Ismail (Ishmael), the son of Ibrahim and Hagar, is also regarded as a prophet and an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad (or Mahound, in the case of the novel).
Salman
Salman is one of Mahound’s closest followers and confidants. He abandons Mahound after he realizes that Mahound does not seem consistent in his beliefs.
Tavleen
Tavleen is a female terrorist who acts as the ringleader for the terrorists who board and eventually destroy Flight 420.
Kasturba
Kasturba is Vallabhbhai’s wife. She carries on an affair with Changez following Nasreen’s death.
Hind of Jahilia
Hind is the scheming wife of Karim Abu Simbel who regularly takes on new lovers.
Martin de la Cruz
Martin is a man from Rosa’s past with whom she may or may not have had an affair.
Hyacinth Philips
Hyacinth is a nurse who treats Saladin when he ends up in the hospital following his abuse at the hands of the police.
Hind Sufyan
Hind is Mr. Sufyan’s wife. She despises Saladin’s presence and wants him out of her home.
Pinkwalla
Pinkwalla is a local DJ who drives Saladin to Club Hot Wax when he needs a place to stay.
Orphia Philips
Orphia is Hyacinth’s sister. Gibreel tries and fails to perform a miracle for her.
S. S. Sisodia
S. S. Sisodia is a film producer who helps get Gibreel back into the film industry after Gibreel returns to London.
Ayesha of Jahilia
Ayesha of Jahilia is one of Mahound’s wives. Mahound dies in her arms.
Billy Battuta
Billy is a famous actor who is notorious for the film industry for his mistreatment of women. Still, he always manages to book new jobs.
Mimi Mamoulian
Mimi is Saladin’s television co-star. She starts a relationship with Billy Battuta, despite her knowledge of his terrible reputation.
Khadija
Khadija is a member of the voyage to the Arabian Sea. She is married to Muhammad Din and dies on the journey.
Srinivas
Srinivas is a toymaker who joins Ayesha of Dash’s voyage to the Arabian Sea.
Muhammad Din
Muhammad Din is a member of the voyage to the Arabian Sea. He is married to Khadija.
Inspector Lime
Inspector Lime is the chief officer in Saladin’s arrest when Saladin is staying with Rosa.
Mishal Sufyan
Mishal is one of Mr. Sufyan’s daughters. She is rebellious and finds herself drawn to Saladin.
Pimple Billimoria
Pimple is Gibreel’s female co-star in a film he is shooting on the day he disappears.
Najmuddin Senior
Najmuddin Senior is Gibreel’s father. He dies from a stroke when Gibreel is a young man.
Naima Najmuddin
Naima is Gibreel’s mother. She is hit by a bus and dies when Gibreel is still a child.
Babasaheb Mhatre
Babasaheb is a man who takes Gibreel in and cares for him after the deaths of Gibreel’s parents. Babasaheb introduces Gibreel to the film industry.
Mrs. Mhatre
Mrs. Mhatre is Babasaheb’s wife.
Shaitan
Shaitan is the Arabic word for Satan. Gibreel encounters Shaitan in his prophetic visions.
Al-Lat/Lat
Al-Lat/Lat is one of Shaitan’s daughters.
Manat
Manat is one of Shaitan’s daughters.
Uzza
Uzza is one of Shaitan’s daughters.
Muttalib
Muttalib is the grandfather of Mahound.
Vallabhbhai
Vallabhbhai is Saladin’s housekeeper.
Khalid
Khalid is one of Mahound’s closest followers.
Bilal
Bilal is one of Mahound’s closest followers.
Hamza
Hamza is Mahound’s uncle.
Mrs. Srinivas
Mrs. Srinivas is Srinivas’s wife.
Enrique
Enrique is Rosa’s long-deceased husband.
Stein
Stein is one of the policemen who brutalizes and threatens Saladin.
John Maslama
Maslama is a religious man whom Gibreel meets on his way to London.
Bilal X
Bilal X is one of the Imam’s ardent followers.
Anahita Sufyan
Anahita is one of Mr. Sufyan’s daughters.
Antoinette Roberts
Antoinette is Uhuru Simba’s mother.