Dreams play an important role in both Saladin’s and Gibreel’s lives. Although both men recognize their dreams as products of their imaginations, they cannot help but feel that their dreams are spilling over into the real world. Here, the dynamic that is apparent at the beginning of the novel between Gibreel and Saladin begins to get fleshed out. Gibreel’s relentless optimism annoys Saladin, as does Gibreel’s success. Gibreel is an Indian icon, beloved by all, whereas Saladin feels entirely alienated from India. This dynamic makes Saladin dislike Gibreel, though Gibreel does not seem to notice.