Minor Characters
Firdaus’s Father
Firdaus’s father is a poor farmer who pretends to be religiously devout. However, he beats his wife, steals from his neighbors, and neglects his children, demonstrating both his own hypocrisy and the oppressively sexist world into which Firdaus is born.
Marzouk
Marzouk is a powerful and well-connected pimp, who takes control of Firdaus after she returns to prostitution. Marzouk takes the majority of Firdaus’s earnings, so she decides to leave. When Marzouk tries to stop her, she recognizes fear in his eyes and stabs him to death.
Mohammadain
Mohammadain is Firdaus’s childhood friend. Before her mother circumcises her, Mohammadain and Firdaus often sneak away to play “bride and bridegroom,” where they sexually explore each other. Playing this game is how Firdaus has her first and only experience of sexual pleasure uninhibited by genital mutilation.
Firdaus’s Stepmother
After Firdaus’s mother presumably dies, her stepmother takes her place. All Firdaus remembers of her is that she knew she wasn’t her real mother.
Firdaus’s Uncle’s Wife
Firdaus’s Uncle’s wife comes from an upper-class family and hates Firdaus. She encourages her husband to marry Firdaus off to Sheikh Mahmoud.
Fawzy
Fawzy is one of Sharifa’s clients who tries to take Firdaus away from her. When Sharifa resists him, Fawzy rapes Sharifa, and Firdaus escapes while they sleep.
Di’aa
Di’aa is one of Firdaus’s friends while she is an independent prostitute. Di’aa tells Firdaus that, despite Firdaus’s success, she is “not respectable,” which deeply wounds Firdaus and compels her to leave prostitution and find a legal job.
Wafeya
Wafeya is Firdaus’s friend in secondary school, who suggests that Firdaus is in love with Miss Iqbal.