The Satanic Verses Characters

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 (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 (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 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 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 (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 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 is a female terrorist who acts as the ringleader for the terrorists who board and eventually destroy Flight 420.

Kasturba is Vallabhbhai’s wife. She carries on an affair with Changez following Nasreen’s death.

Hind is the scheming wife of Karim Abu Simbel who regularly takes on new lovers.

Martin is a man from Rosa’s past with whom she may or may not have had an affair.

Hyacinth is a nurse who treats Saladin when he ends up in the hospital following his abuse at the hands of the police.

Hind is Mr. Sufyan’s wife. She despises Saladin’s presence and wants him out of her home.

Pinkwalla is a local DJ who drives Saladin to Club Hot Wax when he needs a place to stay.

Orphia is Hyacinth’s sister. Gibreel tries and fails to perform a miracle for her.

S. S. Sisodia is a film producer who helps get Gibreel back into the film industry after Gibreel returns to London.

Ayesha of Jahilia is one of Mahound’s wives. Mahound dies in her arms.

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 is Saladin’s television co-star. She starts a relationship with Billy Battuta, despite her knowledge of his terrible reputation.

Khadija is a member of the voyage to the Arabian Sea. She is married to Muhammad Din and dies on the journey.

Srinivas is a toymaker who joins Ayesha of Dash’s voyage to the Arabian Sea.

Muhammad Din is a member of the voyage to the Arabian Sea. He is married to Khadija.

Inspector Lime is the chief officer in Saladin’s arrest when Saladin is staying with Rosa.

Mishal is one of Mr. Sufyan’s daughters. She is rebellious and finds herself drawn to Saladin.

Pimple is Gibreel’s female co-star in a film he is shooting on the day he disappears.

Najmuddin Senior is Gibreel’s father. He dies from a stroke when Gibreel is a young man.

Naima is Gibreel’s mother. She is hit by a bus and dies when Gibreel is still a child.

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 is Babasaheb’s wife.

Shaitan is the Arabic word for Satan. Gibreel encounters Shaitan in his prophetic visions.

Al-Lat/Lat is one of Shaitan’s daughters.

Manat is one of Shaitan’s daughters.

Uzza is one of Shaitan’s daughters.

Muttalib is the grandfather of Mahound.

Vallabhbhai is Saladin’s housekeeper.

Khalid is one of Mahound’s closest followers.

Bilal is one of Mahound’s closest followers.

Hamza is Mahound’s uncle.

Mrs. Srinivas is Srinivas’s wife.

Enrique is Rosa’s long-deceased husband.

Stein is one of the policemen who brutalizes and threatens Saladin.

Maslama is a religious man whom Gibreel meets on his way to London.

Bilal X is one of the Imam’s ardent followers.

Anahita is one of Mr. Sufyan’s daughters.

Antoinette is Uhuru Simba’s mother.