The Satanic Verses

by

Salman Rushdie

Mahound Character Analysis

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 a prophet in the desert city of Jahilia. As Mahound's influence and power grows, a powerful man named Abu Simbel approaches him and offers to grant Mahound official recognition in Jahilia and a seat on the city's governing council–if Mahound agrees to incorporate three local goddesses into his monotheistic faith. Mahound struggles with this choice, which would grant his followers protection but ultimately undermine a core tenet of his faith. He consults Gibreel for guidance and has a vision in which Gibreel (perhaps acting as a mouthpiece for Shaitan rather than for Allah) recites the "satanic verses" to Mahound, encouraging him to accept the goddesses. Mahound ultimately rejects this advice, however, recognizing that the verses came from Shaitan rather than from Allah.

Mahound Quotes in The Satanic Verses

The The Satanic Verses quotes below are all either spoken by Mahound or refer to Mahound. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
).
Part 2 Quotes

Doubt.

The human condition, but what of the angelic? Halfway between Allahgod and homosap, did they ever doubt? They did: challenging God’s will one day they hid muttering beneath the Throne, daring to ask forbidden things: antiquestions. Is it right that. Could it not be argued. Freedom, the old antiquest. He calmed them down, naturally, employing management skills à la god. Flattered them: you will be the instruments of my will on earth, of the salvationdamnation of man, all the usual etcetera. And hey presto, end of protest, on with the haloes, back to work. Angels are easily pacified; turn them into instruments and they’ll play your harpy tune. Human beings are tougher nuts, can doubt anything, even the evidence of their own eyes. Of behind-their-own eyes. Of what, as they sink heavy-lidded, transpires behind closed peepers. . . angels, they don’t have much in the way of a will. To will is to disagree; not to submit; to dissent.

Related Characters: Gibreel Farishta, Mahound
Page Number: 94-95
Explanation and Analysis:

Gibreel: the dreamer, whose point of view is sometimes that of the camera and at other moments, spectator. When he’s a camera the pee oh vee is always on the move, he hates static shots, so he’s floating up on a high crane looking down at the foreshortened figures of the actors, or he’s swooping down to stand invisibly between them, turning slowly on his heel to achieve a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree pan, or maybe he’ll try a dolly shot, tracking along beside Baal and Abu Simbel as they walk, or hand--held with the help of a steadicam he’ll probe the secrets of the Grandee’s bedchamber. But mostly he sits up on Mount Cone like a paying customer in the dress circle, and Jahilia is his silver screen.

Related Characters: Gibreel Farishta, Mahound
Page Number: 110
Explanation and Analysis:

He returns to the city as quickly as he can, to expunge the foul verses that reek of brimstone and sulphur, to strike them from the record for ever and ever, so that they will survive in just one or two unreliable collections of old traditions and orthodox interpreters will try and unwrite their story, but Gibreel, hovering-watching from his highest camera angle, knows one small detail, just one tiny thing that’s a bit of a problem here, namely that it was me both times, baba, me first and second also me. From my mouth, both the statement and the repudiation, verses and converses, universes and reverses, the whole thing, and we all know how my mouth got worked.

“First it was the Devil,” Mahound mutters as he rushes to Jahilia. “But this time, the angel, no question. He wrestled me to the ground.”

Related Characters: Mahound (speaker), Gibreel Farishta
Page Number: 126
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 6 Quotes

Mahound had no time for scruples, Salman told Baal, no qualms about ends and means. The faithful lived by lawlessness, but in those years Mahound— or should one say the Archangel Gibreel? — should one say Al-Lah? —became obsessed by law. Amid the palm-trees of the oasis Gibreel appeared to the Prophet and found himself spouting rules, rules, rules, until the faithful could scarcely bear the prospect of any more revelation, Salman said, rules about every damn thing, if a man farts let him turn his face to the wind, a rule about which hand to use for the purpose of cleaning one’s behind. It was as if no aspect of human existence was to be left unregulated, free.

Related Characters: Baal, Salman, Mahound
Page Number: 375-376
Explanation and Analysis:

‘In the old days you mocked the Recitation,’ Mahound said in the hush. ‘Then, too, these people enjoyed your mockery. Now you return to dishonour my house, and it seems that once again you succeed in bringing the worst out of the people.’

Baal said, ‘I’ve finished. Do what you want.’

So he was sentenced to be beheaded, within the hour, and as soldiers manhandled him out of the tent towards the killing ground, he shouted over his shoulder: ‘Whores and writers, Mahound. We are the people you can’t forgive.’

Mahound replied, ‘Writers and whores. I see no difference here.’

Related Characters: Baal (speaker), Mahound (speaker)
Page Number: 404-405
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mahound Character Timeline in The Satanic Verses

The timeline below shows where the character Mahound appears in The Satanic Verses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
...vision focuses on this “businessman,” who becomes the central figure in Gibreel’s dream. Known as Mahound, the businessman climbs Cone Mountain, which rises near the sand-built city of Jahilia. As Mahound... (full context)
...the temple, Abu Simbel beats Baal and commands him to write a satirical poem mocking Mahound and his followers—Salman, Khalid, and Bilal. Abu Simbel reveres Lat as a powerful goddess, equal... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
Racial Prejudice and Xenophobia Theme Icon
Afterward, Abu Simbel relaxes in his palace with his many concubines, contemplating Mahound’s growing influence. Although he cares little about Hind’s affair with Baal, he recognizes the significant... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Immigration and Identity Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
While Baal writes his poem, Mahound grapples with a critical decision. Abu Simbel approaches him with an offer: if Mahound agrees... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
Mahound consults his closest followers, who unanimously urge him to reject the offer. They view it... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
As Hamza suggests, Mahound ascends Cone Mountain to seek Gibreel’s guidance. Upon reaching the summit, he enters a state... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
Gibreel, feeling the weight of Mahound’s dilemma and his own uncertainty, stays silent. He listens to Mahound’s pleas but cannot provide... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
After returning to Jahilia, Mahound shares the verses that seemed to come from Gibreel, which endorse the inclusion of the... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
Mahound climbs Cone Mountain again, desperate for clarity. Mahound struggles to understand whether the verses he... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Immigration and Identity Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
That night, Hind’s men murder Mahound’s wife as an act of revenge. This brutal act forces Mahound and his followers to... (full context)
Part 3, Chapter 2
Immigration and Identity Theme Icon
Metamorphosis and Identity  Theme Icon
...that Rosa’s will is holding him captive. Gibreel compares the experience to when the Prophet Mahound compelled him to speak in his dreams. (full context)
Part 6
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
Baal, now an aging poet in Jahilia, witnesses the return of the Prophet Mahound after 25 years in exile. Baal, now a decrepit figure, is mocked by strangers in... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
One day, Baal returns home to find Salman the Persian, a former close associate of Mahound. Salman, now disillusioned and fearful of Mahound’s return, shares his story with Baal. He recounts... (full context)
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
Baal comes up with a plan to mock Mahound directly. He convinces the Madam to have the 12 sex workers in the brothel take... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
...brought to trial alongside the prostitutes. In court, he confesses openly to orchestrating the masquerade. Mahound’s followers, hearing his story, cannot contain their laughter at Baal’s audacity. Mahound, seeing Baal as... (full context)
The Fallibility of Prophets Theme Icon
Religion and Blasphemy Theme Icon
...12 sex workers are sentenced to death by stoning, and Baal is beheaded shortly afterward. Mahound, despite his absolute power, still fears the spirit of Baal, as he dared to mock... (full context)