The Satanic Verses: Part 7, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Saladin, reflecting on his life up to this point, concludes that everything boils down to love. He thinks about his past loves, particularly his deep affection for English culture and London, a city he once adored above all else. Saladin had always believed London’s blend of old and new mirrored his own identity, and he cherished its hospitality despite his recent experiences with discrimination. Additionally, he recalls his love for Pamela and the joy he once found in their shared life. However, now he finds himself disillusioned with both his love for her and the city.

Saladin also held a deep, private love for a recurring dream in which he taught a young boy to ride a bicycle in a sun-dappled park. The dream, which once brought him happiness, now only makes him feel lonely, as he was never able to have children. Even though Saladin has regained his human form, he still feels lost in the world. In an attempt to get himself back on his feet, he visits Pamela to reclaim his place in their shared home.

Though Saladin’s return visibly shocks Pamela, she allows him to live in the house, knowing it is his legal right. For the moment, Saladin intends to live with Pamela and Jumpy, though he eventually plans to divorce Pamela and sell the house. The encounter between Saladin and Pamela is awkward, as both realize they have fallen out of love with each other. Still, Saladin feels guilty for not wanting her back. He moves back into his den, feeling emotionally disconnected from Pamela and overwhelmed as he realizes his marriage is truly over.

As he attempts to rebuild his life, Saladin’s lingering traumas from recent events prevent him from returning to normal. He becomes obsessed with television, noticing that it is filled with images of mutants and freaks that reflect his own fractured sense of reality. He tries to convince himself that he no longer harbors hatred toward Gibreel, but deep down the pain of betrayal is still there.

Saladin’s sense of dread intensifies when he starts dreaming of two women: Mishal Sufyan and Zeeny Vakil. His dreams become a battleground where his past and present collide, and he struggles to maintain his grasp on reality. Meanwhile, Jumpy becomes increasingly anxious about Saladin’s presence in the house, seeing him as a threat. Despite this, Jumpy tries to accommodate Saladin, even bringing him meals and engaging him in conversation. For her part, Pamela quickly grows frustrated with Jumpy’s over-politeness, which she feels is spineless.

Saladin’s growing discomfort with his life culminates when he attends a public meeting about Dr. Uhuru Simba, the political activist arrested for murder. At the meeting, Saladin feels out of place and disconnected from the cause, noting that the crowd seems more focused on political activism than on the truth of Simba’s violent history. During the meeting, Saladin experiences a vision of Mishal Sufyan with a blazing fire on her forehead, which he interprets as a sign that she is dangerous to him. The vision triggers a premonition of his own death, causing him to leave the meeting in a state of panic.

After the protest, Saladin decides to go with Joshi to a karate school. Joshi, who teaches karate, mentions that Alleluia Cone is one of his best students. Though she isn’t at the class, everyone talks about her relationship with the famous actor Gibreel. This news makes Saladin feel as if all the scattered pieces of his life are starting to converge. He hails a taxi and, while riding, overhears Eugene Dumsday, an American, recounting his miraculous escape from the hijacking on the radio.

As Saladin leaves the class, he realizes that he is being pulled back into a world he thought he left behind—a world filled with darkness and uncertainty. He experiences a growing sense of inevitability, as though his life is being guided by forces beyond his control. His attempts to return to a normal life seem increasingly futile, and he begins to accept that the changes within him are irreversible. Saladin’s journey has brought him to a crossroads where he must choose between confronting the darkness within him or continuing to live in denial. In the end, he chooses to accept that his old life is gone and that he must face whatever lies ahead.