# Najma — The Book of Khalid character guide

> Najma in The Book of Khalid by Ameen Rihani.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Poor Najma, Abu Najma

**First appearance:** 0006-iv-on-the-wharf-of-enchantment

## Who they are

Khalid's cousin and beloved, a devout young woman whose loyalty to the Church collides with her love for a man the Jesuits have marked.

## Relationships

### [Khalid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/khalid)

_romantic_

Khalid and Najma share a deep romantic connection, though their relationship is complicated by distance and duty.

### [Shakib](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/shakib)

_social_

Najma and Shakib are acquaintances, connected mainly through their mutual relationship with Khalid.

### [Father Farouche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/father_farouche)

_social_

Father Farouche knows Najma through the community, offering her occasional kindness and support.

### [Khalid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/khalid)

_romantic_

Khalid and Najma share a deep romantic connection, though their relationship is complicated by distance and duty.

### [Khalid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/khalid)

_romantic_

Khalid and Najma share a deep romantic connection, though their relationship is complicated by distance and duty.

### [Father Farouche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/father_farouche)

_social_

Father Farouche knows Najma through the community, offering her occasional kindness and support.

### [Shakib](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/shakib)

_social_

Najma and Shakib are acquaintances, connected mainly through their mutual relationship with Khalid.

## In the story

### [The City of Baal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/ii-the-city-of-baal)

Khalid's cousin, whom he loves but is forbidden to see, leading to his initial rebellion.

### [III: Via Dolorosa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iii-via-dolorosa)

Mentioned as the cousin whom a seasick Syrian girl resembles, evoking Khalid's tear.

### [III: The False Dawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iii-the-false-dawn)

Khalid's cousin, whose memory and love draw him back to Syria.

### [Priesto-Parental](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/v-priesto-parental)

Khalid's cousin, referred to as his 'one star,' whose significance he is determined to discover.

### [Flounces and Ruffles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vi-flounces-and-ruffles)

Depicted as pure, naive, and constant in love. She expresses her simple desires for a wedding dress with ruffles and shows her devotion to Khalid, though she struggles to understand his complex philosophical musings.

### [The Howdaj of Falsehood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vii-the-howdaj-of-falsehood)

Pleads with the priest for mercy, weeps when the ban is announced, and rejects the suitor brought by the Jesuits.

### [The Kaaba of Solitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/viii-the-kaaba-of-solitude)

Khalid sees her with the decorated Excellency, causing him to swoon; her presence is a catalyst for his departure.

### [Book the Third: In Kulmakan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/book-the-third-in-kulmakan)

Khalid's beloved, who is now ill and whose husband has fled.

### [A Dream of Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vii-a-dream-of-empire)

Khalid's cousin, with whom he experienced a divine but snatched-away love in Baalbek.

### [The Stoning and Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/ix-the-stoning-and-flight)

Ill and alone, with a baby, seeks Khalid's help; she is ready to leave with him.

### [X: The Desert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/x-the-desert)

Recovering her health in the desert, her hope blossoms as she sees her child develop.

### [Al-Khatimah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/al-khatimah)

Grieves over Najib's illness and death, then declines and dies from grief.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/najma
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters