# Shakib — The Book of Khalid character guide > Shakib in The Book of Khalid by Ameen Rihani. **Role:** major **Also known as:** O Shakib, My loving Brother Shakib **First appearance:** 0001-book-the-first-in-the-exchange ## Who they are Khalid's steadfast friend and fellow émigré, a poet who stays behind in New York to chronicle the wanderer's feverish life in his Histoire Intime. ## Relationships ### [Khalid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/khalid) _friendship_ Childhood friends and fellow immigrants, sharing a deep bond of adventure and survival in New York. ### [Najma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/najma) _social_ Najma and Shakib are acquaintances, connected mainly through their mutual relationship with Khalid. ### [Im Hanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/im_hanna) _family_ Im Hanna treats Shakib like a second son, welcoming him into her home and caring for him. ### [Khalid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/khalid) _friendship_ Childhood friends and fellow immigrants, sharing a deep bond of adventure and survival in New York. ### [Khalid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/khalid) _friendship_ Childhood friends and fellow immigrants, sharing a deep bond of adventure and survival in New York. ### [Im Hanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/im_hanna) _family_ Im Hanna treats Shakib like a second son, welcoming him into her home and caring for him. ### [Im Hanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/im_hanna) _family_ Im Hanna treats Shakib like a second son, welcoming him into her home and caring for him. ### [Najma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/najma) _social_ Najma and Shakib are acquaintances, connected mainly through their mutual relationship with Khalid. ## In the story ### [Book the First: In the Exchange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/book-the-first-in-the-exchange) Khalid's companion in the new world, sharing in the initial disorientation and the struggle to adapt to American life. ### [I: Probing the Trivial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/i-probing-the-trivial) Khalid's intimate friend and disciple, who provides the Histoire Intime manuscript and speaks of Khalid's mysterious disappearance. ### [The City of Baal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/ii-the-city-of-baal) The narrator's scribe, who provides the stories of Khalid's past and influences his decision to head West, seeing the sunset as a call from the New World. ### [III: Via Dolorosa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iii-via-dolorosa) Observes Khalid's transformation, noting his first dream, pensive mood, and tear. ### [On the Wharf of Enchantment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iv-on-the-wharf-of-enchantment) Marvels at the harbor and city; describes Khalid's melancholy; works as a peddler and records their experiences. ### [The Cellar of the Soul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/v-the-cellar-of-the-soul) Khalid's inseparable companion, who shares in his experiences and subtly guides his education by placing a grammar book in his dictionary. ### [VI: The Summer Afternoon of a Sham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vi-the-summer-afternoon-of-a-sham) Reconciles with Khalid after his disillusionment with atheism. He criticizes the atheist lectures and prefers traditional poetry, showing his religious and cultural loyalty. ### [In the Twilight of an Idea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vii-in-the-twilight-of-an-idea) Narrates the events, tries to persuade Khalid to return to peddling, and witnesses the burning of the box. ### [VIII: With the Houris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/viii-with-the-houris) Khalid confides in him about his relationships; Shakib reports on the Medium's delight at Khalid's return. ### [Book the Second: In the Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/book-the-second-in-the-temple) Shakib is present in the chapter, witnessing Khalid's new path. ### [The Dowry of Democracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/i-the-dowry-of-democracy) Narrates Khalid's encounter with the Boss and expresses his own moralizing and nostalgia for home. ### [II: Subtranscendental](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/ii-subtranscendental) Visits Khalid in prison, is rejected by him, and later lends him money for the pushcart business. He also takes Khalid to a physician and buys his medicine. ### [III: The False Dawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iii-the-false-dawn) Also nostalgic, he plans to return to Syria to procure a Pashalic, and preserves Khalid's letters. ### [IV: The Last Star](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iv-the-last-star) Packs presents and his poetry manuscript, aspiring to political and literary fame; angered by the landlord's impersonal farewell card. ### [Priesto-Parental](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/v-priesto-parental) Provides a detailed account of Khalid's troubles in Baalbek, offering him shelter and support. ### [Flounces and Ruffles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vi-flounces-and-ruffles) The narrator of the courtship account, providing the detailed and somewhat romanticized story of Khalid and Najma's relationship. ### [The Howdaj of Falsehood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vii-the-howdaj-of-falsehood) Attempts to use his connections and money to free Khalid from prison but is unsuccessful. ### [The Kaaba of Solitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/viii-the-kaaba-of-solitude) Mentioned as being unable to know where Khalid has gone. ### [The Disentanglement of the Me](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/i-the-disentanglement-of-the-me) Mentioned as the recipient of Khalid's letters, though not present in the chapter. ### [III: The Self Ecstatic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/iii-the-self-ecstatic) Addressed by Khalid as 'O my Brother' in his philosophical outpourings. ### [V: Union and Progress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/v-union-and-progress) Narrates Khalid's disappearance and presumed suicide, composing a threnody and mourning his friend; later receives letters from Khalid. ### [A Dream of Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/vii-a-dream-of-empire) Mentioned in Khalid's earlier statement about the nature of enduring love. ### [VIII: Adumbrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/viii-adumbrations) Accompanies Khalid, helps save him from the mob, and arranges for his escape. ### [The Stoning and Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/ix-the-stoning-and-flight) Helps Khalid with the kaimakam, arranges passports, and accompanies the group in flight. ### [X: The Desert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/x-the-desert) Present in the desert camp, sharing the peaceful life with Khalid and Najma. ### [Al-Khatimah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/chapters/al-khatimah) Leaves the camp to live in Cairo, becomes poet-laureate to a pasha, and later suggests a consultation for Najib's illness. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters/shakib - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_khalid_se/characters