# Fitnah Khânum — Veiled Women character guide > Fitnah Khânum in Veiled Women by Marmaduke Pickthall. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Fitnah, Fitnah, Bring Fitnah Khânum **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Who they are A senior lady of the harem whose stern piety and fierce love for her grandson collide with Barakah's English notions of a mother's sole authority over her child. ## Relationships ### [Barakah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/barakah) _rivalry_ Barakah and Fitnah Khânum are bitter enemies, locked in a struggle of manipulation and jealousy. ### [Yûsuf Bey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/yusuf_bey) _psychological_ Fitnah Khânum is obsessively fixated on Yûsuf Bey, using manipulation and schemes to draw his attention. ### [Muhammad Pasha Sâlih](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/muhammad_pasha_salih) _professional_ Fitnah Khânum and Muhammad Pasha Sâlih are involved in a transactional or political alliance, using each other for gain. ### [Yûsuf Bey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/yusuf_bey) _psychological_ Fitnah Khânum is obsessively fixated on Yûsuf Bey, using manipulation and schemes to draw his attention. ### [Barakah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/barakah) _rivalry_ Barakah and Fitnah Khânum are bitter enemies, locked in a struggle of manipulation and jealousy. ### [Yûsuf Bey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/yusuf_bey) _psychological_ Fitnah Khânum is obsessively fixated on Yûsuf Bey, using manipulation and schemes to draw his attention. ### [Barakah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/barakah) _rivalry_ Barakah and Fitnah Khânum are bitter enemies, locked in a struggle of manipulation and jealousy. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/i) Enraged over her son Yûsuf's desire to marry the English governess; argues with the Pasha. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/ii) The Pasha's wife who is furious about the proposed marriage and conversion. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/iii) Furious about Barakah's marriage; is bound, gagged, and beaten on the Pasha's orders. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as a potential source of trouble due to her past frowardness and jealousy. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/vi) Suspected by Gulbeyzah of plotting against Barakah by sending the old woman; remains aloof and averted during trousseau preparations. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/viii) Consumed by anguish and righteous fury, she seeks the sorcerer's help to kill Barakah, believing her to be a jinniyeh who will destroy her son. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/ix) Prepares the poisoned sherbet for Barakah. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/x) Confesses to poisoning the bride, kneels before her in remorse, and later reconciles with Yûsuf in a tearful embrace. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xiv) Initially foretold Barakah's death, but upon her recovery grows to love her deeply, eclipsing her love for Yûsuf. She leads the harem's indignation when denied access to Barakah's sickroom. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xv) Acts as intendant for Murjânah Khânum in arranging Gulbeyzah's marriage, showing shrewdness and delight in the process. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xvi) Not directly present, but referenced as the 'kind princess' who advised Bedr-ul-Budûr on proper attire. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xviii) Overjoyed at Barakah's pregnancy, sends messengers to Yûsuf and the Pasha. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xix) Arranges the wet-nurse, enforces traditional customs, and secretly orchestrates the zâr exorcism out of love for Barakah. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xx) Takes delight in talking with villagers; scolds Hamdi and threatens to marry him to Na'imah. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxi) Praises matrimony as a panacea for young people's crotchets after Hamdi's successful marriage. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxii) Hosts the women at the mausoleum and later recommends Umm ed-Dahak to Barakah. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxiii) Fitnah Khânum comments on Umm ed-Dahak's love of subtlety over comfort, and enjoys her company despite scolding her. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxiv) Mentioned in Umm ed-Dahak's list of women who bore many children to the Pasha. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxv) Shakes her head at Muhammad's lack of discipline and is announced at the end of the chapter. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxvi) Witnesses Muhammad's violent behavior and physically disciplines him, then insists on the child's removal from Barakah. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxvii) One of the Pasha's ladies who helps in Muhammad's upbringing; Barakah visits her house. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxviii) Advises marriage as a cure for demonic possession in unmarried girls, and later pities Barakah as 'possessed'. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxix) Fitnah Khânum loudly laments the suppression of the slave trade, calling it impiety. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxi) Greets Barakah at the old palace and informs her of the Pasha's condition. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxvii) Doses Barakah with medicine as part of her care. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/fitnah_khanum - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters