# Murjânah Khânum — Veiled Women character guide

> Murjânah Khânum in Veiled Women by Marmaduke Pickthall.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Murjânah, old Murjânah

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

An older harem mistress maneuvering to marry off her beautiful slave Gulbeyzah, disguising a transaction as a daughter's dowry and a bride's free choice.

## Who they are

Murjânah Khânum commissions the shrewd Fitnah to hunt a husband for her slave Gulbeyzah, and the search becomes a web of go-betweens, inspections, and polite fictions in which the word "price" is never spoken. She wants both emancipation for the girl and reimbursement for her outlay, a double aim that keeps every negotiation delicately ambiguous. Her scheme draws Barakah into the parlors and calculations of Cairene harem society, where Gulbeyzah's theatrical modesty and appetite for "society" turn a marriage market into a comedy of manners.

## Relationships

### [Barakah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/barakah)

_friendship_

Barakah and Murjânah Khânum are close allies and confidantes, navigating court intrigues together.

### [Yûsuf Bey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/yusuf_bey)

_friendship_

Murjânah Khânum and Yûsuf Bey are friendly allies, often exchanging information or support.

### [Yûsuf Bey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/yusuf_bey)

_friendship_

Murjânah Khânum and Yûsuf Bey are friendly allies, often exchanging information or support.

### [Barakah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/barakah)

_friendship_

Barakah and Murjânah Khânum are close allies and confidantes, navigating court intrigues together.

### [Barakah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/barakah)

_friendship_

Barakah and Murjânah Khânum are close allies and confidantes, navigating court intrigues together.

### [Yûsuf Bey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/yusuf_bey)

_friendship_

Murjânah Khânum and Yûsuf Bey are friendly allies, often exchanging information or support.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/ii)

The Pasha's first wife, now melancholy and retired from life after her children died.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/iii)

The Pasha's first wife; advises him to beat Fitnah, citing Islamic scripture.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/vi)

Oversees Barakah's activities, gives consent for visits, and hosts trousseau business in her rooms.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/ix)

Kisses Barakah and offers a blessing for fruitfulness and patience.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/x)

Comforts Yûsuf, advises forgiveness for Fitnah, and suggests the couple be removed to a separate house.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xiv)

Accompanies Fitnah Khânum to the pleasure-house and is incensed by the refusal of admittance, yet keeps the harem secret from the Pasha.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xv)

Commissioned Fitnah to find a husband for Gulbeyzah, showing motherly care for her slave.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xviii)

Sends a robe of honour and invites Barakah to supper; has been unwell.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxii)

Mourns her children in the cemetery, performs devotions.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxiii)

Murjânah Khânum, as head of the harem, lectures Barakah on her conduct, urging her to embrace higher Islamic ideals and avoid becoming too common.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxiv)

Mentioned as having borne many children to the Pasha; Umm ed-Dahak reports to her about Barakah.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxvi)

Convenes the council of matriarchs and argues that Barakah's lack of faith makes her unfit to raise a Muslim child.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxvii)

Brings Muhammad back to Barakah after his reformation and explains the new educational approach.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxviii)

Agrees with Fitnah that Barakah is possessed by a jinn.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxi)

Sits with the dying Pasha and later comforts Barakah, expressing weariness with traditional death customs.

### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Comforts Barakah, advises resignation to God's will, and hosts her in her rooms.

### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/chapters/xl)

Barakah stands beside her deathbed and endures the death-room orgies.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters/murjanah_khanum
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/veiled_women_se/characters