Tahir Shah
Author, narrator, and protagonist, Tahir Shah writs about a semi-autobiographical experience he had living in Morocco. Concerned with his children growing up without understanding their Middle Eastern roots, Shah decides to move with his pregnant wife to Morocco. He remembers fondly all the summers spent there when his family was unable to travel back home to Afghanistan. Shah is an independent and level-headed character who manages to free his home of its evil spirits and superstition pretty much all on his own. Unsure whether he believes in the jinn or not, he maintains caution around the subject.
Shah's Wife
She does not feature too prominently in the story, but she does prove to be Shah's motivation. Her pregnancy complicates their travels, but it provides both of them with a higher sense of urgency regarding the renovations on their new house. Patient and demure, she allows her husband to take charge of their situation. More superstitious -- or pious -- than her husband, she insists he exercise a greater level of care in his efforts to eliminate the jinn.
The Jinn
He's a mischievously evil spirit who occupies The Caliph's House. Apparently he moved in after the last legal resident moved out, decades ago. An empty house sitting there for so long proved a perfect opportunity for a good old-fashioned haunting, and he moves right in and makes himself at home. When Shah and his family move in, they do not co-exist with the Jinn well. Shah's not sure he's even real, but the Jinn soon makes his presence felt. After holding out for weeks, he's finally destroyed in a grand exorcism which more than satisfies the guardians of the building.
Shah's Father
He's the real reason Shah wants to move to Morocco, despite everyone's protests. Shah remembers how carefully his dad taught him to remember their cultural traditions, always trying to visit home in Afghanistan. Thanks to his father's consistent warnings, Shah now values cultural heritage and is determine to instill a respect and understanding of their heritage in his own children.
The Guardians
They are the caretakers of The Caliph's House. They've lived there for years and are well acquainted with the Jinn. Each of them harbor their own unique perspectives on how Shah should occupy his time. Although harsh, their demands must be respected according to the tradition of the building. They are deeply spiritual people who respect tradition. Also they're kind of goofs, easily made to believe false ideas.
