miracle after miracle
Ibrahim Faraj The pimp who talks of love and of giving Hamida all the finer things in life before turning her into a prostitute, Faraj appears in Midaq Alley during a political rally for candidate Ibrahim Farhat. He stares insolently at beautiful Hamida as she returns from her daily walk, and seats himself in Kirsha’s Café, where he appears to blow kisses towards her shuttered window as he smokes a water pipe. Faraj encounters her during another walk and convinces her that she has been put on earth to be taken—by him. He intends to give her all she deserves, for she is not like the denizens of this poor street. Talking her into taking the first taxi ride of her life and visiting his richly appointed apartment moves Faraj’s plan along more swiftly than he expects. Soon she is living with him and learning all that is needed to become a top-earning prostitute. As he has with all his other girls, Faraj pulls back from talk of love and becomes businesslike. Hamida, whom Faraj has renamed Titi because British and American soldiers will find it amusing, confronts Faraj about their relationship and leaves the house when he refuses to marry her. She crosses paths with her ex-fiancé, Abbas Hilu, who agrees to make Faraj suffer for his crimes. Abbas does not live long enough to carry out the plan, however.
Ibrahim Farhat A short, husky, round-faced merchant on Nahasin Street turned politician, running under the Wafd Party banner, Farhat visits Kirsha’s Café to seek the owner’s influential support. Boys put up colorful posters on walls, but Kamil refuses one as being bad for business. Farhat travels with a retinue, walks self-confidently door to door, greeting people. People stream into Kirsha’s Café and the candidate orders a round of tea for all. Farhat claims to be independent while adhering to the principles of Saad Zaghlul, but finds party spirit disruptive, and he intends in Parliament to promote the people’s practical needs. If he wins, people will see “miracle after miracle”. Moving on to the next establishment, Farhat asks Sheikh Darwish for his blessing but hears instead, “May the devil take you!”
Radwan Hussainy An impressively tall, broad man with a pinkish-red, glowing face and reddish beard, Hussainy wears a flowing black cloak and perpetual look of happiness, tolerance, and deep faith. He walks slowly and his smile announces love for people and life. He never lets a day pass in which he does not do some good deed for the unfortunate. He owns a house on the right side of Midaq Alley and takes less rent than he is entitled to under the laws of military occupation from tenants Kirsha, Uncle Kamil, and Abbas. His failure to graduate from the University of al-Azhar and loss of all his children nearly choke him with despair, but his faith restores him and he becomes a source of consolation to all. Hussainy often invites his friends to the roof of his house for a small party after the café closes for the night. In the course of the novel, Hussainy is involuntarily drawn into the battle between Kirsha and his wife over Kirsha’s new gay interest and into passing judgment on the validity of Hamida’s betrothal to Abbas Hilu when a better offer comes
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