Hidden Depths: The Untold Story of “The Satanic Verses”

“The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie, a novel infused with magic realism, became one of the most contentious literary works of the late 20th century upon its release in 1988. The book’s title and content sparked immediate and severe backlash from the Muslim community, leading to a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran in 1989. This controversy not only led to violent protests and the burning of the book but also resulted in the novel being banned in several countries​​.

The novel’s title, “The Satanic Verses,” refers to a disputed Islamic narrative involving the Prophet Muhammad and verses that were allegedly revealed to him, praising pagan deities, only to be later retracted on the grounds that they were inspired by the devil. This story, known as the incident of the “Satanic Verses” or the “gharaniq verses,” is considered apocryphal by many Islamic scholars and is not found in the most respected Islamic texts. The novel’s reference to this narrative, along with its creative reinterpretation of various aspects of Islamic history and theology, was perceived as blasphemous by many in the Muslim world​​.

The narrative of “The Satanic Verses” intricately weaves together the lives of its two main characters, Gibreel Farishta and Saladin Chamcha, who miraculously survive a plane…