Hadschi Halef Omar

Hadschi Halef Omar Ben Hadschi Abul Abbas Ibn Hadschi Dawud al Gossarah, literally, Hadschi Halef Omar, son of Hadschi Abul Abbas, son of Hadschi Dawud al Gossarah is a Karl May's literary character. Hadschi meaning someone who did the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

The knowing of the complete name of Halef is being considered fundamental for a true Karl-May-fan.

Halef is the companion of Kara Ben Nemsi through all his adventures in the Middle-East from Durch die Wüste to Der Schut. Throughout the adventures with Kara Ben Nemsi he tries to convert him to Islam.

After many adventures he became Scheik of the Haddedihn of the great tribe of the Schammar. He is married to Hanneh, to most beautiful wife on earth, and with her has a son called Kara Ben Halef, who in later novels also has some adventures.

Movie Actors

• At the age of silent movies (1920/21) there have been the first oriental Karl-May-movies. Halef there was played by Meinhart Maur.
• In the first Karl May sound-movie "Durch die Wüste" (1936) he was played by Heinz Evelt.
• In the Karl May movies of the 1950ies actor Georg Thomalla played Halef.
• In the Karl-May movies of the 1960ies Halef was played by Ralf Wolter.
• In the TV-series "Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi" (1973/75) he was played by Heinz Schubert.