Jafar

### Personality

Suave, sinister, cruel, evil, dark, power-hungry, cold-hearted, cunning, greedy, ill-tempered, self-absorbed, ruthless, manipulative, deceptive, violent, sadistic, calm, insane, vengeful, abusive, envious, psychopathic, rude, dramatic, shadowy, sneaky, classy, cynical, vain, impatient, sarcastic, dishonest, pompous, murderous, and commanding

### Description

Slender, tall man with a twisted goatee beard, haughty eyebrows, and brown eyes wearing vizier clothing

### Occupation

The Sultan's grand vizier and advisor (formerly), sorcerer, ruler of Agrabah (briefly), and genie

### Goal

To overthrow the Sultan and exact vengeance on Aladdin (failed)

### Home

The Sultan's Palace, Agrabah (formerly), and The underworld

### Minions

Iago (formerly), Gazeem, Razoul and the Royal Guard (formerly), Genie (briefly), and Abis Mal (formerly)

### Enemies

Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Iago, Abu, Magic Carpet, The Sultan, Rajah, Hercules, Pegasus, Icarus, and Philoctetes

### Powers

Alchemy, magic tricks, divination, sorcery, and cosmic power

### Fate

Gets banished and thrown within his lamp along with Iago to the Cave of Wonders by Genie. (in the first film and the remake)
Explodes after Iago throws his lamp into lava. (in the sequel)
Gets banished to the Underworld for good after Hercules destroys his staff. (in the *Hercules* series)

### Quote

"You... are late."
"Patience, Iago. Patience."
"A snake, am I? Perhaps you'd like to see how sssssnake-like I can be!"
"The universe is mine to command! To control!"

**Jafar** is the main antagonist in Disney's *Aladdin*, its 1994 sequel, and the 2019 remake. He is the The Sultan's former grand vizier and advisor who later becomes the most powerful sorcerer and later, an all-powerful genie in the world with the help of the three wishes reluctantly granted by a genie.

He was voiced by Jonathan Freeman (also portrayed by him in the Broadway musical) and portrayed by Naveen Andrews and Anthony Keyvan (as a child) in *Once Upon a Time in Wonderland*, Maz Jobrani in *Descendants*, Oded Fehr in *Once Upon a Time*, and Marwan Kenzari the 2019 remake.

## Appearances

### *Aladdin*

For years, Jafar had grown tired of serving the Sultan of Agrabah as his grand vizier and supposedly most trusted and loyal advisor despite the latter displaying kindness to him, so, he secretly plotted with his pet parrot/sidekick, Iago to overthrow the Sultan, usurp the throne, and possibly seek out the Sultan's daughter, Jasmine's hand in marriage. Eventually, he learned the secret and existence of a magic lamp containing a phenomenally, cosmic-powered genie that could grant him any three wishes his dark heart desired, located within the Cave of Wonders. However, in order to find the lamp, Jafar would need two pieces of Golden Scarab Beetle that served together as the key to the location and entrance to the Cave.

After having acquired the first half of the Scarab, Jafar hires and sends a thief named Gazeem to steal the other half in exchange for the treasure that lies within the Cave. One night, Jafar and Iago await Gazeem's return on horseback at a designated spot in the desert. Jafar remarks that Gazeem is late, to which the latter sarcastically apologizes to him. When Jafar asks him about the other half of the Scarab, Gazeem reveals that he had to slit a few throats to get it before presenting it to him, but Gazeem yanks it back, demanding his reward first before Iago flies by, snatches the item from his hand, and gives it to Jafar. After Jafar promises the thief his reward, he connects the two pieces together and the Scarab begins to glow. Finally, it flies out of Jafar's hand, scaring the horses, and goes off towards the dunes. Jafar, Iago, and Gazeem follow the trail until the Scarab reaches a large dune where it suddenly separates into two and the halves plunged into it and all that remains are two glowing points of light on it. But then the dune begins to rise up, transforming into a giant tiger's head, with the glowing points serving as the eyes. The transformation, however, scares the two men’s horses off and run away; never to be seen again.

Amazed and having finally found the Cave of Wonders after all his years of searching, Jafar instructs Gazeem to retrieve the lamp for him while promising the rest of the treasure for the latter. Jafar and Iago stay behind as they watch Gazeem slowly approach the Cave. All goes well until the Cave suddenly roars and comes to life while demanding to know who disturbs its slumber. When Gazeem introduces himself as thief, both he, Jafar, and Iago learn from the Cave that only one person may enter here, one whose worth lies far within: a diamond in the rough; much to the villains' confusion. Nevertheless, Jafar insists that Gazeem proceed with entering the Cave further. However, once inside, Jafar watches with horror as Gazeem is instantly devoured by the angry, roaring Cave while Iago is blown away before the Cave disintegrates and the two Scarab pieces are left behind. After listening to Iago complaining, Jafar demands him to be patient as he states that Gazeem was obviously less than worthy, but Iago further insists on complaining as he further states that they now have a bigger problem on their hand until Jafar silences him. Realizing that only one person may enter the Cave, Jafar seeks out to find his "diamond in the rough".

Jafar returns to Agrabah, where he learns from the Sultan that Jasmine doesn't wish to marry a prince. Jafar offers to help in exchange for the Sultan's familial sapphire ring. When the Sultan shows reluctance, Jafar uses his hypnotic snake staff to change the former's mind. After departing, Iago voices his frustration with the Sultan, but Jafar assures his accomplice that he will soon be in power. In his secret laboratory, Jafar uses the Sultan's ring to power the Sands of Time, which he uses to uncover the Diamond in the Rough. Eventually, the individual necessary to access the Cave of Wonders is identified as Aladdin. Jafar orders for Aladdin's arrest as a subtle means of recruiting him, although he did not expect Jasmine to have accompanied the street rat (she had escaped from the palace earlier to avoid having to find another prince at her doorstep). When trying to freed Aladdin from Captain Razoul and his men, Razoul informs the princess that his orders came from Jafar and must be taken up with him. Jasmine confronts Jafar that night, but he claims that he cannot release Aladdin as he had already been executed for his crimes of "kidnapping the princess".

With Jasmine out of the way of his plans, Jafar disguised himself as an old prisoner and snuck into the dungeon. There, he offers to help Aladdin escape in exchange for aiding him in retrieving the lamp from the Cave of Wonders. Though hesitant, Jafar assures that the cave is filled with enough treasure to "impress a princess". Aladdin accepts the deal, and together, the two travel to the cave's entrance. Aladdin is considered worthy by its guardian, and Jafar shall hand Aladdin his reward once the lamp has been retrieved. While inside, Aladdin's pet monkey triggers the cave's downfall. Aladdin rushes to the exit, where he finds himself dangling for life. Jafar madly requests the lamp, to which Aladdin obliges. With the lamp in his possessions, Jafar attempts to give Aladdin his "reward" (death), but Abu bites the evil vizier in the wrist. Aladdin and Abu are nevertheless dropped into the dissolving cave and apparently die alongside it. As Jafar boasts about his victory, he finds that the lamp is missing. Hopeless to ever retrieving it, Jafar screams in anger and frustration. Unbeknownst to him, the lamp was actually stolen by Abu, who hands it over to Aladdin. By teaming up with the Genie, the two are able to escape the cave and return to Agrabah safely.

Afterwards, Jafar is reprimanded by the Sultan for executing a prisoner without his consultation (Jasmine had informed him earlier of Jafar's supposed execution of Aladdin), with Jafar swearing that it won't happen again. Although the Sultan forgave Jafar instantly, Jasmine was still furious with him, and vowed to "get rid of him" once she eventually rises up as queen. The furious Jafar takes her threats to heart, fuming over the fact that not only has he lost the lamp, but is also in danger of losing his head should he fail to somehow take control of Agrabah. As he contemplates on the matter, Iago suddenly concocts a new plot, advising Jafar to take advantage of Jasmine's enforced marriage by marrying her himself. Once he is legally dubbed sultan as a result, he can dispose of his wife and her father, ridding himself of his enemies and maintaining complete power. Jafar is enticed by the idea, and carries it through by using a fake provision in the law that would allow a royal vizier to marry a princess, as a means to "solve" the Sultan's problems of finding a suitor for Jasmine.

The Sultan, for a number of reasons, is not keen on the idea, forcing Jafar to resort to hypnosis. Before the power of the snake staff can take full effect, the Sultan is freed from his trance by the sounds of fanfare entering the city, which is revealed to belong to the flashy introductory parade of visiting suitor, Prince Ali. Jafar immediately sees Prince Ali as a rival for Jasmime's hand in marriage, and plots to secretly have him killed. That night, he orders Razoul and the guards to kidnap Ali and ensure he's never found. When he returns to the palace, Jafar successfully hypnotizes the Sultan, forcing him to abide the marriage between the former and Jasmine. Jasmine refuses, declaring that she chooses Prince Ali, but Jafar explains that "Prince Ali left", until the prince suddenly reveals himself to be alive, and accuses Jafar of attempted murder. Jafar tries to cover his crimes by hypnotizing the Sultan into believing the former's claims, only to accidentally reveal the power held by his staff, which Ali destroys. The Sultan is freed, and Ali reveals Jafar's treachery.

The furious Sultan tried to have his personal guards arrest Jafar, but he manages to escape with a smoke bomb, although not before glancing at the lamp inside Ali's turban, and is eventually able to deduce Ali's true identity. He then reveals this to Iago, and orders him to steal the lamp from Aladdin, which he succeeds in the following day. Jafar, observing the marriage announcement from his hideout, then unleashes the Genie, making him the new master of the lamp. Jafar declares his wish to become the sultan of Agrabah, and a hostile takeover commences, with a demonized Genie destructively placing Agrabah's palace on a mountain top. After not receiving the respect he desires from Jasmine and her father, Jafar wishes to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, in order to strike fear into them instead. When Ali tries to intervene, Jafar exposes the prince's true identity as Aladdin to Jasmine as a form of humiliation. He then banishes his enemy — along with Abu and the carpet — to the icy snow covered mountains to to freeze to death.

Some time later, in a dystopian Agrabah, Jafar spends time torturing the former sultan, until directing his attention to Jasmine, whom he wishes to become his queen, after his first attempt to have her betrothed to him willingly fails. Although Genie tries to explain that genies can't make people fall in love, Jasmine seemingly makes the wish come true, seductively flirting with Jafar as if madly lustful towards him. Though he is too caught up in his own pleasure to realize this is a ruse, Jafar eventually discovers Aladdin trying to retrieve the lamp, merely inches away from the object at that point. Before the street rat can defeat him, Jafar fights against Aladdin with all of his powers, eliminating his aids (Jasmine, Abu, and Carpet), and pulls the lamp out of his reach.

When called a "cowardly snake" afraid to fight for himself by Aladdin, Jafar responds by transforming himself into a giant cobra, and instantly attacks. Though Aladdin proves to be a valiant warrior, Jafar eventually overwhelms him by trapping the street rat within his coils. Threatening to crush him to death, Jafar taunts Aladdin's helplessness, though the latter retorts by claiming Jafar isn't as powerful as he wishes to believe, claiming the Genie is still the most powerful being in the universe as he gave Jafar his power in the first place and can also take it away. Realizing what Aladdin says is true, Jafar's lust for power prompts him to use his final wish to become an all-powerful genie. Genie reluctantly grants the wish, and Jafar is turned into a monstrous genie with blood-red skin, subsequently seizing control of the cosmos and declaring himself ruler of the universe. However, Aladdin notifies Jafar that the power of a genie comes with a price, revealing that the evil genie is now equipped with his own black lamp prison, which quickly begins to suck him inside after placing manacles on his wrists to indicate his new imprisonment. Jafar tries to escape by grabbing onto Iago's tail feathers, but to no avail, merely dragging the panicked Iago to imprisonment alongside him.

Foiled and trapped by his own greed, Jafar's magic over Agrabah and its inhabitants are undone, and peace is restored within the kingdom. Jafar's lamp is left in Aladdin's possession, who hands the lamp over to Genie, who sends the lamp flying to the Cave of Wonders, where the bickering Jafar and Iago would be forced to remain, as prisoners, for no less than 10,000 years.

### *The Return of Jafar*

After spending indefinite time in the Cave of Wonders, Jafar's Lamp is flown to the surface by Iago, who manages to free himself from it. Jafar then orders him to free him as well, but Iago becomes frustrated by his owner's cruel treatment and being taken for granted, so after having a bitter argument, he drops the lamp down a well and flies away. His lamp is later found by one of Aladdin's enemies, a bandit named Abis Mal, who rubs it, finally setting Jafar free and also, inadvertently, saving Abis Mal from his own troops turning on him due to his earlier abuse towards them.

Because his genie form can't directly kill Aladdin due to its inherent limitations, and since he can't actually travel outside of close proximity of the lamp, Jafar attempts to arrange for Abis Mal to do it for him. However, Abis Mal is terrified of his genie form and is at a loss for words, so Jafar transforms into his human form to communicate with him better. Abis Mal demands his three wishes straight away, but Jafar, after initially venting his powers in anger at Abis Mal's defiance and nearly striking at him, decides to trick him into wasting his first two wishes in order to force him to assist in his plot for revenge against Aladdin in order to get his third wish or he will wish he had "never been born", but continues to say that if he cooperates he will see that he is amply rewarded. Abis Mal, having earlier encountered Aladdin, tells him he would've assisted him anyway after learning this due to sharing a mutual desire for revenge against him as well.

After Abis Mal infiltrates the palace without being spotted by the guards he rubs the lamp to release Jafar.  Jafar then notices Iago with Aladdin and Jasmine, and decides to exploit Iago's new friendship to factor into his plot for revenge against Aladdin. Jafar then arrives to reunite with Iago and, after assuring the terrified bird that he has no intention of exacting revenge on him for his earlier actions, demands him to lure Aladdin and the Sultan into a trap. Iago successfully gets Aladdin and Sultan to go for a flight on Carpet and while they're gone, Jafar invades the palace and begins to torment Genie and Abu. After the torture, he captures the two and begins the next part of his plan.

Aladdin, Sultan, Carpet, and Iago reach the destination and, what seems to be a peaceful and relaxing area, turns out to be a death trap as the Sultan is kidnapped by hooded men on magic flying horses (actually all Jafar in disguise, save for Abis Mal). Aladdin threatens Iago, saying he'll deal with him later, and rushes off on Carpet to save the Sultan. Aladdin fails and is thrown down a waterfall by Abis Mal, but rescued by Jafar. Abis Mal is in shock, but Jafar explains their act of revenge is not completed just yet, making it clear that having him dashed against the waterfall rocks was not what he had in mind for revenge. Jafar frames Aladdin for the murder of the Sultan, who's really being held in captivity by Jafar. Presumably, he also brainwashed the guards into executing him in order to ensure that the plan worked. Jafar disguises himself as Jasmine and, right before Aladdin's execution via decapitation, Jafar reveals himself to torture Aladdin even more. However, unknown to him, Iago, consumed with guilt for helping Jafar set up his new friends, frees Genie, who saves Aladdin in the nick of time from getting beheaded by Razoul, who Jafar tricked into believing that he had murdered the Sultan.

At the palace, Jafar rewards Abis Mal with all of the treasure his heart desired, with the only thing he requests in return is for Abis Mal to grant his freedom. Before he can, however, Abis Mal ends up interrupting his own wish to wonder whether Jafar is sincere, thus resulting in Jafar issuing a threat to Abis Mal to torture him if he doesn't. Shortly afterwards, the lamp is taken by Aladdin and his friends, who know that the only way to destroy him is to destroy his lamp. Jafar, outraged that Aladdin is still alive, transforms into his genie form and battles the heroes, confident that they'll never destroy him because of his great power. He creates a wasteland in the palace's garden with pits of lava as a trap for Aladdin and knocks Genie unconscious. When it seems like he is succeeding, Iago unexpectedly comes to the rescue. Jafar is furious at this betrayal and tries to attack him as well. He badly weakens his former ally, teasing Aladdin about good help being hard to find, but with his last ounce of strength, Iago kicks the lamp into the lava, which results in Jafar being violently electrocuted and then imploding into a cloud of dust, destroying him for good. Peace is restored once more and Iago is welcomed into Aladdin's home.