Editing Moustafa

{{redirect|Sheek|''The Legend of Zelda'' series character that appears in various ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]'' titles|[[List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Melee#Sheik|List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Melee § Sheik]]}}
{{character infobox
|image=[[File:PM Moustafa Uncloaked.png]]<br>Sprite in ''Paper Mario''
|species=[[Little Mouser]]
|first_appearance=''[[Paper Mario]]'' ([[List of games by date#2000|2000]])
|latest_appearance=[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door'' (Nintendo Switch)]] ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]]) (mentioned)
}}
{{quote|If I do not keep evil folk out of the [[Dry Dry Ruins (Paper Mario)|ruins]], who will?|Moustafa|Paper Mario}}
'''Moustafa''' is a green [[Little Mouser#Paper Mario|Nomadimouse]] who appears in ''[[Paper Mario]]''. He lives in [[Dry Dry Outpost]], where he acts as the leader of a secret group of honorable thieves within the town. Mario and his party must find Moustafa during the events of Chapter 2 in order to reach [[Dry Dry Ruins (Paper Mario)|Dry Dry Ruins]], and are led to him by an informant named '''Sheek'''.

His name is a portmanteau of the common Muslim given name "{{wp|Mustafa}}" (a name which, in Arabic, means "the Chosen One") and "mouse". The name "Sheek" is a portmanteau of the Arab title "{{wp|Sheikh}}", meaning "elder", and likely the onomatopoeia "squeak" or the interjection "eek".

==History==
===''Paper Mario'' series===
====''Paper Mario''====
[[File:Paper Mario Moustafa First Meet.png|thumb|left|Sheek sitting in front of a door]]
Upon arriving at Dry Dry Outpost in [[Paper Mario|Chapter 2]], Mario learns that he must speak with Moustafa in order to reach [[Dry Dry Ruins (Paper Mario)|Dry Dry Ruins]] and rescue the [[Star Spirit]] that is imprisoned there. In order to gain an audience, however, he must first exchange items for information from Sheek. If Mario gives Sheek his favorite thing - a [[Lemon]] obtained from the oasis in the desert after he gave him something before - Sheek will instruct him to purchase a [[Dried Mushroom|Dried Shroom]] and a [[Dusty Hammer]], in that order, from the outpost shop. Obtaining this hint from Sheek is not necessary for the secret code to work, however.

[[File:Paper Mario Moustafa Reveal.png|thumb|Moustafa reveals himself to Mario]]
This secret combination is known only to Moustafa and his affiliates; purchasing the two items in the designated order leads the shopkeeper to tell Mario that Moustafa resides at the highest point of Dry Dry Outpost, and that he will need to keep climbing higher and higher in order to meet with the leader. Returning to the door where Sheek is first found and continuing up through the buildings beyond it eventually leads Mario and the party to Moustafa's chamber, where they discover that the informant Sheek is in fact Moustafa himself: "Sheek" is the disguise he uses when out and about in the outpost. If Moustafa is found without speaking to Sheek first, he will remark that Mario "must be very lucky."

After detailing his status as a protector of Dry Dry Ruins, Moustafa gives Mario the [[Pulse Stone]], which helps the party discover the location of the ruins and raise them from the desert sands. If Mario visits Moustafa after defeating [[Tutankoopa]] in Dry Dry Ruins, he will be shocked upon learning that minions of [[Bowser]] were in Dry Dry Ruins, and express eternal gratitude for getting rid of them.

[[File:Moustafa.png|frame|"Sheek"]]
A [[List of letters in Paper Mario#Moustafa|letter]] from Moustafa can be obtained by Mario later in the game. After Mario defeats Bowser, Moustafa is seen outside Peach's Castle, where he tells Mario how he sees him as a greater hero, having known all along that Mario would defeat Bowser. Moustafa appears in the post-game parade along with several other Nomadimice, stopping to talk with [[Rowf and Rhuff]] before continuing onward. 

Additionally, an unnamed [[Toad (species)|Toad]] near the port in [[Toad Town]] reveals that he was once saved by Moustafa after becoming lost in Dry Dry Desert. The Toad claims that Moustafa brought him to Dry Dry Outpost and revealed a great secret to him, though he never elaborates on this. Additionally, the [[Nomadimouse (character)|wandering Nomadimouse]] receives a letter from Moustafa, and seems to have met him previously, though the Nomadimouse only has vague memories of the meeting.

The requirement of meeting Moustafa (not as Sheek) by buying a Dried Shroom and Dusty Hammer is similar to [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door|the sequel]]'s requirement of meeting [[Don Pianta]], which is a Dried Shroom and a [[Dizzy Dial]].
=====Tattle=====
;Sheek
*"''This is Sheek. You'd think the guy could shake the dust from his clothes! If I didn't know he was an information trader, I'd say we should steer clear of him. Still, he's our best source for gossip... As adventurers, we have to deal with all kinds!''"
;Moustafa
*"''Da Da Da Duuum! Sheek reveals his true self! ...I guess that means he's the boss everyone talks about. Oh... I was expecting Moustafa to look a lot cooler.''"

[[Goombario]] seems to recite the classic ''The Legend of Zelda'' melody for finding a treasure if he uses [[Tattle]] on Sheek after his identity as Moustafa is revealed, referencing [[List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Melee#Zelda|Princess Zelda]]'s alter-ego with a similar name, [[List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Melee#Sheik|Sheik]].

=====Letter=====
[[File:Letter5PM.png|thumb|Moustafa's letter.]]
<blockquote>Hey, wanderer! I have heard many stories about your deeds. People speak very well of you.<br>
It comforts me to know that [[Bowser's Minions|creatures]] no longer loot the [[Dry Dry Ruins (Paper Mario)|ancient ruins]].<br>
Unfortunately, some relics are missing. This is a shame. I've heard that a [[Kolorado|Koopa]] was wandering around the ruins... That sounds very suspicious.<br>
You should be careful if you meet any suspicious types. Anyway, I must go! I look forward to hearing great tales of your adventures.<br>
Please drop by the village whenever you like. Anytime. It'd be our honor.<br>
::::Moustafa
</blockquote>

====''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''====
In ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', Moustafa is mentioned in one of [[Lumpy]]'s diary entries: he received assistance from Moustafa during his search of oil in Dry Dry Desert. According to the entry, Moustafa asked "if you're a nice guy then give me something nice". Despite Lumpy giving him nothing, Moustafa still took Lumpy to the location of the oil.

===''Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour''===
In ''[[Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour]]'', the name "Moustafa" can appear on the leaderboard.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SMKun 25 Moustafa.png|Moustafa (disguised as Sheek) in ''[[Super Mario-kun]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
===Sheek===
{{foreign names
|Jap=モノクレー
|JapR=Monokurē
|JapM=Possibly from「物」(''mono'', thing) and「{{Ruby|呉|く}}れ」(''kure'', irregular alternative imperative form of "give")
|Spa=Sheek
}}

===Moustafa===
{{foreign names
|Jap=ロレンチュ
|JapR=Rorenchu
|JapM=Pun on "Lawrence" (as a reference to "{{wp|T. E. Lawrence|Lawrence of Arabia}}") and「チューさん」(''Chū-san'', "[[Little Mouser]]")
|Chi=劳伦斯鼠
|ChiR=Láolúnsī Shǔ
|ChiM=Mouse Lawrence
|Dut=Muistafa
|DutM=Moustafa
|Fre=Moustafa
|Ger=Maustafa
|GerM=Moustafa
|Spa=Mustafá
|SpaM=Moustafa
}}
{{Little Mousers}}
{{PM}}
[[Category:Allies]]
[[Category:Little Mousers]]
[[Category:Paper Mario characters]]
[[Category:Super Mario-kun characters]]
[[de:Maustafa]]