Jannāt and Iblīs

novel by El Saadawi

Also known as: “Jannāt wa Iblīs”

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Nawal El Saadawi's novel Jannāt and Iblīs (1992) explores the oppression of women by men through religion. The title refers to Jannāt, a name meaning "paradise," and Iblīs, the Devil in Islam.1

Iblīs, also known as the Devil in Islam, is a figure of pride and disobedience. According to Islamic tradition, God commanded angels to bow before Adam, but Iblīs refused, claiming superiority due to his fiery creation over Adam's clay. This act led to Iblīs's expulsion from heaven, with his punishment deferred to Judgment Day. Iblīs is permitted to tempt believers until then, famously tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden.2

The novel uses these figures to examine the patriarchal structures within religious contexts that impact Arab women.1

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Nawal El Saadawi
…institution, Jannāt wa Iblīs (1992; Jannāt and Iblīs). The female protagonists are Jannāt, whose name is the plural of the Arabic word for paradise, and Iblīs, whose name refers to the Devil.
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…institution, Jannāt wa Iblīs (1992; Jannāt and Iblīs). The female protagonists are Jannāt, whose name is the plural of the Arabic word for paradise, and Iblīs, whose name refers to the Devil.
Read More