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Iblis
The story of Adam and Eve's banishment from Paradise has been part of the world's literary and religious heritage for almost 3,000 years. Focusing on the Islamic version of the story, Oppenheim retells the gripping, tragic tale of Iblis (the Devil) and his clever, wicked plot. Full color.
- GenresReligion
Library Binding
First published March 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 15, 2019
An Islamic telling of the Adam & Eve story with powerful illustrations. Fascinating.
October 27, 2015
This is the story of Adam and Eve in the gardens of Paradise. This is the story of the Serpent, of the Devil, and of the Fall. This is not based on the first book of Moses, however, but on the Islamic version which was written by Jarir-at-Tabari in Baghdad in the 9th century.
For five hundred years Adam and Eve had lived in Paradise. And for five hundred years Iblis, the great Satan, had been trying to get in.
It is the angel Ridwan who stands guard outside the garden, and the first image of the book is of his clenched fist and flaming sword.
Trying to figure out a way to sneak in, Iblis tricks the serpent, promising to tell her the three magic words which will save all who hear them from illness, old age and death. The serpent - both beautiful and vain - allows Iblis to shrink to the size of a speck of dust and sit himself "between her teeth, making them poisonous for eternity."
From this perch, Iblis can then speak as the serpent, and is thus able to address Eve incognito.
"Dearest serpent, in this garden of God, have we not all that can be desired?"
"It would seem so. But are you not troubled that the noblest fruit of the garden is denied you by God?"
He goes on to tell her that the fruit gives eternal youth and health. Eve is indeed curious.
"How do you know this?"
"An angel told me as I lay under the forbidden tree."
"I must see this angel!"
Iblis is a master shapeshifter. In a moment, he has flown out from the serpent's mouth and transformed into "a perfect young man with wings like clouds."
"I am a man made into an angel," Iblis told her. "I become an angel by eating the fruit that God has denied us. I was near death, ill and infirm. I ate and lo, you see me a thousand years later."
Eve needs no more convincing. She takes and she eats. She gives to Adam and he eats.
It is not clear why the fruit is forbidden. There is no mention of "the Knowledge Between Good and Evil," which I always found to be one of the most compelling aspects of the Biblical story. Neither is there any mention of Adam and Eve suddenly realizing their nakedness and attempting to cover themselves.
At that moment, the tree comes to terrifyingly life. Young spreads it out over two pages, the terrible, twisting branches of that hideously overgrown tree, like a hundred dark snakes, the form of the humans writhing from within, trying to escape. This is the manifestation of God, and He is not pleased.
"Depart from Paradise, thou Adam, thy wife, Eve, and the animals that led ye into disobeying my command."
It is now, at God's command, that leaves are given to Eve and Adam, and they are expelled. It seems a slight distinction, but I'm certain in the Biblical version they fashion the fig leaves before God comes to find them.
Adam is banished to the island of Serendib, which is now - Oppenheim tells us - present-day Sri Lanka. Eve finds herself exiled in Jeddah. I'm trying to figure out how they went on to produce the human race between them if God sent them to opposite ends of the bus like this.
And Iblis - the star of the book - is flung into the River Eila, which flows into Hell. We see him, screaming, now transformed into his true form, falling into the roaring flame of eternal hellfire.
And they all lived eternally cursed ever after!
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For five hundred years Adam and Eve had lived in Paradise. And for five hundred years Iblis, the great Satan, had been trying to get in.
It is the angel Ridwan who stands guard outside the garden, and the first image of the book is of his clenched fist and flaming sword.
Trying to figure out a way to sneak in, Iblis tricks the serpent, promising to tell her the three magic words which will save all who hear them from illness, old age and death. The serpent - both beautiful and vain - allows Iblis to shrink to the size of a speck of dust and sit himself "between her teeth, making them poisonous for eternity."
From this perch, Iblis can then speak as the serpent, and is thus able to address Eve incognito.
"Dearest serpent, in this garden of God, have we not all that can be desired?"
"It would seem so. But are you not troubled that the noblest fruit of the garden is denied you by God?"
He goes on to tell her that the fruit gives eternal youth and health. Eve is indeed curious.
"How do you know this?"
"An angel told me as I lay under the forbidden tree."
"I must see this angel!"
Iblis is a master shapeshifter. In a moment, he has flown out from the serpent's mouth and transformed into "a perfect young man with wings like clouds."
"I am a man made into an angel," Iblis told her. "I become an angel by eating the fruit that God has denied us. I was near death, ill and infirm. I ate and lo, you see me a thousand years later."
Eve needs no more convincing. She takes and she eats. She gives to Adam and he eats.
It is not clear why the fruit is forbidden. There is no mention of "the Knowledge Between Good and Evil," which I always found to be one of the most compelling aspects of the Biblical story. Neither is there any mention of Adam and Eve suddenly realizing their nakedness and attempting to cover themselves.
At that moment, the tree comes to terrifyingly life. Young spreads it out over two pages, the terrible, twisting branches of that hideously overgrown tree, like a hundred dark snakes, the form of the humans writhing from within, trying to escape. This is the manifestation of God, and He is not pleased.
"Depart from Paradise, thou Adam, thy wife, Eve, and the animals that led ye into disobeying my command."
It is now, at God's command, that leaves are given to Eve and Adam, and they are expelled. It seems a slight distinction, but I'm certain in the Biblical version they fashion the fig leaves before God comes to find them.
Adam is banished to the island of Serendib, which is now - Oppenheim tells us - present-day Sri Lanka. Eve finds herself exiled in Jeddah. I'm trying to figure out how they went on to produce the human race between them if God sent them to opposite ends of the bus like this.
And Iblis - the star of the book - is flung into the River Eila, which flows into Hell. We see him, screaming, now transformed into his true form, falling into the roaring flame of eternal hellfire.
And they all lived eternally cursed ever after!
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July 8, 2011A few of the details are the same, but otherwise this version is an entirely different take on what is one of the foundational stories of Western literature. The snake for example is not the devil, but Eve's closest companion. Her vanity is exploited and with the complicity of God's most beautiful creature, the peacock, she allows the devil Iblis to sneak into Paradise by hiding in the little space between her teeth (making them poisonous for all time). Of course the title of this tale is Iblis and much of the story concentrates on the thoughts of this character. He is unremittingly evil, of course, but he does a lot more interesting things in this version. He swears by God several times, and since no one in Paradise imagines that anyone could swear falsely by the Creator, they believe him. He also transforms into a dazzling angel in front of Eve to convince her that the fruit he's advising her to try made him so. The illustrations are very beautiful, but in a way that seemed to hold MY attemntion more than my children's.
August 26, 2010
An interesting version of Adam and Eve based on stories from the Koran. Of course the illustrations of this tale are absolutely gorgeous like all of Ed Young (Illustrator)'s work. This artwork would definitely appeal to older readers.
Some interesting differences between the Christian Adam and Eve story and this Islamic one:
*The snake smuggles in Iblis, the devil, through the space between his teeth. For this reason, the snake's bite turns poisonous for eternity.
*The snake is vain and naive, but not the devil. The Devil speaks through the snake since he is in her mouth.
*The peacock used to have a melodious voice to go along with her gorgeous tail feathers, but God takes that away since she introduces the snake to Iblis.
*The forbidden fruit was wheat.
I didn't give it more than three stars just because there are only so many times that I want to hear this story.
Some interesting differences between the Christian Adam and Eve story and this Islamic one:
*The snake smuggles in Iblis, the devil, through the space between his teeth. For this reason, the snake's bite turns poisonous for eternity.
*The snake is vain and naive, but not the devil. The Devil speaks through the snake since he is in her mouth.
*The peacock used to have a melodious voice to go along with her gorgeous tail feathers, but God takes that away since she introduces the snake to Iblis.
*The forbidden fruit was wheat.
I didn't give it more than three stars just because there are only so many times that I want to hear this story.
May 12, 2009
I was curious about this book because it was an Islamic interpretation of Adam & Eve getting displaced from the Garden of Eden. Normally I don't go for Bible stories, but the cover illustration drew me in. The pastel and watercolor illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and draw you into the story. I liked that unlike the Christian tradition, this story did not solely blame Eve, but placed it more on the serpent that was tempted into everlasting life and health by Iblis, or Satan. Of course the story ended about the same way, with them getting tossed out, but I like that all the characters (Adam, Eve, the peacock and the snake) all ended up in different locales.
Here is the website of the lady who wrote the book for more info & reviews: http://www.shulamithoppenheim.com/ibl...
Here is the website of the lady who wrote the book for more info & reviews: http://www.shulamithoppenheim.com/ibl...
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September 23, 2012Oppenheim retells the Islamic version of Adam and Eve. Iblis is similar to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, but with more depth to the story of how they were banished from Paradise. This is the story of how the devil, named Iblis, tricked the serpent into bringing him into Paradise.
July 12, 2013
The Islamic version of the Adam and Eve story.
Vivid pastel and watercolor artwork bring drama to this telling.
Vivid pastel and watercolor artwork bring drama to this telling.
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January 2, 2015I think its a great book and If you are reading this you should read this book too.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews