The Status of Women in the Novels of Najib Al-Kilani (Based on Two Novels of Jakarta's Virgin and The Man Who Believed

Abstract

Committed and contemporary Egyptian writer, Najib al-Kilani, is considered as a leader in Islamic literature in the Arab world due to the multitude of writings. Islam and promotion of Islamic principles is a major concern in most of his works. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this article tries to investigate the status of women in his novel’ Jakarta’s Virgin and The Man Who Believed. The findings suggest that Kilani, unlike its predecessors and even his contemporary writers, has not described the superficial and banal aspect of women, nut he has tried to promote true status appointed for a Muslim woman. Najib’s novels are taken from the real facts of his time. For him, women have the ability to participate in all social, economic areas by maintaining the moral values and standards of Islam as well as men. Kilani has also given women the right to select their own husbands; he insists much on the presence of common moral, cultural and religious points among couples to survive and continue sharing life.