Shaydaan

Shaydaan is a religious and cultural term referring to a jinn or spiritual force that drives people toward evil or leads them astray from the right path. The word derives from Arabic (شيطان). In other languages it appears as Devil (English), Diable (French), Diavolo (Italian), and Şeytan (Turkish).

The three Abrahamic religions—Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—each have their own framework for explaining the role of Shaydaan, but their accounts and terminology differ. Similarly, depictions of Shaydaan in European literature and art include features that do not derive directly from the original sacred texts.

Islam

In the Quran and hadith, Shaydaan is most often called Iblis. He is said to have been a jinn who refused the command to bow to Adam and subsequently vowed to lead humanity astray until the Day of Judgment. His primary weapon is waswaas (whispering)—secret speech cast into the heart. The plural form shayaadiin is also used for any jinn or person who spreads evil.

Christianity and Judaism

In the Hebrew Bible, the word satan originally means 'accuser' or 'adversary,' and sometimes refers to a judicial role before God, as in the Book of Job. In later Christianity, Satan became a distinct and fallen angel, the leader of evil forces, depicted in the New Testament as an enemy of Christ.

Literature and visual art

European literature, particularly Dante and Milton, gave Shaydaan a distinct personality with speech and motivation. Medieval art often portrayed him with horns, a tail, and cloven hooves—features drawn from earlier European pagan traditions that do not appear explicitly in religious texts. In modern film and media, this imagery is often modified or stylized.