Women in feminist writing: Reading in the book The Fall of the Imam by Nawal El Saadawi

Nawal El Saadawi is regarded as one of the most prominent Arab women writers advocating for Arab feminism. However, her work often It reflects an Arab perspective heavily influenced by Western ideology. She adopts the principles of Western feminism, particularly its criticism of religious institutions such as the church. Consequently, she extends this criticism to religion as a whole, considering it is the primary cause of women's oppression and suffering. This perspective is evident in her novel 'The Fall of the Imam', where She expresses opposition to the figure of the imam, a symbol deeply rooted in Arab societies with religious and cultural connotations. In her Novel, however, she presents a contrasting depiction, attributing to the imam a series of behavioral deviations. The present study deals with El Saadawi's novel using both analytical and critical methods to explore its themes and implications.