In Arabic folklore, the desert-dwelling demon that feasts on human flesh and grave goods is the ghoul.
The ghoul, or ghul, is a demon-like being from pre-Islamic Arabian religious tradition. Folklore places it in cemeteries, deserts, and other lonely or uninhabited places, where it preys on travelers, consumes human flesh, and may disturb graves. Its association with tombs explains why the creature became linked with grave robbing and the macabre.
Ghouls are often described as shape-shifters. In some tales, a ghulah appears as a woman or a seemingly familiar relative, luring a victim into danger before revealing her monstrous nature. This deceptive ability makes the ghoul more than a simple flesh-eating beast: it is also a supernatural predator that exploits trust and isolation.
The English word “ghoul” comes from the Arabic ghūl. Modern fantasy often treats ghouls as a distinct undead species, but traditional Arabic accounts vary considerably. A ghoul is not simply another name for every jinn, marid, or ifrit; those are broader or different categories of supernatural beings.