Werewolf (Chatrab)

Werewolf (Chatrab) is the Arabic (عذرب) term for a mysterious being equivalent to the European concept of a lycanthrope. This notion circulated in regions where Arabic was spoken, describing individuals believed to shift into wolf form under specific circumstances. Certain medieval Arabic writings refer to transformations involving a wolf-like creature cursed or chosen by supernatural forces. Folk traditions sometimes connect the concept of the chatrab to moral tales warning about transgressions of social or religious codes. Different interpretations vary across regions, with some describing these beings as violent entities and others presenting them as cursed wanderers. Sources from early travelogues mention variations of these stories in the Middle East.