While we wait for the next terrorist shoe to drop (touch wood), it's worth remembering the news my favourite newspaper broke back in January 2002. (The U.S. media picked up the story a mere 18 months later.) As the Guardian reported, a new translation of the Qu'ran has a different reading of the passage promising 72 virgins to the successful martyr. Read it please in the entirety but I'll skip to the good part:
Luxenberg 's new analysis, leaning on the Hymns of Ephrem the Syrian, yields "white raisins" of "crystal clarity" rather than doe-eyed, and ever willing virgins - the houris. Luxenberg claims that the context makes it clear that it is food and drink that is being offerred, and not unsullied maidens or houris.
How embarrassing is that? You strap a bomb to your waist, blow yourself and a bunch of your fellow humans to bits, stroll into Paradise eager to reap your reward...
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