72 Raisins

http://www.msnbc.com/news/940974.asp?cp1=1 ^

[psychopuppy]

Challenging the Qur’an

A German scholar contends that the Islamic text has been mistranscribed and promises raisins, not virgins

By Stefan Theil NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL

July 28 issue — In a note of encouragement to his fellow hijackers, September 11 ringleader Muhammad Atta cheered their impending “marriage in Paradise” to the 72 wide-eyed virgins the Qur’an promises to the departed faithful. Palestinian newspapers have been known to describe the death of a suicide bomber as a “wedding to the black-eyed in eternal Paradise.” But if a German expert on Middle Eastern languages is correct, these hopes of sexual reward in the afterlife are based on a terrible misunderstanding.

[dead]

Islamic text has been mistranscribed and promises raisins, not virgins

If they're not happy with raisins, I can give them some partially-digested corn.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I have heard this more than once. And I always wonder if in hell, the hijackers are enjoying Raisin Bran.

[Paleo Conservative]

Is he sure it's not prunes?

[Thinkin' Gal]

[TomServo]

Already posted here.

[Conservative4Ever]

they heard it through the grapevine.....Bwahahahahahaha. Oh let the translation be true...bwahahahahahahaha.

Red

[dixiechick2000]

[Charles Henrickson]

Raisin Hell.

[Ford Fairlane]

Do you think there's anything to this?

I remember all the errors Dr. Beck found when he did his translation of the Bible, maybe the koran has been copied& translated incorrectly also

[Mike Darancette]

He heard it through the Grapevine.

What does it say about a religion based on a book where the distinction between virgins and raisins is blurred.

[boycott]

These Muslim terrorists are clearly dumbasses. All this for 72 rasins?

[BunnySlippers]

72 packs of raisins on the wall, 72 packs of raisins .... pass 'em around, gobble 'em down, 71 packs of raisins on the wall. 71 packs of raisins on the wall, 71 packs of raisins .... pass 'em around, pass 'em around ....

[Charles Henrickson]

From the complete article:

. . . what are described as "houris" with "swelling breasts" refer to nothing more than "white raisins" and "juicy fruits." . . . chief hypothesis is that the original language of the Qur’an was not Arabic but something closer to Aramaic. Rereading the Paradise passage in Aramaic, the mysterious houris turn into raisins and fruit--much more common components of the Paradise myth.

So apparently the question is the similarity of the words for "raisin" and "virgin" in Aramaic (not Arabic). I have studied Hebrew extensively but will not study Aramaic--which is similar to Hebrew--until this winter. Thus I cannot yet say if the two words are close enough that a scribe could mistake one for the other. Such scribal errors do happen with texts, though.

[Ford Fairlane]

Well, Aramaic and Greek were the most common languages in the Eastern Med at the time, my vote goes for Aramaic over Arabic

[mvonfr]

Well, Aramaic and Greek were the most common languages in the Eastern Med at the time

Actually, it is more likely that the language was Syriac, not Aramaic (MSNBC error); and other reviews of the Christoph Luxenberg's work seem to indicate so.

But that it was not Arabic is nearly certain (there was no written Arabic yet when Mohammed was doing his preaching and robbing)

[TheSpottedOwl]

Hahaahhaaa! I love it!!!!

When life gives you raisins, make oatmeal cookies!