The Koran's promise to Islamic jihadists of a heavenly reward of 72 virgins actually mistranslates the word for "raisins," a Canadian scholar asserts — a startling declaration that's fueling a twitter storm.
A CNN special that debuted Tuesday,
"Why They Hate Us," hosted by Fareed Zakaria, tries to explain the roots of radical Islam, and includes the revelation from Canadian academic Irshad Manji.
When Zakaria asks Manji about the promise in the Koran that a martyr in the name of Islam is rewarded with 72 virgins, Manji just smiles and shakes her head.
"The word for virgin has been mistranslated," she maintains. "Martyrs would get raisins in heaven, not virgins."
The Independent Journal Review notes dried fruit is a great delicacy in the Middle East, with the fig, for example,
serving an important item in Muslim culture.
One viewer called the assertion "ridiculous,"
another, "deep."
Others targeted both the message and the messenger.
The TV special is being repeated in the coming days on CNN, the IJR reports.