On reading the Koran - Lesley Hazleton
you
you
you
may<00:00:17.279> have<00:00:17.440> heard<00:00:17.760> about<00:00:18.000> the<00:00:18.160> quran's<00:00:18.720> idea<00:00:19.039> of
may have heard about the quran's idea of
may have heard about the quran's idea of
paradise<00:00:19.840> being<00:00:20.160> 72<00:00:20.880> virgins
paradise being 72 virgins
paradise being 72 virgins
and<00:00:22.240> i<00:00:22.400> promise<00:00:22.720> i<00:00:22.800> will<00:00:22.960> come<00:00:23.199> back<00:00:23.359> to<00:00:23.519> those
and i promise i will come back to those
and i promise i will come back to those
virgins<00:00:25.039> but<00:00:25.199> in<00:00:25.359> fact<00:00:25.680> here<00:00:25.840> in<00:00:25.920> the
virgins but in fact here in the
virgins but in fact here in the
northwest
northwest
northwest
we're<00:00:26.960> living<00:00:27.279> very<00:00:27.599> close<00:00:27.840> to<00:00:28.000> the<00:00:28.080> real
we're living very close to the real
we're living very close to the real
quranic<00:00:28.960> idea<00:00:29.279> of<00:00:29.439> paradise
quranic idea of paradise
quranic idea of paradise
defined<00:00:31.439> 36<00:00:32.160> times<00:00:32.640> as<00:00:33.280> gardens
defined 36 times as gardens
defined 36 times as gardens
watered<00:00:34.559> by<00:00:34.800> running<00:00:35.280> streams
watered by running streams
watered by running streams
since<00:00:37.360> i<00:00:37.440> live<00:00:37.600> in<00:00:37.760> a<00:00:37.840> houseboat<00:00:38.399> on<00:00:38.480> the
since i live in a houseboat on the
since i live in a houseboat on the
running<00:00:38.879> stream<00:00:39.200> of<00:00:39.280> lake<00:00:39.520> union
running stream of lake union
running stream of lake union
this<00:00:41.520> makes<00:00:41.840> perfect<00:00:42.239> sense<00:00:42.480> to<00:00:42.640> me<00:00:43.520> but<00:00:43.680> the
this makes perfect sense to me but the
this makes perfect sense to me but the
thing<00:00:44.079> is
thing is
thing is
how<00:00:44.879> come<00:00:45.120> it's<00:00:45.280> news<00:00:45.600> to<00:00:45.760> most<00:00:46.079> people
how come it's news to most people
how come it's news to most people
i<00:00:48.079> know<00:00:48.239> many<00:00:48.559> well-intentioned<00:00:49.360> non-muslims
i know many well-intentioned non-muslims
i know many well-intentioned non-muslims
who've<00:00:50.320> begun<00:00:50.719> reading<00:00:51.039> the<00:00:51.199> quran<00:00:51.680> but<00:00:51.840> given
who've begun reading the quran but given
who've begun reading the quran but given
up
up
up
disconcerted<00:00:53.600> by<00:00:53.840> its<00:00:54.239> otherness
disconcerted by its otherness
disconcerted by its otherness
the<00:00:56.239> historian<00:00:56.960> thomas<00:00:57.280> carlisle<00:00:57.920> considered
the historian thomas carlisle considered
the historian thomas carlisle considered
muhammad<00:00:58.879> one<00:00:59.039> of<00:00:59.199> the<00:00:59.280> world's<00:00:59.680> greatest
muhammad one of the world's greatest
muhammad one of the world's greatest
heroes
heroes
heroes
yet<00:01:01.120> even<00:01:01.440> he<00:01:01.680> called<00:01:02.000> the<00:01:02.160> quran<00:01:02.960> as<00:01:03.280> toilsome
yet even he called the quran as toilsome
yet even he called the quran as toilsome
reading<00:01:04.400> as<00:01:04.559> i<00:01:04.720> ever<00:01:05.040> undertook
reading as i ever undertook
reading as i ever undertook
a<00:01:06.320> wearysome<00:01:07.040> confused<00:01:07.920> jumble
part<00:01:11.280> of<00:01:11.360> the<00:01:11.520> problem<00:01:12.000> i<00:01:12.159> think<00:01:12.799> is<00:01:12.880> that<00:01:13.040> we
part of the problem i think is that we
part of the problem i think is that we
imagine<00:01:13.760> that<00:01:14.000> the<00:01:14.080> quran<00:01:14.560> can<00:01:14.720> be<00:01:14.880> read<00:01:15.200> as<00:01:15.280> we
imagine that the quran can be read as we
imagine that the quran can be read as we
usually<00:01:15.920> read
usually read
usually read
a<00:01:16.479> book<00:01:17.759> and<00:01:17.840> so<00:01:18.080> we<00:01:18.159> can<00:01:18.320> curl<00:01:18.640> up<00:01:18.799> with<00:01:19.040> it<00:01:19.119> on
a book and so we can curl up with it on
a book and so we can curl up with it on
this<00:01:19.520> rainy<00:01:19.920> afternoon<00:01:20.479> with<00:01:20.640> a<00:01:20.720> bowl<00:01:20.960> of
this rainy afternoon with a bowl of
this rainy afternoon with a bowl of
popcorn<00:01:21.600> within<00:01:21.920> reach
popcorn within reach
popcorn within reach
as<00:01:22.799> the<00:01:23.040> god<00:01:24.240> and<00:01:24.400> the<00:01:24.479> quran<00:01:24.880> is<00:01:25.200> alien<00:01:25.600> the
as the god and the quran is alien the
as the god and the quran is alien the
voice<00:01:25.920> of<00:01:26.080> god<00:01:26.400> speaking<00:01:26.720> to<00:01:26.880> muhammad
voice of god speaking to muhammad
voice of god speaking to muhammad
we're<00:01:28.240> just<00:01:28.479> another<00:01:28.960> author<00:01:29.360> on<00:01:29.520> the
we're just another author on the
we're just another author on the
bestseller<00:01:30.159> list
yet<00:01:33.119> the<00:01:33.200> fact<00:01:33.439> that<00:01:33.600> so<00:01:33.920> few<00:01:34.159> people<00:01:34.560> do
yet the fact that so few people do
yet the fact that so few people do
actually<00:01:35.520> read<00:01:35.840> the<00:01:36.000> quran
actually read the quran
actually read the quran
is<00:01:37.200> precisely<00:01:37.840> why<00:01:38.079> it's<00:01:38.240> so<00:01:38.400> easy<00:01:38.799> to<00:01:38.960> quote
is precisely why it's so easy to quote
is precisely why it's so easy to quote
that<00:01:40.400> is<00:01:40.880> to<00:01:41.200> misquote
that is to misquote
that is to misquote
phrases<00:01:43.840> and<00:01:44.000> snippets<00:01:44.479> taken<00:01:44.799> out<00:01:44.960> of
phrases and snippets taken out of
phrases and snippets taken out of
context<00:01:45.600> in<00:01:45.680> what<00:01:45.840> i<00:01:46.000> call<00:01:46.320> the<00:01:46.479> highlighter
context in what i call the highlighter
context in what i call the highlighter
version
version
version
which<00:01:48.000> is<00:01:48.079> the<00:01:48.240> one<00:01:48.479> favored<00:01:48.880> by<00:01:49.119> both<00:01:49.360> muslim
which is the one favored by both muslim
which is the one favored by both muslim
fundamentalists
fundamentalists
fundamentalists
and<00:01:51.600> anti-muslim<00:01:52.840> islamophobes
and anti-muslim islamophobes
and anti-muslim islamophobes
so<00:01:54.799> this<00:01:55.040> past<00:01:55.439> spring<00:01:56.079> as<00:01:56.240> i<00:01:56.399> was<00:01:56.719> gearing<00:01:57.119> up
so this past spring as i was gearing up
so this past spring as i was gearing up
to<00:01:57.439> begin<00:01:57.759> writing<00:01:58.159> a<00:01:58.240> biography<00:01:58.880> of<00:01:58.960> muhammad
to begin writing a biography of muhammad
to begin writing a biography of muhammad
i<00:02:00.399> realized<00:02:01.280> i<00:02:01.439> needed<00:02:01.840> to<00:02:02.000> read<00:02:02.240> the<00:02:02.399> quran
i realized i needed to read the quran
i realized i needed to read the quran
properly
properly
properly
as<00:02:04.799> properly<00:02:05.280> as<00:02:05.439> i<00:02:05.520> could<00:02:05.759> that<00:02:06.000> is<00:02:07.280> my
as properly as i could that is my
as properly as i could that is my
arabics<00:02:08.000> reduced<00:02:08.399> by<00:02:08.560> now<00:02:08.800> to<00:02:09.039> wielding<00:02:09.440> a
arabics reduced by now to wielding a
arabics reduced by now to wielding a
dictionary
dictionary
dictionary
so<00:02:10.560> i<00:02:10.720> took<00:02:11.039> four<00:02:11.360> well-known<00:02:11.920> translations
so i took four well-known translations
so i took four well-known translations
and<00:02:12.800> decided<00:02:13.280> to<00:02:13.440> read<00:02:13.680> them<00:02:13.920> side<00:02:14.239> by<00:02:14.480> side
and decided to read them side by side
and decided to read them side by side
verse<00:02:15.599> by<00:02:15.840> verse<00:02:16.959> along<00:02:17.360> with<00:02:17.680> a
verse by verse along with a
verse by verse along with a
transliteration
transliteration
transliteration
and<00:02:19.280> the<00:02:19.440> original<00:02:20.080> seventh<00:02:20.480> century<00:02:21.040> arabic
now<00:02:24.560> i<00:02:24.800> did<00:02:25.040> have<00:02:25.599> an<00:02:25.760> advantage
now i did have an advantage
now i did have an advantage
my<00:02:28.319> last<00:02:28.640> book<00:02:29.280> was<00:02:29.599> about<00:02:29.840> the<00:02:30.000> story<00:02:30.400> behind
my last book was about the story behind
my last book was about the story behind
the<00:02:31.120> shia<00:02:31.440> sunni<00:02:31.840> split
the shia sunni split
the shia sunni split
and<00:02:32.480> for<00:02:32.640> that<00:02:32.800> i'd<00:02:33.040> worked<00:02:33.440> closely<00:02:33.840> with<00:02:34.000> the
and for that i'd worked closely with the
and for that i'd worked closely with the
earliest<00:02:34.560> islamic<00:02:35.040> histories<00:02:35.840> so<00:02:36.000> i<00:02:36.160> knew<00:02:36.319> the
earliest islamic histories so i knew the
earliest islamic histories so i knew the
events<00:02:36.959> to<00:02:37.040> which<00:02:37.280> the<00:02:37.440> quran<00:02:37.920> constantly
events to which the quran constantly
events to which the quran constantly
refers
refers
refers
its<00:02:39.599> frame<00:02:39.840> of<00:02:40.000> reference<00:02:41.599> i<00:02:41.760> knew<00:02:42.000> enough
its frame of reference i knew enough
its frame of reference i knew enough
that<00:02:42.640> is<00:02:42.800> to<00:02:43.040> know<00:02:43.360> that<00:02:43.519> i'd<00:02:43.680> be
that is to know that i'd be
that is to know that i'd be
a<00:02:44.239> tourist<00:02:45.040> in<00:02:45.120> the<00:02:45.360> quran<00:02:46.800> an<00:02:46.959> informed<00:02:47.599> one
a tourist in the quran an informed one
a tourist in the quran an informed one
an<00:02:48.560> experienced<00:02:49.200> one<00:02:49.519> even<00:02:50.239> but<00:02:50.400> still<00:02:50.959> an
an experienced one even but still an
an experienced one even but still an
outsider
outsider
outsider
an<00:02:52.800> agnostic<00:02:53.440> jew<00:02:54.080> reading<00:02:54.720> someone<00:02:55.120> else's
an agnostic jew reading someone else's
an agnostic jew reading someone else's
holy<00:02:56.000> book
so<00:02:58.800> i<00:02:58.959> read<00:03:02.840> slowly
so i read slowly
so i read slowly
i'd<00:03:04.879> set<00:03:05.120> aside<00:03:05.599> three<00:03:05.840> weeks<00:03:06.080> for<00:03:06.239> this
i'd set aside three weeks for this
i'd set aside three weeks for this
project<00:03:07.120> and<00:03:07.360> that
project and that
project and that
i<00:03:07.840> think<00:03:08.159> is<00:03:08.319> what<00:03:08.480> is<00:03:08.640> meant<00:03:08.959> by<00:03:09.200> hubris
i think is what is meant by hubris
i think is what is meant by hubris
because<00:03:10.319> it
it<00:03:14.560> turned<00:03:14.879> out<00:03:15.040> to<00:03:15.120> be<00:03:15.360> three<00:03:16.840> months
it turned out to be three months
it turned out to be three months
i<00:03:18.720> did<00:03:18.959> resist<00:03:19.360> the<00:03:19.440> temptation<00:03:20.080> to<00:03:20.239> skip<00:03:20.480> to
i did resist the temptation to skip to
i did resist the temptation to skip to
the<00:03:20.720> back<00:03:20.959> where<00:03:21.120> the<00:03:21.360> shorter<00:03:21.760> and<00:03:21.920> more
the back where the shorter and more
the back where the shorter and more
clearly<00:03:22.560> mystical<00:03:23.040> chapters<00:03:23.599> are
clearly mystical chapters are
clearly mystical chapters are
but<00:03:24.319> every<00:03:24.560> time<00:03:24.799> i<00:03:24.959> thought<00:03:25.200> i<00:03:25.280> was<00:03:25.440> beginning
but every time i thought i was beginning
but every time i thought i was beginning
to<00:03:25.920> get<00:03:26.080> a<00:03:26.159> handle<00:03:26.560> on<00:03:26.640> the<00:03:26.799> quran
to get a handle on the quran
to get a handle on the quran
that<00:03:27.920> feeling<00:03:28.239> of<00:03:28.640> i<00:03:28.799> get<00:03:29.040> it<00:03:29.120> now<00:03:30.000> it<00:03:30.159> is<00:03:30.319> slip
that feeling of i get it now it is slip
that feeling of i get it now it is slip
away<00:03:30.879> overnight
away overnight
away overnight
and<00:03:32.239> i'd<00:03:32.400> come<00:03:32.640> back<00:03:32.879> in<00:03:32.959> the<00:03:33.120> morning
and i'd come back in the morning
and i'd come back in the morning
wondering<00:03:34.159> if<00:03:34.319> i<00:03:34.400> wasn't<00:03:34.879> lost<00:03:35.200> in<00:03:35.280> a<00:03:35.360> strange
wondering if i wasn't lost in a strange
wondering if i wasn't lost in a strange
land
land
land
and<00:03:37.360> yet<00:03:37.519> the<00:03:37.680> terrain<00:03:38.319> was<00:03:38.560> very<00:03:38.879> familiar
and yet the terrain was very familiar
and yet the terrain was very familiar
the<00:03:40.720> quran<00:03:41.120> declares<00:03:41.599> that<00:03:41.840> it<00:03:41.920> comes<00:03:42.159> to
the quran declares that it comes to
the quran declares that it comes to
renew<00:03:42.720> the<00:03:42.879> message<00:03:43.280> of<00:03:43.360> the<00:03:43.519> torah<00:03:43.840> and<00:03:43.920> the
renew the message of the torah and the
renew the message of the torah and the
gospels
gospels
gospels
so<00:03:45.120> one<00:03:45.519> third<00:03:45.760> of<00:03:45.920> it<00:03:46.159> reprises<00:03:46.879> the<00:03:47.040> stories
so one third of it reprises the stories
so one third of it reprises the stories
of<00:03:47.599> biblical<00:03:48.080> figures<00:03:48.480> like
of biblical figures like
of biblical figures like
abraham<00:03:49.680> moses<00:03:50.480> joseph<00:03:51.200> mary
abraham moses joseph mary
abraham moses joseph mary
jesus<00:03:54.080> god<00:03:54.400> himself<00:03:54.959> was<00:03:55.200> utterly
jesus god himself was utterly
jesus god himself was utterly
familiar<00:03:56.560> from<00:03:56.799> his<00:03:57.120> earlier<00:03:57.519> manifestation
familiar from his earlier manifestation
familiar from his earlier manifestation
as<00:03:58.840> yahweh<00:03:59.760> jealously<00:04:00.319> insisting<00:04:00.879> on
as yahweh jealously insisting on
as yahweh jealously insisting on
no<00:04:01.680> other<00:04:01.920> gods<00:04:03.840> the<00:04:04.080> presence<00:04:04.560> of
no other gods the presence of
no other gods the presence of
camels<00:04:06.080> mountains<00:04:06.959> desert<00:04:07.360> wells<00:04:07.760> and
camels mountains desert wells and
camels mountains desert wells and
springs
springs
springs
took<00:04:09.120> me<00:04:09.280> back<00:04:09.439> to<00:04:09.599> the<00:04:09.760> air<00:04:10.000> i<00:04:10.159> spent
took me back to the air i spent
took me back to the air i spent
wandering<00:04:10.879> the<00:04:11.040> sinai<00:04:11.519> desert
wandering the sinai desert
wandering the sinai desert
and<00:04:13.280> then<00:04:13.439> there<00:04:13.519> was<00:04:13.680> the<00:04:13.920> language<00:04:14.799> the
and then there was the language the
and then there was the language the
rhythmic<00:04:15.439> cadence<00:04:16.000> of<00:04:16.160> it
rhythmic cadence of it
rhythmic cadence of it
reminding<00:04:17.199> me<00:04:17.359> of<00:04:17.519> evenings<00:04:18.000> spent<00:04:18.320> listening
reminding me of evenings spent listening
reminding me of evenings spent listening
to<00:04:18.880> bedouin<00:04:19.359> elders<00:04:19.840> recite
to bedouin elders recite
to bedouin elders recite
hours<00:04:21.040> long<00:04:21.519> narrative<00:04:22.079> poems<00:04:23.040> entirely
hours long narrative poems entirely
hours long narrative poems entirely
from<00:04:24.080> memory<00:04:26.000> and<00:04:26.160> i<00:04:26.320> began<00:04:26.639> to<00:04:26.840> grasp<00:04:27.840> why
from memory and i began to grasp why
from memory and i began to grasp why
it<00:04:30.240> said<00:04:30.639> that<00:04:30.800> the<00:04:30.960> quran<00:04:31.600> is<00:04:31.840> really<00:04:32.160> the
it said that the quran is really the
it said that the quran is really the
quran
quran
quran
only<00:04:33.840> in<00:04:34.000> arabic<00:04:35.759> take<00:04:36.000> the<00:04:36.160> fatiha
only in arabic take the fatiha
only in arabic take the fatiha
the<00:04:37.680> seven<00:04:38.000> verse<00:04:38.479> opening<00:04:38.960> chapter<00:04:39.520> that<00:04:39.759> is
the seven verse opening chapter that is
the seven verse opening chapter that is
the<00:04:40.000> lord's<00:04:40.400> prayer<00:04:40.800> in<00:04:40.880> the<00:04:40.960> shmai's<00:04:41.520> hail<00:04:41.919> of
the lord's prayer in the shmai's hail of
the lord's prayer in the shmai's hail of
islam<00:04:42.880> combined<00:04:44.240> it's<00:04:44.560> just<00:04:44.880> 29<00:04:45.680> words<00:04:46.080> in
islam combined it's just 29 words in
islam combined it's just 29 words in
arabic
arabic
arabic
but<00:04:47.440> anywhere<00:04:47.840> from<00:04:48.000> 65<00:04:48.639> to<00:04:48.880> 72<00:04:49.520> in
but anywhere from 65 to 72 in
but anywhere from 65 to 72 in
translation
translation
translation
and<00:04:51.199> yet<00:04:51.440> the<00:04:51.600> more<00:04:51.759> you<00:04:52.000> add<00:04:52.880> the<00:04:53.040> more<00:04:53.360> seems
and yet the more you add the more seems
and yet the more you add the more seems
to<00:04:53.840> go<00:04:54.840> missing
to go missing
to go missing
the<00:04:56.320> arabic<00:04:57.040> has<00:04:57.280> an<00:04:57.720> incantatory<00:04:58.880> almost
the arabic has an incantatory almost
the arabic has an incantatory almost
hypnotic<00:05:00.000> quality
hypnotic quality
hypnotic quality
that<00:05:01.039> begs<00:05:01.360> to<00:05:01.520> be<00:05:01.759> heard<00:05:02.240> rather<00:05:02.560> than<00:05:02.880> red
that begs to be heard rather than red
that begs to be heard rather than red
felt<00:05:04.560> more<00:05:04.720> than<00:05:04.960> analyzed<00:05:06.479> it<00:05:06.639> wants<00:05:06.880> to<00:05:07.039> be
felt more than analyzed it wants to be
felt more than analyzed it wants to be
chanted<00:05:07.759> out<00:05:08.000> loud<00:05:08.560> to<00:05:08.720> sound<00:05:09.039> its<00:05:09.280> music<00:05:09.759> in
chanted out loud to sound its music in
chanted out loud to sound its music in
the<00:05:10.000> ear<00:05:10.240> and<00:05:10.400> on<00:05:10.560> the<00:05:10.639> tongue
the ear and on the tongue
the ear and on the tongue
so<00:05:12.160> the<00:05:12.320> quran<00:05:12.800> in<00:05:13.039> english<00:05:13.840> is<00:05:14.080> a<00:05:14.160> kind<00:05:14.479> of
so the quran in english is a kind of
so the quran in english is a kind of
shadow<00:05:15.360> of<00:05:15.600> itself
shadow of itself
shadow of itself
or<00:05:16.880> as<00:05:17.039> arthur<00:05:17.440> aubry<00:05:18.000> called<00:05:18.320> his<00:05:18.560> version<00:05:19.600> an
or as arthur aubry called his version an
or as arthur aubry called his version an
interpretation<00:05:22.720> but<00:05:22.960> all<00:05:23.120> is<00:05:23.280> not<00:05:23.840> lost<00:05:24.160> in
interpretation but all is not lost in
interpretation but all is not lost in
translation
translation
translation
as<00:05:26.160> the<00:05:26.240> quran<00:05:26.720> promises<00:05:27.360> patience<00:05:27.919> is
as the quran promises patience is
as the quran promises patience is
rewarded<00:05:28.560> and<00:05:28.720> there<00:05:28.880> are<00:05:28.960> many<00:05:29.199> surprises
rewarded and there are many surprises
rewarded and there are many surprises
a<00:05:30.320> degree<00:05:30.720> of<00:05:30.880> environmental<00:05:31.759> awareness<00:05:32.320> for
a degree of environmental awareness for
a degree of environmental awareness for
instance
instance
instance
and<00:05:33.680> of<00:05:33.759> humans<00:05:34.320> as<00:05:34.479> mere<00:05:34.800> stewards<00:05:35.360> of<00:05:35.440> god's
and of humans as mere stewards of god's
and of humans as mere stewards of god's
creation
creation
creation
unmatched<00:05:37.759> in<00:05:37.840> the<00:05:38.000> bible<00:05:39.520> and<00:05:39.680> where<00:05:39.840> the
unmatched in the bible and where the
unmatched in the bible and where the
bible<00:05:40.560> is<00:05:40.720> addressed<00:05:41.120> exclusively<00:05:41.759> to<00:05:41.919> men
bible is addressed exclusively to men
bible is addressed exclusively to men
using<00:05:42.639> the<00:05:42.720> second<00:05:43.120> and<00:05:43.280> third<00:05:43.520> person
using the second and third person
using the second and third person
masculine<00:05:45.120> the<00:05:45.280> quran
masculine the quran
masculine the quran
includes<00:05:46.639> women<00:05:47.759> talking<00:05:48.240> for<00:05:48.400> instance<00:05:48.880> of
includes women talking for instance of
includes women talking for instance of
believing<00:05:49.600> men
believing men
believing men
and<00:05:50.400> believing<00:05:51.039> women<00:05:51.680> honorable<00:05:52.400> men<00:05:52.880> and
and believing women honorable men and
and believing women honorable men and
honorable<00:05:54.080> women<00:05:56.160> or<00:05:56.479> take<00:05:56.800> the<00:05:57.120> infamous
honorable women or take the infamous
honorable women or take the infamous
verse<00:05:58.000> about
verse about
verse about
killing<00:05:58.880> the<00:05:59.120> unbelievers<00:06:01.039> yes<00:06:01.360> it<00:06:01.440> does<00:06:01.680> say
killing the unbelievers yes it does say
killing the unbelievers yes it does say
that
that
that
but<00:06:02.880> in<00:06:02.960> a<00:06:03.120> very<00:06:03.360> specific<00:06:03.919> context<00:06:05.440> the
but in a very specific context the
but in a very specific context the
anticipated<00:06:06.720> conquest
anticipated conquest
anticipated conquest
of<00:06:07.440> the<00:06:07.759> sanctuary<00:06:08.319> city<00:06:08.639> of<00:06:08.800> mecca<00:06:09.759> where
of the sanctuary city of mecca where
of the sanctuary city of mecca where
fighting<00:06:10.479> was<00:06:10.639> usually<00:06:11.039> forbidden
fighting was usually forbidden
fighting was usually forbidden
and<00:06:12.479> the<00:06:12.639> permission<00:06:13.199> comes<00:06:13.520> hedged<00:06:13.840> about
and the permission comes hedged about
and the permission comes hedged about
with<00:06:14.400> qualifiers
with qualifiers
with qualifiers
not<00:06:16.319> you<00:06:16.560> must<00:06:16.960> kill<00:06:17.280> unbelievers<00:06:17.919> in<00:06:18.080> mecca
not you must kill unbelievers in mecca
not you must kill unbelievers in mecca
but<00:06:18.639> you<00:06:18.800> can
but you can
but you can
you<00:06:19.680> are<00:06:19.840> allowed<00:06:20.319> to<00:06:21.039> but<00:06:22.400> only<00:06:22.800> after<00:06:23.199> a
you are allowed to but only after a
you are allowed to but only after a
grace<00:06:23.600> period<00:06:24.000> is<00:06:24.160> over
grace period is over
grace period is over
and<00:06:25.680> only<00:06:25.919> if<00:06:26.080> there's<00:06:26.240> no<00:06:26.479> other<00:06:26.639> pact<00:06:27.039> in
and only if there's no other pact in
and only if there's no other pact in
place<00:06:28.319> and<00:06:28.560> only<00:06:28.800> if<00:06:28.960> they<00:06:29.120> try<00:06:29.360> to<00:06:29.440> stop<00:06:29.759> you
place and only if they try to stop you
place and only if they try to stop you
getting<00:06:30.160> to<00:06:30.319> the<00:06:30.479> kaaba
getting to the kaaba
getting to the kaaba
and<00:06:32.080> only<00:06:32.800> if<00:06:32.960> they<00:06:33.199> attack<00:06:33.520> you<00:06:33.840> first<00:06:34.479> and
and only if they attack you first and
and only if they attack you first and
even<00:06:35.120> then
even then
even then
god<00:06:36.720> is<00:06:36.960> merciful<00:06:38.080> forgiveness<00:06:38.720> is<00:06:38.880> supreme
god is merciful forgiveness is supreme
god is merciful forgiveness is supreme
and<00:06:40.400> so<00:06:40.960> essentially<00:06:42.880> better<00:06:43.199> if<00:06:43.360> you<00:06:46.840> don't
and so essentially better if you don't
and so essentially better if you don't
was<00:06:48.319> perhaps<00:06:48.720> the<00:06:48.880> biggest<00:06:49.199> surprise<00:06:50.639> how
was perhaps the biggest surprise how
was perhaps the biggest surprise how
flexible<00:06:51.440> the<00:06:51.599> quran
flexible the quran
flexible the quran
is<00:06:52.720> at<00:06:52.960> least<00:06:53.199> in<00:06:53.360> mind<00:06:53.759> that<00:06:54.000> are<00:06:54.080> not
is at least in mind that are not
is at least in mind that are not
fundamentally
fundamentally
fundamentally
inflexible<00:06:57.759> some<00:06:57.919> of<00:06:58.080> these<00:06:58.400> verses
inflexible some of these verses
inflexible some of these verses
are<00:06:59.199> definite<00:06:59.759> in<00:06:59.919> meaning<00:07:00.319> it<00:07:00.479> says<00:07:01.280> and
are definite in meaning it says and
are definite in meaning it says and
others<00:07:01.919> are<00:07:02.080> ambiguous
others are ambiguous
others are ambiguous
the<00:07:04.240> perverse<00:07:04.800> at<00:07:05.039> heart<00:07:05.440> will<00:07:05.680> seek<00:07:06.000> out<00:07:06.240> the
the perverse at heart will seek out the
the perverse at heart will seek out the
ambiguities
ambiguities
ambiguities
trying<00:07:08.240> to<00:07:08.400> create<00:07:08.800> the<00:07:08.960> score<00:07:09.599> by<00:07:10.080> pinning
trying to create the score by pinning
trying to create the score by pinning
down<00:07:10.800> meanings<00:07:11.199> of<00:07:11.360> their<00:07:11.599> own
down meanings of their own
down meanings of their own
only<00:07:12.960> god<00:07:13.280> knows<00:07:13.680> the<00:07:13.840> true<00:07:14.840> meaning
only god knows the true meaning
only god knows the true meaning
the<00:07:16.400> phrase<00:07:17.120> god<00:07:17.360> is<00:07:17.599> subtle<00:07:18.319> appears<00:07:18.800> again
the phrase god is subtle appears again
the phrase god is subtle appears again
and<00:07:19.280> again
and again
and again
and<00:07:20.400> indeed<00:07:20.720> the<00:07:20.800> whole<00:07:21.039> of<00:07:21.199> the<00:07:21.280> quran<00:07:21.759> is<00:07:21.919> far
and indeed the whole of the quran is far
and indeed the whole of the quran is far
more<00:07:22.479> subtle<00:07:22.800> than<00:07:23.039> most<00:07:23.280> of<00:07:23.440> us
more subtle than most of us
more subtle than most of us
have<00:07:23.919> been<00:07:24.160> led<00:07:24.319> to<00:07:24.479> believe<00:07:25.360> as<00:07:25.599> in<00:07:25.759> for
have been led to believe as in for
have been led to believe as in for
instance<00:07:26.639> that<00:07:26.960> little<00:07:27.199> matter<00:07:27.680> of
instance that little matter of
instance that little matter of
versions<00:07:29.039> and<00:07:29.280> paradise
versions and paradise
versions and paradise
old-fashioned<00:07:32.479> orientalism<00:07:33.440> comes<00:07:33.759> into
old-fashioned orientalism comes into
old-fashioned orientalism comes into
play<00:07:34.400> here
play here
play here
the<00:07:36.000> word<00:07:36.319> used<00:07:36.960> four<00:07:37.280> times<00:07:37.840> is<00:07:38.319> hurris
the word used four times is hurris
the word used four times is hurris
rendered<00:07:40.960> as<00:07:41.599> dark-eyed<00:07:42.319> maidens<00:07:42.960> with
rendered as dark-eyed maidens with
rendered as dark-eyed maidens with
swelling<00:07:43.680> breasts
swelling breasts
swelling breasts
or<00:07:45.199> as<00:07:45.599> a<00:07:45.759> fair<00:07:46.240> high<00:07:46.400> present<00:07:47.039> virgins
or as a fair high present virgins
or as a fair high present virgins
yet<00:07:49.440> all<00:07:49.520> there<00:07:49.759> is<00:07:50.000> in<00:07:50.080> the<00:07:50.240> original<00:07:50.639> arabic
yet all there is in the original arabic
yet all there is in the original arabic
is<00:07:51.199> that<00:07:51.440> one<00:07:51.759> word
is that one word
is that one word
who<00:07:52.879> is<00:07:54.560> not<00:07:54.720> a<00:07:54.800> swelling<00:07:55.199> breast<00:07:55.680> or<00:07:55.840> high
who is not a swelling breast or high
who is not a swelling breast or high
prism<00:07:56.840> inside
prism inside
prism inside
now<00:08:00.080> this<00:08:00.319> may<00:08:00.560> be<00:08:00.720> a<00:08:00.800> way<00:08:01.039> of<00:08:01.199> saying<00:08:01.599> pure
now this may be a way of saying pure
now this may be a way of saying pure
beings<00:08:02.400> like<00:08:02.639> in<00:08:02.800> angels
beings like in angels
beings like in angels
or<00:08:04.319> it<00:08:04.400> may<00:08:04.639> be<00:08:04.960> like<00:08:05.199> the<00:08:05.280> greek<00:08:05.759> cross<00:08:06.240> or<00:08:06.479> koi
or it may be like the greek cross or koi
or it may be like the greek cross or koi
and<00:08:07.360> eternal<00:08:07.919> use<00:08:08.400> but<00:08:08.639> the<00:08:08.800> truth<00:08:09.120> is<00:08:09.599> nobody
and eternal use but the truth is nobody
and eternal use but the truth is nobody
really<00:08:10.400> knows
really knows
really knows
and<00:08:11.440> that's<00:08:11.759> the<00:08:11.919> point<00:08:13.440> because<00:08:13.680> the<00:08:13.919> quran
and that's the point because the quran
and that's the point because the quran
is<00:08:14.639> quite<00:08:14.960> clear<00:08:15.840> when<00:08:16.080> it<00:08:16.240> says<00:08:16.560> that<00:08:17.199> you
is quite clear when it says that you
is quite clear when it says that you
will<00:08:17.520> be
will be
will be
a<00:08:18.000> new<00:08:18.400> creation<00:08:19.120> in<00:08:19.360> paradise<00:08:20.720> and<00:08:20.879> that<00:08:21.039> you
a new creation in paradise and that you
a new creation in paradise and that you
will<00:08:21.360> be
will be
will be
recreated<00:08:22.960> in<00:08:23.120> a<00:08:23.280> form<00:08:23.759> unknown<00:08:24.319> to<00:08:24.840> you<00:08:25.840> which
recreated in a form unknown to you which
recreated in a form unknown to you which
seems<00:08:26.400> to<00:08:26.479> me<00:08:26.639> a<00:08:26.800> far<00:08:27.039> more<00:08:27.199> appealing
seems to me a far more appealing
seems to me a far more appealing
prospect<00:08:28.240> than
prospect than
prospect than
a<00:08:29.440> virgin
and<00:08:38.399> that<00:08:38.640> number<00:08:38.959> 72<00:08:39.919> never<00:08:40.240> appears
and that number 72 never appears
and that number 72 never appears
there<00:08:41.839> are<00:08:42.080> no<00:08:42.479> 72<00:08:43.200> virgins<00:08:43.839> in<00:08:44.000> the<00:08:44.080> quran
there are no 72 virgins in the quran
there are no 72 virgins in the quran
that<00:08:45.519> idea<00:08:45.920> only<00:08:46.160> came<00:08:46.399> into<00:08:46.640> being<00:08:46.959> 300<00:08:47.519> years
that idea only came into being 300 years
that idea only came into being 300 years
later
later
later
and<00:08:48.640> most<00:08:48.959> islamic<00:08:49.519> scholars<00:08:50.000> see<00:08:50.160> it<00:08:50.320> as<00:08:50.480> the
and most islamic scholars see it as the
and most islamic scholars see it as the
equivalent<00:08:51.120> of
equivalent of
equivalent of
people<00:08:52.000> with<00:08:52.240> wings<00:08:52.640> sitting<00:08:52.959> on<00:08:53.120> clouds<00:08:53.600> and
people with wings sitting on clouds and
people with wings sitting on clouds and
strumming<00:08:54.240> hearts
strumming hearts
strumming hearts
paradise<00:08:57.920> is<00:08:58.160> quite<00:08:58.399> the<00:08:58.640> opposite
paradise is quite the opposite
paradise is quite the opposite
it's<00:09:00.399> not<00:09:00.560> virginity<00:09:01.920> it's<00:09:02.320> fecundity
it's not virginity it's fecundity
it's not virginity it's fecundity
it's<00:09:04.640> plenty<00:09:06.080> it's
it's plenty it's
it's plenty it's
gardens<00:09:07.839> water<00:09:08.720> by<00:09:08.959> running<00:09:09.279> streams
gardens water by running streams
gardens water by running streams
thank<00:09:20.839> you
you
Lesley Hazleton, Koran Islam Muslim TED TEDx TEDxRainier TED-Ed TED Ed, TEdEducation
