The Curse Of 72 Virgins
Nowhere in the Koran does it say anything like, “in heaven, martyrs receive 72 virgins as a reward for their deed.” If Islam’s holy book did say such a thing—which is doesn’t—it would be a threat, straight from the Tippy-top.
The word reward is tricky, see. Remember Mom or Dad’s offer, usually provided as an extra-helpful incentive to straighten up your room—“I’m gonna give you something to cry about!”? If you’d latched onto that give part your young self would have thought, “Oh boy, a surprise gift!” This virgins thing? Just like that.
If a person spends eternity with a gaggle of gorgeous virgins, they’re always gonna be virgins. They gotta stay virgins forever and ever, amen. Otherwise, they’re, um, not virgins. The deal isn’t “72 (people who used to be) virgins.” Non-virgins are definitely not part of the deal. Virgins are.
The moral of this? Don’t be a martyr.
The word reward is tricky, see. Remember Mom or Dad’s offer, usually provided as an extra-helpful incentive to straighten up your room—“I’m gonna give you something to cry about!”? If you’d latched onto that give part your young self would have thought, “Oh boy, a surprise gift!” This virgins thing? Just like that.
If a person spends eternity with a gaggle of gorgeous virgins, they’re always gonna be virgins. They gotta stay virgins forever and ever, amen. Otherwise, they’re, um, not virgins. The deal isn’t “72 (people who used to be) virgins.” Non-virgins are definitely not part of the deal. Virgins are.
The moral of this? Don’t be a martyr.
Comments
I always wondered who decided 72 was the right number anyway.
What would be the right number? 72 seems both too high and too low.
What the ancient scripture actually says is "72 raisins."
I'd love to see the look on some suicide bombers face when he lines up expecting a bevvy of beautiful virgings and gets a big handful of dried grapes.
good post