One of the weird things about writing this blog is that it forces me to confront the fact that (news flash!) when it comes to religion people can be pretty crazy. The first time I saw this video, two months ago, I watched it four times in a row. It’s one of the more fascinating things I’ve ever seen. Being the obsessive blogging machine that I am, I immediately wanted it to share with you guys. But I stayed my hand, because I knew that posting it on my blog would result in all sorts of impassioned invectives about myself, Muslims, and God knows what else. And if that’s the sort of thing I desired I could just phone my dad, tell him I’m still a writer, and mention Barack Obama.
It drives me crazy, though, to have to operate under the assumption that the world is full of hostile dimwits I need to fear. I find this video pretty cotdang interesting; and so, naturally enough, want to share it with others. For one, could it be more exotic? And for poor, sheltered, Western me, it raises a whole host of questions. Is this kid a genuine mystic? Is he “just” an actor? Is he a … midget cleric? Is he a phenomenon — or are there all kinds of kids like this in Iran, or throughout the Muslim world? Do Iranian and/or Muslim kids routinely learn to passionately recite long passages of the Qur’an; is that just something they do after school, the way our kids play Little League or soccer?
And what’s with the spinning gold Arabic writing? What does that writing say? “The boy is kicking it!”? “Our Great Festival of Memory!”? “Stay Tuned for Iran’s Got Talent”? What? Anyone know??
The version of this boy’s speech with Arabic subtitles has been viewed some 6.7 million times. The one I’m showing here has English subtitles.
Yes, the child is reciting from the Qur’an. [Wait! No, he’s not! Check out this informed-sounding comment from below.]
No, I’m not promoting or endorsing Islam.
Yes, I’m interested in how people around the world pray and worship and conceive of God.
Yes, I live next door to five Hindu guys I’ve basically forced into having my wife and me over for dinner.
Yes, I once lived with two Iranian guys whom I invited to move in with me because they’d just arrived in America and had nowhere to stay. (And yes, I got them jobs where I worked.)
Yes, one of my favorite singers is the unfathomably awesome Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Yes, I’m very grateful to have the caliber of readers I do.
No, I’m not promoting or endorsing Islam.
No, I’m not promoting or endorsing Islam.
No, I’m not promoting or endorsing Islam.
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