Translating Nouzha Fassi Fihri's La Baroudeuse: A Case Study in ...

convinced that the Koran and the Traditions of the Prophet contain the seeds of
modernization.'
"One day he told me the story of his past wanderings.
"'In the past,' he said, 'I was lost in this world that had no definite place for
me. My soul had been wandering for a long time, abandoned by all, lost in the
error of my ways. I was forced to go forward, pushed by the impatient crowd
behind me. If they hadn't pushed me, I would have stayed where I was, like a
passive old mule waiting for the end of my days.'
"'Then I started to read, hesitantly at first, stumbling on words, stuttering,
then better and faster. I read the Koran. Even though I didn't grasp the profound
meaning, a ray of light shone through into the darkness of my life. I learned to get
around without tripping on stones or falling in ditches. Then I read interpretations
of the Koran, the Traditions of the Prophet, and theology. I learned the terms.
Each day I went deeper into 'knowledge.'
"'I discovered the pleasure of long hours alone with books. Friends, former
students of Moulay Idris secondary school, taught me to decipher French
newspapers. In them, I read detailed news on the latest developments of the war,
the approximate number of casualties fallen on the battlefield, the allies' advance,
and the upheavals caused by events. There were also news items about reforms
supposed to improve the daily life of the natives, and the various activities of the
Resident General and the foreign dignitaries he received. I was unaware that this
mixture of ideas was forming my opinion. For me, and for many Moroccans, the
existing government was beginning to lose its sacred power.'
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