M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is a novel written by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt in French and published in 2001. It tells the story of a young Jewish boy named Moïse who befriends a Muslim grocer named M. Ibrahim in a deprived neighborhood in Paris in the 1960s. Through their relationship, Moïse learns about life, religion, and himself.

At the beginning of the novel, Moïse is a lonely and troubled teenager who lives with his distant father in a small apartment above the grocery store run by M. Ibrahim. His mother has left him and his father to pursue a new life in Egypt, and Moïse feels abandoned and confused. He spends most of his time wandering the streets and getting into trouble with his juvenile delinquent friends.

M. Ibrahim, on the other hand, is a wise and compassionate man who sees through Moïse’s tough exterior and recognizes the boy’s need for guidance and love. He takes Moïse under his wing and teaches him about the Koran, the Islamic holy book, and its message of peace, tolerance, and respect for others. He shows Moïse how to pray, how to fast during Ramadan, and how to be kind to his father and neighbors.

M. Ibrahim also introduces Moïse to the beauty of life through the metaphor of the flowers of the Koran. He explains that just as the Koran has many verses that reveal different aspects of God’s wisdom and love, life also has many flowers that bloom at different times and places. Some flowers are visible and colorful, like the roses and carnations in M. Ibrahim’s shop, while others are hidden and humble, like the weeds that grow in the cracks of the pavement. But all flowers have a lesson to teach us if we know how to look at them with an open heart.

Moïse is fascinated by M. Ibrahim’s philosophy and begins to see the world in a new way. He discovers the joy of learning from books, the pleasure of eating good food, and the value of human connection. He also forms a bond with Lola, a young prostitute who lives in the same building, and helps her escape from her abusive pimp. Together, Moïse and M. Ibrahim create a family of their own, based on mutual respect and affection.

However, their happiness is short-lived. One day, M. Ibrahim tells Moïse that he has decided to go on a trip to the Holy Land, where he hopes to find the answers to his spiritual questions. He gives Moïse a letter of instructions and a key to the back of the store, and asks him to take care of the shop while he is away. Moïse agrees, but feels a sense of loss and fear at the thought of losing his friend and mentor.

As it turns out, M. Ibrahim’s trip is his last journey. He dies in a car crash in Syria, but not before sending a postcard to Moïse that reads “The flowers of the Koran are still blooming.” Moïse is devastated by the news of M. Ibrahim’s death, but also grateful for the love and wisdom he has received from him. He uses the key to the back of the store and discovers a hidden room filled with books, photos, and memories of M. Ibrahim’s life. He also finds a will that leaves the store and the apartment to him, as a gesture of gratitude and trust.

In the end, Moïse realizes that he has blossomed into a mature and compassionate person, thanks to M. Ibrahim’s nurturing and inspiring influence. He decides to close the store and leave Paris, to follow his mother’s footsteps and explore the world. But before he goes, he scatters some flowers from M. Ibrahim’s shop on the pavement, as a tribute to his friend and teacher. The flowers of the Koran may wither and fade, but their message of hope and love will endure forever.

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