Reading 6: "Cowardice"

"Cowardice" by Abdesalm Boulaich was fascinating to me because it was the first story that I've read where someone lied or "tricked" their way into heaven. At first I thought the story might be about cultural perspective, or religion within different cultures, but as I read on I found that wasn't the case. Instead, the story seems to be about observation and morality. The Moslem watched the first two men try and fail to make it past Lord Solomon, so he claims to be the Prophet Mohammed. Seeing that work for the Moslem, the Jew claims he is the Prophet Mohammed's manservant. He then makes it through. The Christian, not wanting to lie to get into heaven, goes back to his country and says heaven does not exist. I find this story extremely interesting because in the end, they all ended up lying, whether or not that was their intent. This story also stumped me, because I'm curious as to whether the author is trying to make a point surrounding religion, or if that detail doesn't quite matter as much. Is he trying to show that no matter the belief system, each man is still that, a man capable of lying and sinning? That salvation or entrance into heaven has nothing to do with the religion but rather the individual? While those questions weren't entirely clear to me, Boulaich did a great job of creating a layered story with very few words, causing me to stop and think.