The Hoor (Damsels of Paradise) for Men - And for Women?

[ummtaalib]

Question

I was born Muslim, but a 25 years old I am not able to accept Islam.I am torn between what I do not believe in and what I was raised to believe in? I think Islam is a man's religion why does a man get 70 virgins in heaven, what about women. Why cant women have the same?

 

 

[The following answer is given regarding the Hurs after mentioning the ill treatment of women in other places as well as in pre-Islamic Arabia.  Full Q/A regarding "I think Islam is a man's religion"  HERE]

 

 

Answer

Now, regarding the answer to the question; it is stated in (Fatawa Mahmudiyah Vol 5, P298), the wives of the believers will have their husbands in Paradise. The unmarried woman will have whatever man she desires in Paradise and if she does not desire any of them, a special male Hur will be created for her. Not only will she have this favor but she will also have superiority over the Hurs (beautiful damsels of paradise).

 

عن أم سلمة قالت قلت : يا رسول الله أنساء الدنيا أفضل أم الحور العين ؟ قال  بل نساء الدنيا أفضل من الحور العين كفضل الظهارة على البطانة قلت : يا رسول الله وبما ذاك ؟ قال : بصلاتهن وصيامهن وعبادتهن

 

Narrated from Hazrat Umme Salamaرضي الله عنها she said “I said, Oh Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم are the women of this world superior or the Hurs? He replied “The women of this world will have superiority over the Hurs as the outer lining of a garment have superiority over the inner lining. I said “Oh Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه و سلم, why is this? He replied “Because they performed Salah, fasted, and worshipped (Allah)”. (Ma’jam Kabeer, vol23, p367)

  

Allah Ta’ala also mentions in the Holy Quran:

 

لَهُمْ مَا يَشَاءُونَ فِيهَا وَلَدَيْنَا مَزِيد

 

“They will have whatever they wish therein (Jannat) and with Us is more.”(50:35)

 

Therefore we should bear in mind that Almighty Allah in His infinite Wisdom and Knowledge has created man and woman from a single being and it is only Allah who knows the true biological, mental and spiritual structure of each individual, their needs and desires; hence, if Allah Ta’ala wills that males should get Seventy virgins, He knows what pleases them.

 

Similarly, females will be given what pleases them.  Allah Ta’ala can do as He wishes and there is none to question His authority.

 

Despite your doubt regarding Islam, it is pleasing to know that you seek the truth. Undoubtedly the truth will be found in Islam; however, this is a fact that needs to be discovered by you. If you have any doubts or queries in future, we will be more than happy to assist you to the best of our ability.

 

References

1. a) Kittel, Gerhard, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Michigan, U.S.A.:W.M.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968) 777-778. b) Rahman, Afzalur,ed. “Role of Muslim women in Society”, Encyclopedia of Seerah (London: Seerah Foundation, 1987) 4
2. a) Kittel.op.cit. 779-781. b) Gibbon, Edward, The Decline and fall of the Roman Empire (U.S.A.: Classic Appreciation Society,1956) 391, 441
3. Al Tabari, Ja’far ibn Jarir Tarikh Tabari (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub Al Ilmiyah, n.d) Vol3, 138
4. Walker, Benjamin, Hindu World (Great Britain: George Allan and Unwin Ltd.1968) 603-606
5.  Encyclopedia Judaic a (Jerusalem, Israel: Keter Publishing House Ltd. 1971) 624-626
6. a) Ferguson, Everett, Study in Early Christianity (New York: Garland Publishing Inc. 1993)20-21. b) Ibid. 134-201.
7. Rahman, Afzalur,op.cit. 28.

The above extracted from “Morality in Islam” by Dr. Mufti Allie Haroun Sheik

 

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

 

Ml. Zakariyya bin Ahmed,

Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah

[ummtaalib]

Can one say women will be lower class citizens in Jannah?

 

Question

It seems that heavan has been created for men because they will have so many wives. Every source I read about heavan it only refers to men. There is nothing for women to look forward to in Jannah other than green clothes and gold combs. All the references about beauty are associated to houris not the worldly women who worshipped and suffered and lived in the obedience of their husbands throughout her life.

 

So can one say women will be lower class citizens in Jannah?

 

Usually most men want more than one wife but because it is easier to look after one they keep one, all women want to just be the only one for their husbands. So why in Jannah will mens desire for more than one be fulfilled but women’s desire will not be fulfilled and will have to watch and wait for thei husbands to come back to them after spending time with the houris and having sex with them who did’nt worship God or suffer on the world. It looks as though that heavan is only for men?

 

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

 

There will be two types of women in Jannat:-

 

The first type is the human woman of the world who will be re-created according to the beauty of Jannat.

Allah Ta’ala says:

 

 

إنا أنشأناهن إنشاء (35) فجعلناهن أبكارا (36) عربا أترابا (37)

 

 

“We created them as a new creation. And we made them virgins, loving to their husbands, equal in age.” [56: 35-37]

 

Allah Ta’ala will make old women into young women and non-virgins to virgins. No matter how their appearance was in this world, Allah Ta’ala will make them all beautiful and good looking in accordance to the beauty of Jannat. [safwat At-tafaasir 3/309- Darul Qalam, Beirut] 

 

Once Mufti Mahmood Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayhi) was asked that if men will receive Hurs, what will the women receive?  He replied that the wives of the believers will stay with their own husbands. Women who never married in this world will be given a choice to get married with any (unmarried) man they wish.  If they do not like any of them, a special man will be created for them (similar to the Hurs) and Allah Ta’ala will join both of them in marriage. [Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah 5/298]

 

 Allamah Alusi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayhi) also mentions in his tafseer that a person’s wife in this world will remain his wife hereafter. [Ruhul Ma’ani 25/136- Dar Ihya At-Tawrath Al-A’rabi, Beirut]

 

The love between a Muslim husband and wife is a true love because it will last forever and in fact the wife will be the queen of all the Hurs.

 

To show the superiority of human women over the Hurs it have been made mention in a hadeeth that Umm Salama (Radhiyallaahu ‘anha) narrates that she said to Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi Wassallam),

 

 

المعجم الأوسط – (3 / 278)

 3141 – حدثنا بكر قال نا عمرو بن هاشم البيروتي قال نا سليمان بن ابي كريمة عن هشام بن حسان عن الحسن عن أمه عن أم سلمة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قالت …الي قولها… قلت يا رسول الله أنساء الدنيا أفضل أم الحور العين قال بل نساء الدنيا أفضل من الحور العين كفضل الظهارة على البطانة قلت يا رسول الله وبم ذاك قال بصلاتهن وصيامهن وعبادتهن لله عز و جل ألبس الله عز و جل وجوههن النور وأجسادهن الحرير بيض الألوان خضر الثياب صفر الحلي مجامرهن الدر وأمشاطهن الذهب يقلن إلا نحن الخالدات فلا نموت أبدا إلا ونحن الناعمات فلا نبؤس أبدا ألا ونحن المقيمات فلا نظعن أبدا إلا ونحن الراضيات فلا نسخط أبدا طوبى لمن كنا له وكان لنا

 

 

“Oh Rasulullah! Are the women of this world superior or the Hurs?” He replied, “The women of this world will have superiority over the Hurs just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining. “Umm Salama” then asked, “Oh Rasulullah! What is the reason for this? He answered, “Because they performed Salah, fasted, and worshipped [Allah]. Allah Ta’ala will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. [The human women] will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewellery. Their incense-burners will be made of pearls and their combs will be of gold. They will say ‘We are the women who will stay forever and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay and we will never leave. Listen! We are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us.” [Recorded in At-Tibraani 3/278]

 

 

إتحاف الخيرة المهرة – (8 / 153)

فكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول : والذي بعثني بالحق ما أنتم في الدنيا بأعرف بأزواجهم ومساكنهم من أهل الجنة بأزواجهم ومساكنهم ، فيدخل رجل منهم على ثنتين وسبعين زوجة فيما ينشئ وثنتين من ولد آدم لهما فضل على ما أنشأ الله بعبادتهما الله في الدنيا

 

 

Muhammed ibn Ka’b Al-Qurazi t narrates from a person of the Ansâr (people of Madînah) that Rasûlullah SAW said, “I take the oath of that Being who sent me with the truth, you are not more acquainted with your wives and houses than the people of Jannah. A person of Jannah will come to 72 wives which Allah specially created in Jannah (hûrs) and 2 human wives. The human wives will have virtue over the [hûrs] because they worshipped Allah in the world.” (Targheeb Vol.4 Pg.534, Ithaaf al-khiyarah al-maharah)

 

 

These two Ahadith clearly show that a woman of this world will be greater and of a higher class than the women of the hereafter. The underlying reason of being given this preference is because of the worship and endurance which the women of this world had to bear.

 

Furthermore, Allah Ta’ala will make the women of this world more beautiful and attractive than the Hurs. She will be the queen. Wherever in the Quran mention is made of the women  of Jannat, both the Hurs and the human women could be meant. 

 

Another interpretation of the verse “equal in age” is that the women of Jannat will all be equal in age, which will ensure that they get along with one another and make the believer’s life peaceful. [Ruhul Ma’ani 13/220].

It is normally the case this in world that the co-wives have quarrels and arguments which make the husband’s life miserable. However, in Jannat there will not be any jealousy, malice or hatred between the people. Ahaadeeth in Sahih Bukharee and Sahih Muslim mentions that the hearts of the people of Jannat will be one and there will not be any difference between them. Allah Ta’ala also says in this regard:

“And we will take out all (mutual) hatred from their hearts.” [7:43]

 

This will ensure that all of a person’s wives will get along and will never become jealous of one another.

On the other hand, a person will receive everything that he/she ever desired in Jannat.  As Allah Ta’ala says:-

 

 

وفيها ما تشتهيه الأنفس وتلذ الأعين وأنتم فيها خالدون (71)

 

 

“And in Jannah you will get whate“And in Jannat will be whatever the inner-soul desires and whatever the eye finds pleasure in, and you will stay there forever.” [Qur’an 43:71]

Furthermore He says:-

 

 

ولكم فيها ما تشتهي أنفسكم ولكم فيها ما تدعون (31)

 

 

“And in Jannah you will get whatever your souls desire and whatever you ask for” (Fussilat, 31)

 

Everything in Jannat will be in accordance with a person’s desires and wishes. If that is your desire to be with your husband all the time, definitely Allah Ta’ala will grant it to you.

 

As he made mentioned in Holy Qura’an:

 

 

والذين آمنوا واتبعتهم ذريتهم بإيمان ألحقنا بهم ذريتهم وما ألتناهم من عملهم من شيء كل امرئ بما كسب رهين (21)

 

 

“And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he/she earned, is retained.”

 

Therefore we should bear in mind that Almighty Allah in his infinite wisdom and knowledge has created men and women from a single being and it is only Allah Ta’ala who knows the true biological, mental and spiritual structure of each individual, their needs and desires; hence Allah Ta’ala can do as He wishes and there is none to question His authority.

 

And Allah knows best

Wassalamu Alaikum

Ml. Ismail Moosa,
Ml. Mohammad Ashhad bin Said,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah

[ummtaalib]

Can women have men hoors in Jannah?

 

Question:

I would like to know if in Jannah there house with families that we will be reunited with, and in Jannah men will marry the houris, then can women have men hoors in Jannah?

 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

Allah Ta‘ālā alone has full knowledge of the unseen. However, from the limited knowledge we were given about Jannah and its delights by Allah Ta‘ālā and His Messenger (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam), there are a few points we would like to mention:

 

1) Indeed, Allah Ta‘ālā has prepared every pleasure in Jannah for the believers. They will enjoy in Jannah whatever they wish and like. They are showered with Allah Ta‘ālā’s blessings and favours. All their wishes are fulfilled and all their requests are granted. Allah Ta‘ālā says:

 

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ

 

Translation: “There you shall have whatever your heart desires, and you shall have whatever you ask for.”

To perfect the joy and delight of believers in Jannah, Allah Ta‘ālā brings together the family members of a person, elevating the ranks of the members of a lower grade to the higher grades of their relatives.

Allah Ta‘ālā says:

 

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ٌ

 

Translation: “Those (Mu’mineen) who do good deeds and whose progeny follow them in Imaan, We shall join their progeny with them (in Jannah) without reducing anything from (the rewards of) their (good) deeds.” [ii]

In this verse, Allah Ta‘ālā says that He will bless the believing family members by bringing them together in Jannah. This will be done by elevating the rank of the children who fell short of their parents’ status. This is by Allah’s immense generosity and favour. [iii]

 

Allah Ta‘ālā also says:

 

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ

 

Translation: “Eternal gardens in which they will enter together with all those of their forefathers, spouses, and progeny who are worthy (of entering Jannah because they have Imaan). And the angels shall come to them from every door.” [iv]

Allah Ta‘ālā also says:

 

ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ أَنْتُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُونَ

 

“Enter the Garden, you and your wives. You will be made glad.” (43: 70-73)

 

2) A person’s wife in this world will remain his wife in the hereafter. In Jannah, a wife will forever enjoy the company of her husband. She will only have desire for her husband. She will not have any ill-feelings for her husband. Allah Ta‘ālā says:

 

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ

 

Translation: “We shall remove any ill-feelings (hatred and animosity towards other Muslims) that may be in their chests.” [v]

Although the men in Jannah will have hoors, they will have their wives from this world too. The wives of this world will be far superior to the hoors in Jannah. Consider the following Hadith.

 

Umm Salamah (radiyAllāhu ‘anhā) narrates that she said to Rasūlullāh (sallAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam), “O Rasūlallāh! Are the women of this world superior or the hoors?”

 

He replied, “The women of this world will have superiority over the hoors just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.”

 

Umm Salamah (radiyAllāhu ‘anhā) then asked, “O Rasūlallāh! What is the reason for this?”

 

He answered, “Because they performed Salāh, fasted, and worshipped [Allah]. Allah will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. They will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewelry. Their incense-burners will be made of pearls and their combs will be of gold. They will say, ‘We are the women who will stay forever and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us’” [vi]

 

To compare and compete are also among the feminine qualities. A female feels superior when she outmatches her counterpart. This internal instinct of women will be brought out through the beautiful hoors of Jannah. With all the description of the beauties of hoors and their admiration, when a woman from this world will compare and compete with the hoors, the women of this world will outmatch the hoors of Jannah.

 

The description of hoors serves to bring out a sense of superiority in the women of this world. How then will a man prefer a hoor of Jannah over his wife of this world when she will be more beautiful than the hoors. Hence, the subsequent negative feelings in a women of this world does not arise. In fact, she will appreciate the hoors for giving her the opportunity to supersede in competitive beauty and feeling superior.

 

Although only Allah Ta‘ālā knows the full realities, it is our understanding that if a woman did not get married during her worldly life, or if her husband was not from the people of Jannah, and she got admittance into Jannah, then Allah will wed her to one of the believing men in Jannah, as this would also be one of the desires of a woman of Jannah; and all desires of the inhabitants of Jannah will be fulfilled. These women will live with their husbands and they will be just as happy and content as the rest.

 

In conclusion, the desires of each and every inhabitant of Jannah will be fulfilled. The reality is that whatever we imagine in this world as Jannah is not Jannah. Our imaginations cannot perceive what Allah Ta’ala has saved for His believing servants.

 

May Allah Ta‘ālā bless us to be amongst the dwellers of Jannah. Aameen.

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,  

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.                  

 

Source: idealwoman

[ummtaalib]

What do Women Get in Paradise (Jannah)

by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf