Houris

CategoriesKnowledge [348]

A woman has married a total of 3 men. Each husband dies and she marries again. This process has beenrepeated 3 times. My question is which of the husband’s will the woman end up with in Jannat?

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

Allah (SWA) in the Holy Quran has said:

“In them there are women, good and gorgeous, so which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?  The Houris kept guarded in pavilions.  So which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?  Whom neither a man will have touched them or a Jinn.”  (Surah Ar Rahman v.70-v.74)

In Paradise the believers will have heavenly wives.  Saaiduna Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said “The first group of people who will enter Paradise….they will have two houris, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through their flesh.”  (Sahih Bukhari p.460 v.1)

From the above hadith we can also deduce that the least of the people of Paradise will have two heavenly wives whereas a martyr (shaheed) will have 72 heavenly wives.

Miqdaam Ibn Madi Yakrib Radiallahu Anhu narrates that he Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said “The martyr has six blessings with Allah: he will be forgiven from the first drop of blood shed; he will be shown his place in Paradise; he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror, a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, one ruby of which is better than this world and everything in it; he will be married to seventy-two wives from al-hoor al-iyn (heavenly wives); and he will interceded for seventy of his relatives.”  (Sunan Tirmizi)

While a man will have houris in Paradise, a woman will be made the queen of Paradise.

Saaidah Umme Salamah Radiallahu Anha narrates that she asked the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam “Are the women in this world superior to the houris?”  He replied “The women of this world will have superiority over the houris just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.” Saaidah Umme Salamah Radiallahu Anha then asked “O Prophet of Allah! What is the reason for this?” He answered, “Because they performed Salah, fasted and worshipped.  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 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 will never undergo difficulty.  We are the women who will stay and never leave.  Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad.  Glad tidings to those men whom we are and who are for us’.”  (Tabraani)

If a woman had more than one husband, she will choose which one of them to stay with, and she will choose the one with the best character.  Some scholars have said she will be with the last husband.  As for those women who have never married or have been divorced or their husbands were disbelievers, they will be allowed to marry whichever worldly man they so wish in Paradise.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

About the author