A question about Quran

Society Religion & Philosophy
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I have a very limited knowledge of Islam. I should not speak of it critically because of the same reason, and I usually don’t. However, whenever there is something in religion which can be explored and defined in objectiver context, I usually don’t back off. I do have the tendency to raise questions about religious beliefs in such a context. I have read little Quran, a little here and there, and my reading of it should not really be of much of an inference to come to any specific conclusion.

However, I did notice couple of things out of the context of specific paragraph I was reading once. Now, before I go on, I should mention that it was an Urdu translation of Quran. I don’t know how to read Arabic, and so far I don’t intend to learn it either. But the part I happen to read (it was a ‘Quran khwani’ thing at my uncle’s and how could I sit bare handed among 20 or so people reading ‘Saparahs’). So I picked up one of the ‘Saparahs’ and started reading the Urdu translation of it. It happened to be a part where there is a long description of most beautiful ‘hoors/women’ for ‘moman’ men in heaven. Obviously in that paragraph, pious men where induced to good deeds and beautiful ‘hoors/women’ were mentioned as a reward to their good deeds on earth.

For those of you who have read the whole Quran, is there any indication in it where it mentions that women will also get handsome men in heaven? or is it only for men in it? I would appreciate an answer or insight that somebody might have on the topic. Thanks.

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Assalam-o-Alaicum
Mominah ( Momin Lady) will be leader of the Hoors in Jannah.

[This message has been edited by abrar (edited April 29, 1999).]

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Thanks for your reply Abrar. So let me get this straight, Hoors will 'serve' the 'Moman' man and 'Lady Moman' will be the leader/sardar of those Hoors. Is that what you mean? Thanks again.

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Asalamu Alaikum,

As far as my understanding goes, you can get whatever you want in heaven. So if a momin lady wants handsome men, then she can have them.. or anything else for that matter.. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

W'salam

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Thanks for replying Yaqoob, but I am more interested in the specific part of my question that reads

[quote]
For those of you who have read the whole Quran, is there any indication in it where it mentions that women will also get handsome men in heaven? or is it only for men in it?
[/quote]

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Roman Yaar:
Kool question but remember that when you ask a question about The HOLY Quran or about the Hadith Mubarakh then please be prepare to get the explained answer. Because not all the maters could be answered in one or two sentence when you ask a question about Quran or Hadith. When you ask a question about the Holy Quran, the scholar would answer your question in details by knowing the circumstance, time and reason of the Ayah Mubarakah.

The bottom line of my above paragraph is that you may not get the direct answer but you would get the satisfying answer.

To answer your question (keep in mind, I am neither a scholar nor a student of deen, better wait for an answer from some scholar):

1 Yes women in the heaven would get what they want.
2 Poise woman with stay with her poise husband.
3 Poise husband would stay with his poise wife.
4 Evil husband would loose his poise wife.
5 Evil wife would loose her poise husband.
6 Singles (poise) would be paired together.
7 Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would marry to two ladies, one Hazarat Asia {Poise wife of evil Faraoon,
and second Hazarat Mary (AS)}

(Some one out there please correct me if I am wrong)

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A similar question was asked to a Sheikh and his reply was as follow:

The Reward for Women in Paradise

Question: Whenever I read the Noble Quran, I find in many verses Allah giving glad tidings to His believing male servants of al-hooral-ain who extol in beauty. Does the woman have any partner in Paradise other than her husband? Furthermore, most of the statements concerning bounties in Paradise are directed toward the believing men. Is the reward of the believing women in Paradise less than that of the believing men?

Response: There is no doubt that reward in the Hereafter encompasses both men and women. This is based on the following statements of Allah:

"Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, male or female" (al-lmran 195).

"Whosoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he(or she) is a true believer, We will give a good life" (al-Nahl 97).

"And whoever does righteous good deeds, being a male or a female, and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise" (al-Nisa 124).

"Verily, the Muslims, men and women, the believers, men and women... [up to the end of the verse where Allah says:] Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward" (al-Ahzab 35).

Allah mentions them entering into Paradise together,

"They and their wives will be in pleasant shade" (Ya Sin 56).

Also,

"Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in happiness" (al-Zukhruf 70).

Allah also mentions that He will-recreate the women in the verse,

"Verily, We created them of special creation and made them virgins" (al-Waqia 35-36).

That is, Allah will recreate the elderly women and make them virgins. Similarly, Allah will recreate the elderly men and make them youths. It is also mentioned in the hadith that the women of this worldly life have a superiority over al-hoor al-ain due to the acts of worship and obedience that they performed [in this world]. Therefore, the believing women will enter Paradise just like the believing men. If a woman had a number of husbands and she enters Paradise with them, she will choose among them and will choose the one with the best character and behavior.

Shaikh Ibn Jibreen

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Roman :
Instead of asking what you will or will not get in Jannah OR trying to criticize BY applying the western womens libber concepts/ theories, why dont you try to do things that will make you eligible to enter Jannah - Insha Allah : By praying 5 times Namaz, fasting, paying zakat, going to Hajj if you can afford, helping the needy etc etc etc.

Please dont start fires but posting ridiculous queries as they are of no help to anyone especially you.

Later on
Zman

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msaqibj, you are right, I understand that question may not have a yes or no answer.

Thanks Abdulla, that was quite informative.

Zman, my friend, first of all, I am a man, not a woman and for whatever I seem to have the 'libral views' you mentioned, they are not and should not be confined to women alone - world is already enough chauvinistic on that.

Secondly, nothing in my message I mentioned that I am interested in knowing what I will get in heaven. My simple question was if at any place in Quran there is a verse or disclosure if women will get 'male hoors' like it mentions men. If you, personally, don't like to think about religion critically and question on certain beliefs in it then that's your prorgative, but if I do then that's my individual right. Don't get judgemental on my raising a question.

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Roman:
Please keep pressing until you are satisfied.
I have been pressing on this Forum that Islam and its intrepretations has to change with times - but our Fundamentalists with their grab on Islam continue to preach & practice the "DISTORTED AND OUTDATED INTREPRETATIONS OF QURAN & HADITHS".
Roman:I thank you for participating on this Forum. Please read my posts: (1)HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST WOMEN (2)HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES: MIDDLE-EAST (3)TALEBAN - IS THIS MESSAGE OF ISLAM (4)OUR KILLING FIELDS, posted in the General Forum.

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First off we must understand that when we are doing an analysis like this, we are doing one through an understanding of English translations, amongst which scholars disagree on exact meanings of words. I will use Yusuf Ali's transliteration in this post.

The following Qur'anic verses discuss ** 'women' or 'maidens' ** for the Righteous in heaven:
**
1. "And besides them will be * chaste women * ; restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty)." (Qur'an 37:48) * Another translation of the same verse reads: "And with them are those of modest gaze, with lovely eyes." (Qur'an 37:48). This version is gender-less *

  1. "And besides them will be * chaste women * restraining their glances (Companions) of equal age." (Qur'an 38:52) * Another translation of the same verse reads: "And with them are those of modest gaze, companions." (Qur'an 38:52). Again this version is gender-less *

  2. "in them will be * (Maidens), chaste, * restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched." (Qur'an 55:56) * Another translation of the same verse reads: "Therein are those of modest gaze, whom neither man nor jinn will have touched before them." (Qur'an 55:56). Again a relatively gender-less translation opposing Ali's translation of the same verse *
    **

The verses above (according to Ali's translation) seem to discuss ** women ** in particular, and the reward righteous men will get in heaven. However, other translations differ (as does the second one I've posted along side Yusuf Ali above). Furthermore Yusuf Ali's * tafseer * , indicated in his footnotes, provides further explanation. It would be worthwhile to examine some more verses, before getting to these footnotes. Verses which discuss rewards of 'Companions' (neither male or female) for Righteous believers.

The following Qur'anic verses discuss ** Companions ** for the Righteous in heaven:

  1. "Moreover We shall join them to ** Companions ** with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes." (Qur'an 44:54)

  2. "...and we shall join them to ** Companions ** , with beautiful big and lustrous eyes." (Qur'an 52:20)

  3. "In them will be fair ( ** Companions ** ), good beautiful...Companions restrained (as to their glances) in (goodly) pavilions..." (Qur'an 55:70, 72)

  4. "And (there will be) ** Companions ** with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes..." (Qur'an 56:22)

  5. "And We have created (their ** Companions ** ) of special creation, and made them virgin pure (and undefiled) - beloved (by nature) - equal in age - for the Companions of the right hand." (Qur'an 56:35-38)

  6. " ** Companions ** of equal age..." (Qur'an 78:33)

These verses discuss ** companions ** and do not seem to favor one gender over another. Furthermore Yusuf Ali's * tafseer * may illuminate our discussion. He writes:

"The companions like the scene, the dress, the outlook, and the fruit will be beautiful. There will be life free from all earthly grossness. The ** women as well as the men of * this life * will attain to this indescribable bliss ** " (footnote 4728 to Qur'an 44:54).

Ali refers to this footnote in most of the places in the Qur'an where the * Hur * or 'Companions' of the Righteous are mentioned. He further writes,

"** The pronoun in Arabic is in the feminine gender, but lest grosser ideas of sex should intrude, it is made clear that these companions for heavenly society will be of special creation ** - of virginal purity, grace and beauty inspiring and inspired by love, with the question of time and age eliminated. ** * Thus every person among the Righteous * will have the Bliss of Heaven and the Peace of Allah. ** " (footnote 5240 to Qur'an 56:35)

Just because the * Hur * are described in feminine language, doesn't necessarily mean they are 'female'. In fact 56:35 discusses them as being of 'special creation'. Both males and females have feminine characteristics. Beauty and goodness is seen as a 'female' characteristic (in particular in the Qur'an with relation to the * Hur * ). This beauty and goodness can also apply to 'male' Companions who accompany female believers in heaven.

The Qur'an also states that families will be together, reunited in heaven: "Gardens of Eden, which they enter, along with all who do right of their fathers and their helpmeets and their seed. The angels enter unto them from every gate" (Qur'an 13:23). This verse provides a paradox to the verses regarding the * Hur * . A father enjoying the blissfulness of heaven with virgin creatures, denying his wife the same would be unjust. Allah is definitely not unjust, this is clear in the Qur'an. Equality is a central theme in the Qur'an.

I think this along with Abdullah's (and others) posts regarding other Qur'anic verses, make it clear that the Righteous believers, regardless of gender, will be rewarded and that males do not have a monopoly on 'blissful' happiness, nor are they rewarded with things denied their female counterparts in heaven.

Achtung ;)

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Thanks Achtung! Excellent post and analysis! It was my perception that it may be the translation in Urdu that I read would read a gender based description, it may not actually be the case as it is stated in Quran in Arabic vernacular. That's exactly why I wrote "Now, before I go on, I should mention that it was an Urdu translation of Quran" in my message. Thanks again :)

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I am of the view that Jannah is not a place to fulfill the sexual desires of the momins rather the momins will be more attracted towards Allah and his worship. So the idea that worship God here so that u can get a beautiful HOOR in the Jannah is not good. Those who worship Allah in this world from their heart donot need any such thing. Secondly, this idea that only men will get the hoors and the way many people have described in tafseers is totally against real islamic thought. I don't have a clear view of all this right now but will be back soon with more elaborate answer.

And may I ask msaqibj who told him about the marriage of the Holy Prophet with Asia and Mary. How could he think that the Ummahat ul momineen will be with someone else in the Jannah.