Hoor ul Ayn Of Jannah

Question:

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

I wanted to ask regarding the Hoor Al Ayn and men being married to
multiple women of this world too, in Jannah.

I understand that there won’t be jealousy in Jannah and that the wife of
this world will be the most beautiful. However, is it permissible, or
possible, for a woman to make duaa that her husband marries solely and
only her, and loves just her, in Jannah? Since Jannah is a place where
we will get whatever we desire, would this duaa be able to be fulfilled?

Similarly, can a man make duaa that he is satisfied with his wife of
this world and desires only her in the Aakhirah?

Is there any scope for the notion that women will be given male
equivalents of the Hoors?

What should one do if one becomes despondent in the idea of Jannah and
no longer desires it because of the Hoors? This affects a person’s
Ibadah and desire for the Aakhirah, because it feels as if the Aakhirah
is simply another form of compromise and that not all of one’s wishes
and even simple desires (being the only wife of your husband) can be
fulfilled.

Jazakallahu Khayran

Answer:

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

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh.

We have read your question carefully and have come to a conclusion of it being an expression of your Imān. Success is in parting this world with Imān. A worry which subdues all else. May Allah Ta’ala keep us and resurrect us with complete Imān, āmīn.

Once a Muslimah is admitted into Jannah, every desire of hers will be fulfilled beyond her expectations. Feeling otherwise is contrary to our faith. Allah Ta’alaa says.

{وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ الْأَنْفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْيُنُ وَأَنْتُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ } [الزخرف: 71]

“In it will be whatever one desires and what the eyes enjoy, you will remain there in forever”

{وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ} [فصلت: 31]

“Here is whatever your souls desire and whatever you request”

After a person lives a short life of submission and obedience, Allah Ta’ala will reward him/her with an everlasting life of fulfilment and enjoyment. The wish 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. It is something more magnificent. Our imaginations cannot perceive what Allah Ta’alaa has saved for his believing servants.  

You are not the first to ask a question as such, but it was asked by some of the greatest women to live, the honourable spouses of Nabi ﷺ.

عن أم سلمة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 وبم ذاك؟ قال: «بصلاتهن وصيامهن وعبادتهن لله عز وجل، ألبس الله عز وجل وجوههن النور وأجسادهن الحرير، بيض الألوان، خضر الثياب، صفر الحلي مجامرهن الدر، وأمشاطهن الذهب، يقلن: ألا نحن الخالدات فلا نموت أبدا، ألا ونحن الناعمات فلا نبؤس أبدا، ألا ونحن المقيمات فلا نظعن أبدا، ألا ونحن الراضيات فلا نسخط أبدا، طوبى لمن كنا له وكان لنا[1]

“Umm Salamah RadiyAllahu Anha narrates that she said to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, “Oh Rasulullah! 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 RadiyAllahu Anha then asked, “Oh Rasulullah! What is the reason for this?”

He answered, “Because they performed Salaah, fasted, and worshipped (Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala). Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala 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 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”

Aspire to be amongst these fortunate women. Do not worry of the hoors as they are there to bring out the beauty of the Muslimahs. One cannot imagine the satisfaction felt by the Muslimahs when they will be preferred over hoors.

Attempting to arrive at an adequate reasoning or wisdom for Allah Ta’ala’s judgments seems frivol. Our restricted comprehension cannot keep up with one who’s knowledge is limitless. Allah Ta’ala is Al-Hakeem, The Wisest. He knows how to please you better than you know how to please yourself. Trust Him and His Rasul ﷺ.

Consider the thoughts you face a whisper of shaytan. An effort of his to distance you from Jannah, an everlasting bliss. Do not entertain these whispers, as they hold no bounds.

Sister in Islām, you conclude your question with, “what should one do if one becomes despondent in the idea of Jannah?”. Allah Ta’alaa has prepared Jannah for you and Jahnnam for those who disobey. If you become despondent from his worship and Jannah, where will you be putting yourself? Live a life like the Ummahat ul Mumineen and the pious women before you. Desire the pleasure of Allah Ta’alaa in this world and He will please you to the fullest in the next.

We advise you to engage in the following practices daily

·      Take time out for the zikr of Allah Ta’ala.

·      Recite the Quran daily

·      Engage in istighfār and salawāt

·      Connect yourself to the pious

These actions will serve well in purifying your thoughts. By means of which, you will begin to love Allah Ta’ala and His Jannah. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all entry into His paradise, āmīn.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.

Arib Raza

Student Darul Iftaa
New York, U.S.A

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai.

[1]المعجم الأوسط (3/ 278)

3141 – حدثنا بكر قال: نا عمرو بن هاشم البيروتي قال: نا سليمان بن أبي كريمة، عن هشام بن حسان، عن الحسن، عن أمه، عن أم سلمة زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قالت: قلت: يا رسول الله، أخبرني عن قول الله عز وجل: {حور عين} [الواقعة: 22] قال: «حور بيض، عين ضخام، شفر الحوراء بمنزلة جناح النسرقلت: يا رسول الله، فأخبرني عن قول الله عز وجل: {كأنهن الياقوت والمرجان} [الرحمن: 58] قال: «صفاؤهن كصفاء الدر الذي في الأصداف الذي لا تمسه الأيديقلت: يا رسول الله، فأخبرني عن قوله: {فيهن خيرات حسان} [الرحمن: 70] قال: «خيرات الأخلاق، حسان الوجوهقلت: يا رسول الله، فأخبرني عن قوله: {كأنهن بيض مكنون} [الصافات: 49] قال: «رقتهن كرقة الجلد التي في داخل البيضة مما يلي القشر وهو الغرقيءقلت: يا رسول الله، أخبرني عن قوله: {عربا أترابا} [الواقعة: 37] قال: «هن [ص:279] اللواتي قبضن في دار الدنيا عجائز رمضا شمطا، خلقهن الله بعد الكبر فجعلهن عذارى» قال: {عربا} [الواقعة: 37] : «معشقات محببات» {أترابا} [الواقعة: 37] : «على ميلاد واحدقلت: 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 وجل، ألبس الله عز وجل وجوههن النور وأجسادهن الحرير، بيض الألوان، خضر الثياب، صفر الحلي مجامرهن الدر، وأمشاطهن الذهب، يقلن: ألا نحن الخالدات فلا نموت أبدا، ألا ونحن الناعمات فلا نبؤس أبدا، ألا ونحن المقيمات فلا نظعن أبدا، ألا ونحن الراضيات فلا نسخط أبدا، طوبى لمن كنا له وكان لن