GIFTS OF PARADISE: HOOR AL-’IYN
Article I: Hoor al-’Iyn and the Women of Paradise
Pleasing the most Merciful and entering Paradise are the ultimate aim that believing men and women should wish for. If a person departs this world having won the pleasure of Allah, then he will have the glad tidings of all that is good after that. When he enters Paradise he will have delights and pleasures such as no eye has seen, no ear has heard and it has not entered the mind of any man. He will have all that he wishes for in the best ways. Everything that he asks for will be granted, and everything that he longs for he will get. He will never find anything to upset or disturb him, because he is in the care of the Most Merciful, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Therein you shall have (all) that your inner‑selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask. An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Fussilat 41:31-32]
One of the best things that people long for in the Hereafter is, for men, the women of Paradise, namely al-hoor al-’iyn, and for women there is an equivalent delight. By His great wisdom, Allah has not mentioned what the women will have as the equivalent of al-hoor al-’iyn for men, and that is due to modesty and shyness. How can He encourage them to seek Paradise by mentioning something that they are too shy and modest to mention or speak about themselves? So He has simply hinted at it, as in the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “Therein you shall have (all) that your inner‑selves desire.” [Fussilat 41:31-32]
The description of al-hoor al-’iyn is mentioned in more than one place in the Book of Allah, such as the following:
1 – Allah says, describing the reward of the people of Paradise (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (there will be) hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes (as wives for al-muttaqoon—the pious). Like unto preserved pearls.” [al-Waaqi’ah 56:22, 23]
al-Sa’di (may Allah have mercy on him)said: “And (there will be) hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes.” Al-hawra’ is a woman in whose eyes are lined with kohl, beautiful and bright. Al-’iyn refers to beautiful and huge eyes. The beauty of eyes in the female is one of the greatest signs of beauty.
“Like unto preserved pearls” means, as if they are pure, white, shining pearls, which are covered and protected from people’s eyes, the wind and the sun. Their color is one of the most beautiful of colors and they have no fault or blemish of any kind. This is how al-hoor al-’iyn are: they have no faults of blemishes of any kind, rather they are beautiful in all ways. Every time you gaze upon her, you see nothing but that which gladdens the heart. End quote. Tafseer al-Sa’di, p. 991
2 – Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “(In beauty) they are like rubies and coral.” [al-Rahmaan 55:58]
Al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Ibn Zayd said concerning the words “they are like rubies and coral,” it is as if they are rubies in their purity and like coral in their whiteness. So their purity is that of rubies and their whiteness is that of pearls. End quote. Tafseer al-Tabari, 27/152
3 – Allah says describing the women of Paradise, in Soorat al-Waaqi’ah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation. And made them virgins. Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.” [al-Waaqi’ah 56:35-37]
Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
With regard to the word “loving (’uruban),” Sa’eed ibn Jubayr said, quoting from Ibn ’Abbaas that it means: they are loving towards their husbands. It was narrated from Ibn ’Abbaas that al-’urub are those who love their husbands and their husbands love them.
With regard to the word “of equal age (atraaban),” al-Dahhaak said, quoting from Ibn ’Abbaas, that it means: of the same age, thirty-three years.
Al-Saddi said: “atraaban” means that they are equal in temperament and they do not resent or envy one another, i.e., they are not like hostile co-wives. End quote. Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/294
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said: It was narrated that Mujaahid said concerning the verse “Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age,” i.e., those who are dear to their husbands. Fath al-Baari, 8/626
4 – Allah says, describing them (interpretation of the meaning): “Therein (gardens) will be khairaatun‑hisaan [fair (wives) good and beautiful].” [al-Rahmaan 55:70]
Ibn al-Qayyim said: They are described as being fair and beautiful. The word khayraat (fair and good) is derived from the word khayyarah, which refers to the woman who combines all good qualities, both outward and inward, and whose physical appearance and attitude are perfect. So they are good in attitude and fair of face. Rawdat al-Muhibbeen, p. 243.
5 – Allah describes them as pure, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “and they shall have therein azwaajun mutahharatun(purified mates or wives), and they will abide therein forever.” [al-Baqarah 2:25]
Ibn al-Qayyim said: Allah describes them as pure: “and they shall have therein Azwaajun Mutahharatun(purified mates or wives),” pure from menses, urine and the like (stools) and all off-putting features that may exist in the women of this world. And their hearts are pure from envy, annoyance of their husbands, meanness or wishing for husbands other than them. Rawdat al-Muhibbeen, p. 243, 244
6 – Allah describes them as refraining from looking at anyone except their husbands (interpretation of the meaning): “Wherein both will be qaasiraat‑ut‑tarf [chaste females (wives) restraining their glances, desiring none except their husbands].” [al-Rahmaan 55:56]
“Hoor (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions.” [al-Rahmaan 55:72]
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
Allah describes them as being “guarded in pavilions,” i.e., they are prevented from making a display of themselves before anyone except their husbands. They are guarded for their husbands and they do not go out of their houses, and they restrain themselves for them and do not desire anyone else. And Allah describes them as “Qaasiraat‑ut‑Tarf [chaste females (wives) restraining their glances.” This description is more complete than the first, for one of them restrains her gaze and focuses her love upon her husband, she is content with him and does not look beyond him at anyone else. Rawdat al-Muhibbeen, p. 244
This is a brief look at what has been said about them in the Qur’aan. In the sunnah there are descriptions of their beauty and fairness which defy the imagination, such as the following:
1 – It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The first group will enter Paradise looking like the moon on the night when it is full, and those who follow them will be like the brightest shining star in the sky. Their hearts will be as one, and there will be no hatred or jealousy among them. Each man will have two wives from among al-hoor al-’iyn, the marrow of whose calves can be seen from beneath the bone and flesh.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 3014; Muslim, 2843.
Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The stunning beauty of the hoori is such that the marrow of her calves can be seen from beneath her clothes, and a man will be able to see his face in the liver of one of them, like a mirror because of the fineness of her skin and the purity of her color. Fath al-Baari, 8/570
2 – It was narrated that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If a woman from among the people of Paradise were to look out over the earth, she would illuminate everything that is in between them, and would fill everything that is in between them with fragrance. And the scarf on her head is better than this world and everything in it.”
If she were to show her face, it would shine between heaven and earth; how beautiful is the light of her face and how beautiful the scent that is filling the space between heaven and earth. As for her garments, the scarf that she places on her head is better than the beauty of this world and all that is in it of delights and pleasure and natural beauty and splendid palaces and other kinds of luxuries. Glory be to their Creator, how great He is, and congratulations to the one for whom she is and he is for her.
On the other hand, the situation of the believing woman in Paradise will be better than the situation of the hoor al-’iyn; she will be higher in status and more beautiful. Several ahaadeeth and reports have been narrated concerning that, but none of them can be proven to be sound. But if a righteous woman from among the people of this world enters Paradise, then she will do so as a reward for her righteous deeds and as a honor from Allah to her for her religious commitment and righteousness. As for the hoori who is one of the delights of Paradise, she has only been created in Paradise for the sake of someone else, and has been made the reward for the believing man for his righteous deeds. There is a great difference between one who enters Paradise as a reward for her righteous deeds and the one who was created as a reward for one who did righteous deeds. The former is a queen and a princess, and the latter, no matter how beautiful she is, is undoubtedly lower in status than a queen, and she is subject to the command of her believing master for whom Allah created her as a reward.
Sheikh Ibn ’Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Does the description of the hoor al-’iyn include the women of this world?
He replied: It seems to me that the women of this world will be better than the hoor al-’iyn, even in outward appearance, and Allah knows best. Fataawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb.
We ask Allah the Almighty to give us the best of that which He gives to His believing slaves.
And Allah knows best.
Article II: al-Hoor al-’Iyn
Allah has prepared for His believing slaves in Paradise that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and has never even crossed the minds of men, such that even the person who has the least blessings in Paradise will think that he is the most blessed among them. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The lowest of people in status in Paradise will be a man whose face Allah turns away from the Fire towards Paradise, and shows him a tree giving shade. He will say, ‘O Lord, bring me closer to that tree so that I may be in its shade.’ Then he will enter his house [in Paradise] and his two wives from among al-hoor al-’iyn will come in and will say to him, ‘Praise be to Allah who brought you to life for us and brought us to life for you.’ Then he will say, ‘No one has been given what I have been given.’” Narrated by Muslim, no. 275.
Among the blessings that Allah has prepared for His slaves are al-hoor al-’iyn. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): So (it will be). “And We shall marry them to hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes.” [al-Dhukhaan 44:54]
“They will recline (with ease) on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes.” [al-Toor 52:20]
Al-hoor al-’iyn are extremely beautiful, such that the marrow of their shins will be visible from beneath their garments. Every man who enters Paradise will have two wives from among al-hoor al-’iyn—except for the shaheed (martyr), who will have seventy-two spouses from the hoor al-’iyn, stated in the hadeeth of al-Miqdaam ibn Karb: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The martyr has seven blessings from Allah: He is forgiven from the moment his blood is first shed; he will be shown his place in Paradise; he will be spared the trial of the grave; and he will be secure on the Day of the Greatest Terror (the Day of Judgment); there will be placed on his head a crown of dignity, one ruby of which is better than this world and all that is in it; he will be married to seventy-two of al-hoor al-’iyn; and he will be permitted to intercede for seventy of his relatives.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who said it is a hasan hadeeth. Also narrated by Ibn Majah in al-Sunan, by Ahmad, by ’Abd al-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf, by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, and by Sa’eed ibn Mansoor in al-Sunan.
In regard to other believing men, Allah says, describing them (interpretation of the meaning):
“Therein (gardens) will be khayraatun‑hisaan [fair (wives) good and beautiful]; then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny? Hoor (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions; then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny? With whom no man or jinni has had tamth [opening their hymens with sexual intercourse] before them; then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny? Reclining on green cushions and rich beautiful mattresses.” [al-Rahmaan 55:70-76]
“And (there will be) hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes (as wives for al-muttaqoon—the pious).
Like unto preserved pearls.” [al-Waaqi’ah 56:22-23]
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The first group will enter Paradise looking like the moon on the night when it is full, and those who follow them will be like the brightest shining star in the sky. Their hearts will be as one, and there will be no hatred or jealousy among them. Each man will have two wives from among al-hoor al-’iyn, the marrow of whose calves can be seen from beneath the bone and flesh.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 3014.
It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “Going out and coming back for the sake of Allah is better than this world and all that is in it. And a spot the size of the bow of one of you in Paradise—or a spot the size of his whip—is better than this world and all that is in it. If a woman from among the people of Paradise were to look at the people of this earth, she would light up all that is in between them and fill it with fragrance. The veil on her head is better than this world and all that is in it.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 2587.
A man will have intercourse in Paradise with his wives from among al-hoor al-’iyn and his wives from among the people of this world, if they enter Paradise with him. A man will be given the strength of a hundred men to eat, drink, feel desire and have sexual intercourse. It was narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The believer in Paradise will be given such and such strength for sexual intercourse.” He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, will he really be able to do that?” He said, “He will be given the strength of one hundred (men).” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2459. He said, (it is) saheeh ghareeb.
It was narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A man among the people of Paradise will be given the strength of a hundred men for eating, drinking, desire and sexual intercourse.” A man among the Jews said, “The one who eats or drinks needs to excrete!” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, “The excretion of any one of them will be in the form of sweat which comes out through his skin, then his stomach will reduce in size again.’” (Narrated by Ahmad, no. 18509; al-Daarimi, no. 2704)
The mufassireen said concerning the phrase “busy in joyful things” (Yaa-Seen 36:55 – interpretation of the meaning): ’Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood and Ibn ’Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them both), and Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib, ’Ikrimah, al-Hasan, Qutaadah, al-A’mash, Sulaymaan al-Taymi and al-Oozaa’i said concerning the aayaah (interpretation of the meaning), “Verily, the dwellers of Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things.” [Yaa-Seen 36:55] They said, (it means) they will be busy deflowering virgins. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, according to a report narrated from him, that “busy in joyful things” means listening to stringed instruments. Abu Haatim said: he misheard the phrase iftidaad al-abkaar (deflowering virgins) and thought it was samaa’ al-awtaar (listening to stringed instruments). In fact the correct phrase is iftidaad al-abkaar (deflowering virgins). (Ibn Katheer, 3/564)
With regard to children, the scholars differed as to whether children would be born as a result of this intercourse or not. Some said that there would be children if the man wants them, but the pregnancy and birth would take just one hour. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If the believer wants a child in Paradise, the pregnancy and delivery will take only an hour, then the child will be the age that the man wants.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2487; al-Daarimi, no. 2712; Ahmad, no. 11339; Ibn Maajah, no. 4329.
And Allah knows best.
We ask Allah to admit us to Paradise and to keep us far away from the Fire. May He bless us with the highest Firdaws, for He is the One Who is Able to do that. Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.
Article III: Mahr of Hoor al-’Iyn
There is no saheeh hadeeth that defines the mahr of the hoor al-’iyn. Everything that has been narrated concerning that is either very weak (dha’eef jiddan) or fabricated (mawdhoo’).
A summary of what has been narrated concerning that from six of the Sahaabah follows:
1- It was narrated in a marfoo’ report from Ibn ’Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “How many of the hoor al-’iyn have a mahr that is no more than a handful of wheat or dates.” This was narrated by al-’Aqeeli (1/42) and from him by Ibn al-Jawzi in al-Mawdhoo’aat (3/253) and Ibn Hibbaan in al-Majrooheen (1/98). Ibn al-Jawzi said: The one who is accused is Abaan. Abu Haatim Ibn Hibbaan said: Abaan ibn al-Muhbir narrated from trustworthy narrators things that are not their ahaadeeth, so as to confuse even those who have great knowledge. It is not permissible to narrate from him except by way of giving an example of a false hadeeth. He is the one who narrated this hadeeth from Naafi’ and it is baatil (false). al-Daaraqutni said: Abaan is matrook (i.e., his hadeeth is to be ignored). End quote.
Ibn Abi Haatim said in al-’Ilal (no. 641): My father said: This is a baatil hadeeth. This Abaan is majhool (unknown) and dha’eef al-hadeeth. End quote.
Sheikh al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Dha’eefah (no. 571): It is mawdhoo’ (fabricated).
2- He also narrated a hadeeth from Abu Hurayrah: “The mahr of the hoor al-’iyn is a handful dates and a piece of bread.” This was narrated by Ibn ‘Adiyy in al-Kaamil (5/25) and by Ibn al-Jawzi in al-Mawdhoo’aat (3/253). He said: The one who is accused is ’Umar ibn Subh. Ibn Hibbaan said: He used to fabricate ahaadeeth from trustworthy narrators. It is not permissible to write down his hadeeth except by way of highlighting its strangeness. End quote.
3- Another hadeeth which is well known among people but is not saheeh is that which is attributed to Anas: “Sweeping the mosque is the mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn.” This was narrated by al-Daylami in Musnad Firdaws (no. 4896) and Ibn al-Jawzi in al-Mawdhoo’aat (3/253). He said: Its isnaad contains narrators who are majhool (unknown), and ’Abd al-Waahid is not thiqah (trustworthy). This was also stated by Yahya. Al-Bukhaari, al-Fallaas and al-Nasaa’i said: He is matrook al-hadeeth (i.e., his hadeeth is to be rejected). End quote. Sheikh al-Albaani judged it to be fabricated in al-Silsilah al-Dha’eefah (no. 4147).
4- It is narrated from ’Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him: “O ‘Ali, give the hoor al-’iyn their mahr: remove harmful things from the road, and take rubbish out of the mosque, for that is the mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn.” This was narrated by al-Daylami in Musnad al-Firdaws (no. 8335) and Ibn Shaheen in al-Targheeb fi Fadaa’il al-A’maal (no. 535). In Kanz al-’Ummaal (16/229) it is attributed to Ibn al-Najjaar. The isnaad of Ibn Shaheen includes al-Ma’aafa ibn Mutahhar and Muwarra’ ibn Jubayr, but I could not find any biography for them, except a few words by Ibn Makula in al-Ikmaal (7/263).
5- It was also narrated from Abu Umaamah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Handfuls of dates for the poor are the mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn.” This was narrated by al-Daylami in al-Firdaws (no. 4645 and Ibn al-Jawzi in al-Mawdhoo’aat (3/253). In Jaami’ al-Ahaadeeth (no. 15093), al-Suyooti attributed it to al-Daaraqutni in al-Afraad. Ibn al-Jawzi said: It was narrated only by Talhah ibn al-Wadeen. Al-Sa’di said: al-Wadeen is a weak narrator. Al-Nasaa’i said: Talhah is matrook (i.e., to be rejected). Ibn Hibbaan said: It is not permissible to narrate from him. End quote. Al-Albaani judged it to be fabricated in al-Silsilah al-Dha’eefah (no. 6197).
6- A hadeeth about the mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn was narrated from Abu Qursaafah, whose name was Jandarah: “Taking rubbish out of the mosque is the mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn.” This was narrated by al-Tabaraani (3/19), Ibn ’Asaakir in Tareekh Dimashq (5/110), Abu Bakr al-Shaafa’i in al-Fawaa’id (2/23/2) and Ibn Mandah in al-Ma’rifah (2/259, no. 6340). In al-Durr al-Manthoor (4/144), al-Suyooti attributed it to Abu Bakr al-Shaafa’i in his Rubaa’iyaat. Al-Bayhaqi said in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id (2/113): Its isnaad includes majhool (unknown) narrators. End quote. Shaykh al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Dha’eefah (no. 1675): This isnaad is “dark” (i.e., it has many unknown narrators), other than Abu Qursaafah they have no mention in any of the books of men’s biographies, apart from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Qutaybah, who is proven to be a hafiz and trustworthy. End quote.
To sum up, there is no saheeh hadeeth which defines the mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn, hence Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Mawdhoo’aat (3/254): This hadeeth is not saheeh in any of its isnaad. End quote.
The true mahr of al-hoor al-’iyn is every good deed that brings one closer to Allah, and is the cause of entering Paradise.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Tadhkirah fi Ahwaal al-Mawtaa wa Umoor al-Aakhirah (p. 556): Chapter on what is narrated about righteous deeds being the mahr of al-hoor al-‘iyn.
In this chapter he narrated some of the ahaadeeth quoted above, then he said:
Muhammad ibn al-Nu’maan al-Muqari said: I was sitting with al-Jala al-Muqari in Makkah in al-Masjid al-Haraam, when a tall, lean-bodied old man dressed in rags passed by. Al-Jala got up and stood with him for a while, then came back to us and said: Do you know who this old man is? We said: No. He said: He bought from Allah a hoor al-’iyn for four thousand khatmah (readings of the entire Qur’aan) and when he had completed it, he saw her in a dream, wearing her jewelry and finery. He said, “Who are you?” She said, “I am al-hoor whom you bought from Allah with four thousand khatmah; this is the price; what will I get from you?” He said, “One thousand khatmah.” Al-Jala said: He is still working on that.
It was narrated from Sahnoon that he said: There was a man in Egypt called Sa’eed, and he had a mother who was a devoted worshipper. When he got up at night to pray qiyaam, his mother would pray behind him, and if he grew sleepy his mother would call out to him, “O Sa’eed! There is no sleep for the one who fears Hell and wants to marry the beautiful hoor al-’iyn.” So he would get up out of alarm.
It was narrated from Thaabit that he said: My father was one of those who prayed qiyaam to Allah in the depths of the night. He said: Last night I saw in my dream a woman who did not resemble the women of this world. I said to her: Who are you? She said: A hoor al-’iyn, a female slave of Allah. I said to her: Give yourself to me in marriage. She said: Propose to me through your Lord and give me a mahr. I said: What is your mahr? She said: Lengthy tahajjud.
Maalik ibn Dinar said: I had sections of the Quraan that I would read every night. I fell asleep one night and in my dream I saw a beautiful girl, with a piece of vellum in her hand. She said: Can you read? I said: Yes. She gave me the piece of vellum and on it was written these lines of poetry:
You are wasting your time in sleeping rather than seeking high goals,
and seeking beautiful hoor al-’iyn in Paradise.
There in Paradise you will have an eternal life and no death,
And you will have delight with the beautiful hoor ’iyn in splendid pavilions.
Wake up from your sleep, for what is better than sleeping is spending the night reciting the Qur’aan.
End quote. Something similar was said by Ibn Rajab in his essay Ikhtiyaar al-Oola (p. 12) and in Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (p. 159).
Source: Islam QA
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