The Reward of Women in Paradise

Question

Respected scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. Whenever I read the Holy Qur’an, it always makes me wonder what would be the life of a female in Paradise or Jannah. The Qur’an talks about life after death and gives information that how a MAN's life is going to be in the other life. They will live in gardens where there are rivers and trees full of fruits. But I never read a passage that describes the lives of women in Jannah. If so, please let me know where in the Qur’an I can find information in this regard. How will women be rewarded in Paradise?

Answer

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Sister, first of all, we’d like to say that we are impressed by your question, which emanates from a thoughtful heart. May Allah Almighty help us all adhere to the principles of this true religion, Islam, and enable us to be among the dwellers of Paradise in the Hereafter, Ameen! As regards your question, it should be clear that Paradise is the abode of happiness; all its dwellers, males or females, will be showered with Allah’s blessings and favors. There is no discrimination in this regard between men and women. It is righteousness and good deeds that elevates one’s rank in Jannah and exalts his/her position. In more than one Qur'anic verse, Allah, Most High, calls upon His servants to do their utmost in order to be favored with Paradise. For example, He says, (And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil). ) (Aal `Imran 3: 133) In this context, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states: Jannah or Paradise is not for men alone. It is prepared for both, righteous men and righteous women. All the joys and blessings of Jannah are for both of them. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an that He put both Adam and his wife Hawwa’ (Eve) in Jannah after creating them, and He told them to eat and enjoy everything (except the fruit of one tree). [See al-Baqarah 2: 35; al-A`raf 7: 19] Thus, all the trees, gardens and rivers of Jannah are made for both men and women and they both will enjoy them. All Believers, males and females, will enter the Jannah. Allah says, ( Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring) (ar-Ra`d 13: 23) Further, Allah says, (Indeed, the people of Paradise will be happily occupied. They and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches. There are for them fruits and there is for them all that they ask for…) (Ya-Sin 36: 55-57) In the Hereafter Allah will say to the Believers, (Enter the Garden, you and your wives, you will be made glad. There will be brought round for them trays of gold and goblets, and therein is all that the souls desire and eyes find sweet and you will stay there forever. This is the garden, which you are made to inherit because of what you used to do. Therein for you is fruit in plenty whence to eat. ) (Az-Zukhruf 43: 70-73) There are many other places in the Qur’an where it is mentioned that men and women both will find their reward and none will be deprived. [See: Aal `Imran 3: 195; An-Nisa’, 4: 124; An-Nahl 16: 97; Al-Ahzab 33: 35; Ghafir 40: 40] The life of women in Jannah will be as pleasant and happy as the life of men. Allah is not partial to any gender. He created both of them and He will take care of both of them according to their needs and desires. Let us all work to achieve the Jannah and then, in sha’ Allah, we will find there what will satisfy all of us fully. This verse clearly denotes that those women who do righteous deeds are rewarded with Paradise and given a high rank that is equal to the good deeds they have offered. Shedding more light on this issue, we'd like to cite the following fatwa issued by the outstanding Muslim scholar, Sheikh ibn Jibreen: There is no doubt that reward in the Hereafter encompasses both men and women. This is based on the following Qur'anic verses: ( Lo! I suffer not the work of any worker, male or female, to be lost) (Al `Imran 3: 195) (Whosoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer, We will give a good life. ) (An-Nahl 16: 97) (And whoever does righteous good deeds, being a male or a female, and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise. ) (An-Nisa 4: 124) (Verily, the Muslims, men and women, the believers, men and women... Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward. ) (Al-Ahzab 33: 35) Allah mentions them entering into Paradise together, saying: (They and their wives will be in pleasant shade. ) (Ya Sin 36: 56) (Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in happiness. ) (Az-Zukhruf 43: 70) Allah also mentions that He will recreate women in Paradise in the following verse: ( Lo! We have created them a (new) creation. And made them virgins… ) (Al-Waqi`ah 56: 35-36) That is, Allah will recreate the elderly women and make them virgins; the same will be done for old men, Allah will make them youth. It is also mentioned in the Hadith that the women of this worldly life have a superiority over Al-hur Al-`In 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, she, upon entering Paradise with them, would choose among them the one with the best character and behavior. Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://www.uh.edu/campus/msa/articles/fatawawom/aqida.html#paradise Thus, rest assured dear sister that Allah never wrongs anyone, male or female, nor does He, Almighty, deprive any person of his/her work’s fruit.

A Woman’s Choice to Live With Her Husband in Paradise

Question

Dear scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. I am a married woman and I have children. My husband is ill-tempered and has bad morals. I bear my life with him patiently, satisfied with what Almighty Allah has predestined for me. But I would like to ask if I am to get a reward from Almighty Allah for my patience in this regard. As well as this, I would like to know if Almighty Allah may compensate me with a better husband in Paradise, for I do not want to be married to my current husband in the Hereafter. In fact, I always pray to Almighty Allah that He will not make me a wife of my current husband in the Hereafter. Is that possible? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Answer

Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear questioner, we would like to say that we are impressed by your question, which emanates from a thoughtful heart. May Allah Almighty help us all adhere to the principles of this true religion, Islam, and enable us to be among the dwellers of Paradise in the Hereafter, Amen. Allah Almighty greatly rewards those parents who are keen on bringing up their children on Islamic principles. This is a responsibility that is to be shared by both the mother and the father. A father who neglects his responsibilities will be considered sinful, and the wife who patiently bears her husband’s bad morals for her children’s sake will be greatly rewarded by Almighty Allah. Concerning a wife’s remaining a spouse to her current husband in Paradise, this will be her choice. She can choose whether to remain with him or not. Allah the Almighty will give her whatever she chooses in Paradise. But we would like to tell her that people’s characteristics will change for the better in Paradise and Almighty Allah will free them of all bad feelings, especially malice and hatred. In this regard, Sheikh Faysal Mawlawi, Deputy Chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, states the following: Generally speaking, a mother who brings up her children well under ordinary circumstances, [that is, helped in this regard by a caring husband] will be rewarded for this. If this is the case in general, with all the more reason the reward will be even greater for a mother who raises her children well under difficult circumstances. The reward of a mother who patiently endures her difficult life with an uncaring husband so that she can spare her children the repercussions of family disintegration, will be doubled. It was reported that `A’ishah, Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), said: “A woman with two (young) daughters came to me asking for something to eat. I had nothing then to give her but one date. She took the date and divided it between her daughters, leaving nothing for herself. Then she stood up and left. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came I told him about this. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A person whom Allah tests with (giving him) daughters and he treats them kindly [and brings them up well], they will be a shield for him against the Fire” (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). According to another version of this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty will admit this woman in Paradise” or “Will keep her away from the Fire” (Riyad As-Salihin). This clearly shows that Paradise is the (supreme) reward for looking after one’s children and protecting them against (family) disintegration. I beseech Almighty Allah that you, dear sister, be one of those whom Almighty Allah will admit into Paradise for this reason. As for the father who neglects his parental duties towards his children, Almighty Allah will bring him to account for this, and his account will be more severe if his neglect includes failing to provide for their sustenance. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is a sufficient sin for a person to neglect his duties towards those whom he is responsible to provide for.” At the same time it is to be borne in mind that the husband’s duties are not confined to providing for his dependents financially; it also includes bringing them up according to Islamic morals and enjoining them to abide by Almighty Allah’s teachings. Imam Ibn Abu Gamrah, an eminent scholar, criticized the scholars who always tackle a father’s responsibility towards his family only in terms of his obligation to provide them with a dwelling place and a means of sustenance, while disregarding his responsibility to enjoin on them obedience to Almighty Allah. According to Imam Ibn Abu Gamrah, the man’s responsibility for guiding his family to the right path is to be given priority over providing them with food, a dwelling place, and so on, especially since he may not be accounted for the obligation of providing for them if he really cannot afford to do so, but he is not to be exempted from the responsibility of guiding them to the right path at any rate (Bahjat An-Nufus, vol. 2, p. 47). There are many verses and hadiths that prohibit a husband abusing or mistreating his wife. Allah Almighty says, (And treat them kindly) (An-Nisa’ 4: 19). Regarding the sister’s desire to not be with her current husband in Paradise, may Almighty Allah make us and her among its dwellers, it is known that the believers will lead a happy and luxurious life in Paradise and that, according to the Qur’an, they will have all that they choose. Based on this, it cannot be said that a woman will be compelled to be a wife of a certain person in Paradise. This is not compatible with the absolute happiness that believers are to enjoy there. Life in Paradise is based on satisfying its dwellers. The issue of a woman’s choice of a husband in Paradise was also examined by Imam Al-Qurtubi in his At-Tadhkirah fi Ahwal Al-Mawta wa 'Umur Al-Akhirah, (vol. 2, p. 640). He cited many reports about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with all of them). But the aspect in which Imam Al-Qurtubi handled the issue was with regard to those women who married more than once in this world. Which husband would they live with in Paradise? According to him, this will be based on their choice and the kind treatment of the husbands in this world. However, it is to be mentioned that the conditions and personality of the people in Paradise are not to be compared to those of the people in this world. One’s conditions change completely in Paradise. A person in Paradise will be a symbol of purity and mildness. There will be no room for arrogance, malice, hatred, and other such negative qualities.

Will Women Have “Companions” in Paradise?

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

All thanks and praise are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. 

In the very beginning, we would like to cite Ibn Kathir’s comment on the issue of men having Hoor Al-`Een. It reads:“ Almighty Allah tells us that He will provide the residents of Paradise with beautiful wives who have big and lustrous eyes and 'whom no man or Jinn before them has touched' and who are 'Like unto rubies and coral'”. 

In fact, Paradise is the abode of the believers in the Hereafter. Allah has prepared for His believing servants, males and females, in Paradise indescribable bliss that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard of and that has never ever crossed the minds of people, to the extent that even the person who has the least blessings in Paradise will think that he is the most blessed one. 

In more than one Qur'anic verse, Allah, Most High, calls upon His servants to do their utmost in order to be favored with Paradise. For example, He says, "And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil)." (Al `Imran: 133) 

All this indicates that in Paradise believing men and women will be showered with blessings; there is no room for discrimination based on gender in Paradise. 

Focusing more on this issue, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former Head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, adds: 

“Here Allah mentions the Hoor Al`Een because in most cases men pursue women and not vice versa. As for women, Allah Almighty may marry them to any of the believers in Paradise, if they did not get married during worldly life, or He may compensate them by making them feel content with their position. It is also said that Allah may grant women some kind of beauty with which they will feel that they are better than the Hoor Al-`Een and that they are their mistress, so they will not love anyone other than their own husbands nor will they feel jealous of the Hoor Al-`Een.”  

Women, women, women!

THE woman must do this, the woman must do that. She must cook the food, take care of children, and obey her husband at all costs! Does Islam really subjugate women like it is thought? Well the answer is plain and simple. NO! To think, some of us are getting too obsessed with women, and all our focus and criticism goes against them, but what about men? Without doubt there are many things that are upon the women that are in her benefit, however, there are just as many things upon men, but these are either ignored or just not talked about.

Firstly, we should understand that men and women are different and have different roles in Islam. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.” (Qur’an, 4:32)

In Islam, men have many responsibilities to fulfill towards women. The man must earn, provide for, clothe and shelter his wife, and he is not allowed to take the money she owns. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that your wife has a right upon you (Al-Bukhari) and fulfilling this right is an indication of revering and fearing Allah. Man will be questioned if he fulfilled this duty. If he does not, then it is a clear act of disobedience to Allah and His Messenger.

So husbands, are we fulfilling our duty or are we disobeying our Lord?

Women play an important role towards the society. A mother who raises her children in accordance with the teachings of Islam is the backbone of society. Well-nurtured children are a basis for a strong community. Men should also play a part in the upbringing of the children. Yes, he has to go out and work, but there are 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week. I’m sure most of us are not so busy; if we prudently manage our time, we can make positive contribution in their upbringing. Here’s the question: How many men change nappies? How many men get up at night when the baby is crying? Very few I suppose.

How about dishes? When was the last time any of us men did the washing up? Why is it such a chore? After finishing dinner, what harm would it cause to pick up the plates and wash them? No instead, we eat to our fill, leave the plates where they are and take it for granted that our wives will do it. By helping around in washing dishes, changing nappies, and making our beds, our wives will only love us more.

The man also has a Hijab to observe. He must always lower his gaze. This is another aspect taken for granted. We have heard that we are not held to account for that one, unintentional, look. But some take it for granted to elongate it and make it ‘one long look.’ We must fear Allah and observe proper Hijab. Men should also dress modestly. His clothes must show piety and his Awrah must not be displayed.

We also ignore dressing up for our wives. Ask yourselves, when was the last time you looked your best for your wife? It is expected from her to look after the kids, make the dinner, clean the house and look good for us, but what about us? If the food is not cooked when we come home or we don’t like its taste, how do we react? Do we follow the Sunnah and keep silent without criticizing food?

We should follow the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in all areas of our lives, and that includes within our households. Women are our partners. When no one listens to our problems, our wives do. Let’s start from today and make that change and surely the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement should be something for us to ponder on.

“The best of you are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you with my wives‚ – (Ibn Hibban)
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Ya AIlah,I seek refuge in You from distress and cowardice. I seek refuge from weakness and procrastination, from stinginess and cowardice. I seek refuge in You from indebtedness and from subjugation to people's inequity"

In search of the body beautiful ?? Part 2

O my beautiful sisters! I ask you by him in

whose hands my soul is, imagine you plucked

your eyebrows and placed those hairs in your

hand. Those hairs will barely fill your palm, but

think, for those few hairs you brought on the

curse of the Lord of the worlds!

Allah (swt) is Wise in what He decrees for His

slaves. People vary in their beauty and

appearance, the entire matter is in the hand of

Allah . It is essential to be patient and seek

reward with Allah and not to transgress His

sacred limits for the sake of one's own whims

and desires.

O Muslimah come! Make a promise that you

will never remove your eyebrow hairs! Fight

the wish of your enemy & prove him(the shaytaan) wrong ….

“Surely I will command them and they will change Allah's creation…”

[Al-Qur'an: An-Nisa'(4:119)].

The Prophet said: “Allah has cursed the Washimat and the Mustawshimat, the Namisat and the Mutanammisat, and the Mutafallijat for beauty, who change what Allah has created”.

(Bukhari)

The Washimat are the tattooers, and the

Mustawshimat are the people who are tattooed.

The Namisat pluck the eyebrows to

straighten them or to make them thinner,

and the Mutanammisat are the people

whose eyebrows are plucked......

In search of the body beautiful ?? Part 1

There seems no limit nowadays to the extent that women (and men) are prepared to go to for that perfect look. Forget false eyelashes and wigs, we are now talking scalpels, implants and liposuction!Cosmetic surgery amongst film actresses has been commonplace for quite some time now, but these days, we wouldn't be too hard pressed to find ordinary women on the street who are more plastic than real! Indeed, in some circles, having multiple facelifts has become a status symbol: the more you have, the higher you are in the status rankings.

If questioned whether cosmetic surgery was Islamically correct or not, then without doubt, most Muslims would instinctively respond by saying that it isn't, for the simple reason that it would be interfering with Allah's creation. And certainly, this would be the correct response. [Scholars have noted several exceptions to this general rule if there is a genuine medical need for it.]

The companion, Ibn Mas'ood radiallaahu anhu, once said (quoting what he had heard the Prophet, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam say):" Allah has cursed the tattooers and those who have themselves tattooed, and those women who have their teeth filed for beauty and those who have their [facial] hair plucked and thus alter Allah's creation.

A woman remarked, "What's all this?"
So Ibn Mas'ood “ radiallaahu anhu said: "Should I not curse one whom Allah's Messenger cursed? And it is in the Book of Allah

This may all sound quite strange when we consider how often we hear women complaining about their appearance. In fact, it is estimated that over half of the Western women today actually perceive themselves to be ugly. In addition, surveys show that nearly all women feel under pressure to look good‌. As a result, the quest for beauty has become a serious preoccupation for many women. Open up any women's magazine and you will not fail to find a single one which doesn't contain tips on how to look good‌, or which don't contain huge advertisements promoting new creams that halt the aging process or concealers to hide wrinkles, etc.

Beauty today is big business. Beauty contests are very profitable and “ contrary to popular belief “ more are spawned every year. The cosmetics market is a multi-billion dollar industry; the demand for cosmetic surgery is growing at a tremendous rate. All three industries promote the same notions of beauty that women everywhere are expected to meet: mainly a white, European, Barbie-doll like standard. The pressures on women to conform to these standards are enormous and few are able to withstand them.



The fact is that Western women today may complain that they are not treated with equality and respect, but it is they themselves who have made it acceptable for society worldwide to see women merely as beauty-objects who are there to be ogled by the men who in turn are the (im)polite voyeurs. When viewed in this light, we find that beauty contests are not too dissimilar to reality itself: just as the tallest, slimmest blonde girl gets the title in the beauty contest, in the real world it's the tallest, slimmest blonde girl who gets the man!

In Islam, beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is in the whole of creation, because Allah “ the One free of all imperfections “ is the One responsible for it. And as Allah says:



" Your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses: no choice have they. SubhaanAllah! And far removed is He from the partners they ascribe [to Him]! [Al-Qasas 28:68].



So it is from the wisdom of Allah that He has chosen to create some of us short, others tall, some fat, some thin, some dark-coloured, some light “ all are beautiful and perfect in their own right. That is why we are taught from the Sunnah, the beautiful du'aa (supplication) that the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam would say:

"O Allah, as You have made my appearance beautiful, likewise make my character beautiful. - (Allahumma kama hassanta khalaqee fa hassin khuluqee‌").



As Muslims, we must believe that evil and imperfection cannot be attributed to Allah. The desire to change any aspect of ourselves means, in effect, that we are dissatisfied with Allah's choice and His handiwork, and that there is imperfection in what He has created. Thus to say about ourselves, or anyone else, that we or they are ugly is a great sin. This point was reinforced by the Prophet, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam when he once saw the Companion, Amr Ibn Fulaan Al-Ansaaree radiallaahu âanhu, whose izaar (lower garment) was hanging low (to the ground), so he, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, ordered that he raise it. Amr made an excuse saying that he had skinny shins (ie. he was embarrassed to show them), so the Prophet responded by saying: "O Amr! Verily Allah Azza wa Jal has created everything in the best form."

All this is certainly not intended to discourage women to look after themselves and adorn themselves in lawful ways (e.g. wearing nice clothes, having nicely done hair, etc.). Indeed, adorning oneself is something that the wives are obliged to do for their husbands and Allah rewards the woman who pleases the husband when he looks at her. But with these tremendous pressures on women to conform to the ideals set by the marketing media, it may be hard for Muslim women to resist feeling insecure or uncomfortable about their appearance. Consequently, many Muslim women have shed their hijaabs for the sake of following fashion; Muslim women too develop inferiority complexes about themselves.We must bear in mind that this search for the body beautiful is, in reality, a deception from Shaytaan. Shaytaan has vowed that he will create such false desires in mankind.
He has said (as stated in the Qurâan):




"Surely I will arouse in them (mankind] false desires; and certainly I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allah. [An-Nisaa (4): 119].


May Allah always keep us safe from the false promises of Shaytaan, for verily Allah is the One Who guides to the Truth.
Summa Ameen!


-By Ifrat Azad

[This article was originally published in 1995 in Ad-Da'wah Ilallaah “ a magazine featuring women's issues]

Hadith's

The Value of Being Pious

Hadith - Muslim, #3465

'Abdullah b. 'Amr reported Allah's Messenger as saying:

The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.

When Permission is Needed

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.123, Narrated Abu Huraira

Allah's Apostle said,

"It is not lawful for a lady to fast (Nawafil) without the permission of her husband when he is at home; and she should not allow anyone to enter his house except with his permission; and if she spends of his wealth (on charitable purposes) without being ordered by him, he will get half of the reward."

Protecting Muslims

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #3978, Narrated AbuHurayrah

The Prophet said, "A woman acts for the people," i.e. she gives protection on behalf of the Muslims.

[Tirmidhi transmitted it].