Houri (Heavenly Virgin): Difference between revisions

'''Houris''' (Arabic, various forms: حوري ,حورية ,حور ,أحور ,حوراء‎), or heavenly virgins, are a variety of celestial being that, according to [[Scriptures|Islamic scriptures]], serve as a key attraction of Heaven or [[Heaven|''Jannah'']] ([[Arabic]]: جنّة‎ '<nowiki/>'''Jannah''''; plural: ''Jannat''). Houris are  mentioned in [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] text as a reward for believing men in the afterlife. According to the Quran, once in Jannah, believers are wed to virgin houris who have "full grown", "swelling" or "pears-shaped" breasts.<ref name="Sura 44 54">"''Even so (it will be). And We shall wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes.''" - {{Quran|44|54}}</ref><ref>Several translators like Hilali-Khan ([http://al-quran.info/default.aspx#&&sura=1&trans=en-hilali-khan&show=both,quran-uthmani&format=rows&ver=1.00 Noble Quran, translated by Hilali-Khan]), Arthur John Arberry, Abdul Daryabadi, Umm Muhammad, Edward Henry Palmer, Ahmed Ali, John Medows Rodwell, Ali Ünal, George Sale, Muhammad Sarwar, and Tahir-ul-Qadri ([http://www.quranbrowser.com/ Quran browser], {{Qtt|78|33}}) have translated {{quran|78|33}} as referring to "full grown", "swelling" or "pears-shaped" breasts.</ref><ref name="Kathir7833">"''This [Qur'an 78:33] means round breasts. They meant by this that the breasts of these girls will be fully rounded and not sagging, because they will be virgins, equal in age.''" - {{cite book |url=http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=78&tid=56825 |author=Ibn Kathir |title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Abridged, Volume 10 Surat At-Tagabun to the end of the Qur'an |pages=333-334}}</ref> The Quran provides a physical and personal description of the houri and denotes them as awards to believers. A [[hadith]] graded [[Sahih]] (authentic) details the number of houris that will be awarded to [[Martyr|martyrs]].<ref name=":0">[[Authenticity of 72 Virgins Hadith]]</ref>

Orthodox Muslim theologians such as [[al-Ghazali]] (1058 - 1111 CE) and al-Ash'ari (874 - 935 CE) have discussed the Houris as being rewards and pleasures found in heaven. Al-Ghazali, in particular, refers to a hadith that describes heaven as a [[Slavery|slave]] market where there will be "no buy and sale, but... If any man will wish to have sexual intercourse with a woman, he will do at once."<ref>"''Ali reported that the Apostle of Allah said, "There is in Paradise a market wherein there will be no buying or selling, but will consist of men and women. When a man desires a beauty, he will have intercourse with them.''" - Mishkat al-Masabih (edited by Maulana Fazlul Karim), Vol. 4, p. 172, No. 34</ref><ref name="Religious_Sciences3">{{cite web|url=http://www.nderf.org/islamic_views_death.htm |title=Ihya Uloom Ed-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences) Vol. 4 |author=Al Ghazzali|quote=A man asked the Prophet : 0 Prophet of God, will the inmates of Paradise have sexual intercourse ? He said: Anybody among them will be given sexual strength of seven, persons among you. The Prophet said : An inmate of Paradise will have five hundred hurs, four thousand unmarried women and eight thousand widowed women. Each of them will keep embracing him for the duration of his whole worldly life time. He also said: There will be markets in Paradise in which there will be no buy and sale, but there will be men and women. If any man will wish to have sexual intercourse with a woman, he will do at once. The Hurs will sing in Paradise on divine purity and praise-we are most beautiful Hurs and we are for the honoured husbands.|series=Death and Subsequent Events 430 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.nderf.org/islamic_views_death.htm&date=2012-12-03 |archivedate=2012-12-03 |deadurl=no}}</ref> The same hadith is quoted by Ibn Kathir, in his [[Tafsir|Qur'anic Commentary]], the Tafsir ibn Kathir<ref>[http://www.islam-universe.com/tafsir_ibn_kathir/55.51771.html These two gardens are lower, in virtue and in status than the two before them, as supported in the Qur'an]</ref>. The houris are also described graphically by Qur'anic commentator and polymath, Al-Suyuti (died 1505), who, echoing a [[Sahih]] [[hadith]]<ref name="SP 4828">Shaykh Gibril Haddad - [http://www.webcitation.org/64zXNO08I How Many Wives Will The Believers Have In Paradise?] - SunniPath, Question ID:4828, July 3, 2005</ref> from Ibn Majah,<ref name="Ibn Majah 39">"''Abu Umama narrated: "The Messenger of God said, 'Everyone that God admits into paradise will be married to 72 wives; two of them are houris and seventy of his inheritance of the [female] dwellers of hell. All of them will have libidinous sex organs and he will have an ever-erect penis.' ''" - Sunan Ibn Majah, Zuhd (Book of Abstinence) 39</ref> wrote that the perpetual virgins will all "have appetizing vaginas", and that the "penis of the Elected never softens. The erection is eternal."<ref name="Al-Suyuti">"''Each time we sleep with a Houri we find her virgin. Besides, the penis of the Elected never softens. The erection is eternal; the sensation that you feel each time you make love is utterly delicious and out of this world and were you to experience it in this world you would faint. Each chosen one [i.e. Muslim] will marry seventy [sic] houris, besides the women he married on earth, and all will have appetizing vaginas.''" - Al-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Qur'an, p. 351</ref>

The sensual nature of the houri awarded to believers are also confirmed by the two Sahih collections of hadith, namely [[Sahih Bukhari]]<ref name="Bukhari455544">"''Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The first group of people who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon... Their wives will be houris ...''" - {{Bukhari|4|55|544}}</ref> and Sahih Muslim,<ref>Citation and new article needed</ref> which state that the houris will be virgins so beautiful and pure that there flesh will, in effect, be transparent: "the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the bones and the flesh"<ref name="Bukhari454476">"''Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the full moon, and the batch next to them will be (glittering) like the most brilliant star in the sky. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have neither enmity nor jealousy amongst themselves; everyone will have two wives from the houris, (who will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that) the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the bones and the flesh.''" - {{Bukhari|4|54|476}}</ref>. "The believers", another hadith in Bukhari continues, "will visit and enjoy them [the houris]".<ref>"''Allah’s Apostle (The blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "In Paradise there is a pavilion made of a single hollow pearl sixty miles wide, in each corner of which there are wives who will not see those in the other corners; and the believers will visit and enjoy them.''" - {{Bukhari|6|60|402}}</ref>

Qur'an 78:31-33</ref> Although it is frequently alleged that the hadiths regarding the houris are [[List of Fabricated Hadith|da`if]] (weak)<ref name=":0" /> or few (and even singular) in number, such narrations are in fact found in many hadith collections with varying levels of authenticity, including several that earn a grade of [[hasan]] (good) and [[sahih]] (authentic).<ref name=":0" />

For example, in the Sunan Ibn Majah, one of the six major hadith collections,<ref name="VIRH">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/vih_e.html |title=Various Issues About Hadiths |publisher=Living Islam |author=Shaykh Gibril Haddad |date=April 4, 2003 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/vih_e.html&date=2011-05-22 |archivedate=2011-05-22 |deadurl=no}}</ref> a hasan (good)<ref name="SP 4828" /> narration states that every male admitted into [[heaven]] will be given eternal erections and wed to 72 wives, each having libidinous sexual organs.<ref name="Ibn Majah 39" /> Similarly, in another hadith attested in several hadith collections with multiple narrators that has been graded hasan (good), it is advanced that the [[shahid]] (martyr) will be married to seventy-two of "''al-hoor al-‘iyn''" ("the beautiful-eyed houris").<ref name="alMiqdaam">''It was reported in the hadeeth of al-Miqdaam ibn Ma’di Karb that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:'' ''“The martyr (shaheed) has seven blessings from Allaah: 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 Judgement); 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.”'' ''According to another report, the martyr has six blessings from Allaah. According to other reports (the number is) six, or nine, or ten'' - Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who said it is a hasan hadeeth. Also narrated by Ibn Maajah 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</ref><ref name="QA 8511">{{cite web|url=http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/islamqa/8511 |title=The six blessings of the martyrs |publisher=Islam Q&A|series= Fatwa No. 8511 |author=Shaykh Waleed al-Firyaan |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/islamqa/8511&date=2011-11-21 |archivedate=2011-11-21 |deadurl=no}}</ref>  

Another narration in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, another of the six major hadith collections,<ref name="VIRH" /> states that the smallest reward for the people of heaven is an abode housing seventy-two houris.<ref>"''It was mentioned by Daraj Ibn Abi Hatim, that Abu al-Haytham 'Adullah Ibn Wahb narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudhri, who heard the Prophet Muhammad PBUH saying, 'The smallest reward for the people of Heaven is an abode where there are eighty thousand servants and seventy-two houri, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine and ruby, as wide as the distance from al-Jabiyyah to San'a.''" - Al-Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, Ch. 21, No. 2687</ref> Although it is frequently argued that this hadith is da'if (weak)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/debunking-the-suicide-for-72-virgins-myth/ |title=Debunking the ‘Suicide for 72 Virgins’ Myth |publisher=TheUglyTruth |author=Nashid Abdul-Khalliq |date=March 4, 2007 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/debunking-the-suicide-for-72-virgins-myth/&date=2012-02-20 |archivedate=2012-02-20 |deadurl=no}}</ref>, it has been graded hasan and sahih by renowned scholars of hadith,<ref name="SP 4828" /> meaning this hadith is hasan (good), since it has several chains of transmitters, and also sahih (authentic), as the chains are all declared authentic by Imam Tirmidhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunnah.org/history/Scholars/imam_tirmidhi.htm |title=Imam Tirmidhi (209 - 279 H) |publisher=As-Sunnah Foundation of America |author= |date=February 20, 2012 |quote= |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.sunnah.org/history/Scholars/imam_tirmidhi.htm&date=2012-02-20 |archivedate=2012-02-20 |deadurl=no}}</ref>

Also reported in Sunan Al-Kubra and Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and declared sahih (authentic)<ref name="SP 4828" /> by Ibn Abi Shayba, Ibn Hibban, and Al-Hakim is a hadith that states that God's servants will be [[Marriage|married]] in heaven with seventy wives and that they'll be given the sexual strength for a hundred.<ref name="al Janna">"''Anas said, Allah be well-pleased with him: The Messenger of Allah said, upon him blessings and peace: “The servant in Paradise shall be married with seventy wives.” Someone said, “Messenger of Allah, can he bear it?” He said: “He will be given strength for a hundred.” From Zayd ibn Arqam, Allah be well-pleased with him, when an incredulous Jew or Christian asked the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, “Are you claiming that a man will eat and drink in Paradise??” He replied: “Yes, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, and each of them will be given the strength of a hundred men in his eating, drinking, coitus, and pleasure.”''" - Sifat al-Janna, al-`Uqayli in the Du`afa’, and Musnad of Abu Bakr al-Bazzar</ref>

There are several descriptions regarding the houris that are found in various Islamic scriptures. Some include:  

[[File:78 33-Kawaiba.jpg|thumb|right|In addition to Quranic translations of 78:33 describing the virgins as being '''voluptuous'''<ref name="Sura78_33">"''And voluptuous women of equal age;''" - {{Quran|78|33}}</ref>, Sahih International translates the verse as referring to ''"'''full-breasted''' [companions] of equal age"''. Tafsir al-Jalalayn, the famous Qur'anic exegesis, reads: ''"and '''buxom''' maidens (kawā‘ib is the plural of kā‘ib) of equal age (atrāb is the plural of tirb)"''. Elsewhere, in Tirmidhi and Tafsir ibn Kathir, it is elaborated that these are ''"'''large, round breasts''' which are not inclined to hang"''.<ref name="Sunan_al-Tirmidhi_v2" /><ref name="Kathir7833" /><br />]]

:*Hairless except for the eye brows and the head <ref name="Sunan_al-Tirmidhi_5638" />

:*Untouched <ref name="Sura55_56" /><ref name="Sura55_72_74">"''Companions restrained (as to their glances), in (goodly) pavilions;- Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?- Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched;-''" - {{Quran-range|55|72|74}}</ref>

:**The word used is كواعب (''kawaa'ib''), which is a plural of كاعب (''kaa'ib'') and the meaning according to the al-Ma'any dictionary is نَاهِدَةُ الثَّدْيِ (''naahida thadee''), that is "buxom breast" <ref>https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-ar/%D9%83%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A8/</ref>.

Although suicide is clearly forbidden in Islam<ref>''"Do not kill yourselves. Verily, Allah is merciful to you. And, whoever does that, out of animosity and , We shall burn him in a Fire. And that is easy for Allah."'' Qur'an, 4:29-30</ref>, the matter of deliberate/pre-meditated [[Martyr|martyrdom]] in battle (e.g. suicide bombing) has, as is typical with [[Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)|legal rulings]], left Islamic scholars divided.

Notable scholars and such as Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the world's most quoted independent Islamic jurist,<ref name="Faisal">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/aug/28/comment.israelandthepalestinians |title=Bombing for God (Special report: Israel and the Middle East) |publisher=The Guardian |author=Faisal Bodi |date=August 28, 2001 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/aug/28/comment.israelandthepalestinians&date=2012-02-21 |archivedate=2012-02-21 |deadurl=no}}</ref> and [[Dr.]] [[Zakir Naik]], known for his advocacy of "[[Islam and Science|Qur'anic science]]", have justified the use of suicide bombing in Islam.<ref>Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi - [http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503545134 Palestinian Women Carrying Out Martyr Operations] - Islam Online, November 6, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtZxNqxpb8s Is Suicide Bombing allowed in Islam? By Dr. Zakir Naik] (a YouTube video posted by PeaceTVUK on September 20, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/9627-pakistan-ulema-permits-suicide-attacks |title=Pakistan Ulema Permits Suicide Attacks |publisher=TOLOnews |author=Abdul Haq Omari |date=March 2, 2013 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/9627-pakistan-ulema-permits-suicide-attacks&date=2013-03-05 |archivedate=2013-03-05 |deadurl=no}}</ref> Opinion polls following 9/11 found that an [[Muslim Statistics - Terrorism|extremely large number]] of persons in Muslim-majority countries supported the practice.<ref name="Faisal" /><ref name="JP">Michael Freund - [http://web.archive.org/web/20070210015156/http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467849587&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Right On: The straightforward arithmetic of jihad] - The Jerusalem Post, January 31, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040412010339/http://web.mid-day.com/news/world/2004/march/79639.htm |title=65% Pakistanis support Osama, says report |publisher=Mid Day |author=Khalid A-H Ansari |date=March 27, 2004 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040412010339/http://web.mid-day.com/news/world/2004/march/79639.htm&date=2012-02-11 |archivedate=2012-02-11 |deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/one_in_eight_uk_muslims_support_terrorist_attacks_1_517610 |title=One in eight UK Muslims 'support terrorist attacks' |publisher=Scotsman.com |author= |date=March 15, 2004 |quote= |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/international/one_in_eight_uk_muslims_support_terrorist_attacks_1_517610&date=2012-02-04 |archivedate=2012-02-04 |deadurl=no}}</ref>  

The Quran states that all Muslim males, not only martyrs, will be rewarded with virgins.<ref name="q56_36">"''Then We have made them virgins''" - {{Quran|56|36}}</ref> However, the Quran does also mention that those who [[The Meaning of Qatal|fight]] in the way of Allah ([[jihad]]) and get killed will be given a "great reward",<ref name="Sura4 74">"''Let those (believers) Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter fight in the cause of Allah and whoso fights in the cause of Allah, - and is slain or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward.''" - {{Quran|4|74}}</ref> and there exist hasan (good) hadith<ref name="QA 8511" /> which refer to the 72 virgins as one of the "seven blessings from Allah" to the martyr.<ref name="alMiqdaam" /> This has lead to the 72 virgins concept being widely used as a way to entice martyrdom.