The
Reward of Women in Paradise
Question of Fatwa:
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:
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.
You can also read:
Multiple
Wives in Paradise: What Is for Women?
Will
Women Have “Companions” in Paradise?
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