Back>> Why are some thing prohibited for us in this life but allowed for us in paradise? Praise be to Allaah. In His Holy Book, Allaah has mentioned Paradise and what He has  Prepared therein. He has mentioned the attributes of Paradise and of its  people in numerous places in the Qur’aan, such as the aayaat (interpretation  of the meaning): “Therein will be a running spring. Therein will be thrones raised high. And cups set at hand. And cushions set in rows. And rich carpets (all) spread out” [al-Ghaashiyah 88:12-16] “But for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two  Gardens (i.e. in Paradise).  Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men)  deny? With spreading branches. Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men)  deny? In them (both) will be two springs flowing (free). Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men)  Deny? In them (both) will be every kind of fruit in pairs.” [al-Rahmaan 55:46-52] “Wherein both will be Qaasiraat ut-Tarf [chaste females (wives)  Restraining their glances, desiring none except - their husbands], with whom  no man or jinni has had Tamth [sexual intercourse] before them.  Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men)  deny? (In beauty) they are like rubies and coral.” [al-Rahmaan 55:56-58] “Hoor (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions” [al-Rahmaan 55:72] “And (there will be) Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes (as  wives for Al-Muttaqoon – the pious).  Like unto preserved pearls. A reward for what they used to do.” [al-Waaqi’ah 56:22-24] There are many saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings  of Allaah be upon him) which describe the women of Paradise and state  that they will be prepared on the Day of Resurrection for the muttaqoon  (pious). Among these ahaadeeth is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may  Allaah be pleased with him) who said, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and  blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The first group to enter Paradise will look like the moon on the night  when it is full, then those who follow them will look like the  brightest star in the sky; they will not urinate or defecate or spit or blow  their noses. Their combs will be of gold and their sweat will be musk and  their incense-burners will be pearls. Their wives will be al-hoor  al-‘iyn. Their appearance will be the same and they will look like their  father Adam who was sixty cubits tall.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2015). It was also reported that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon  him) said: “A tent will be a pearl sixty miles high, in each corner of  which will be a wife for the believer whom no one else will see.” (Saheeh  al-Jaami’, 3357).  In these ahaadeeth the women of Paradise are mentioned who have been  Prepared for the men. In His Book, Allaah called them al-Hoor. Al-Hoor is  the plural of Hooraa’ . Al-Qurtubi said in al-Ahkaam (17/12): “(This  means) a woman in whose eyes the white is intensely white and the black  is intensely black.” We believe in that with absolute faith  uncontaminated with any doubts. It is part of the essentials of our belief. For  more information see Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad’ al-Khalq, Baab Sifat  al-Jannah; and Saheeh Muslim, Abwaab Sifat al-Jannah; and Sifat  al-Jannah by Abu’l-Na’eem al-Isfahaani, which describes the women of the  people of Paradise and their beauty. With regard to the question about why Islam encourages and gives glad  tidings of things in Paradise which are forbidden in this world, such as  men having intimate relationships with women outside of the framework  of marriage – before we answer this question, we must make a serious  point, which is that Allaah forbids whatever He wills in this world to its  people, for He is the Creator and Sovereign of these things, so it is  not permissible for anyone to object to the ruling of Allaah on the  basis of his foolish thinking and imperfect understanding. The ruling and  the decision of the matter, before and after, is only with Allaah, and  there is none who can overturn His ruling, may He be glorified and  exalted. With regard to the question of why Allaah forbids some things in this  world, then in the Hereafter will permit them as a reward to those who  abstained from them (such as wine, zinaa, wearing silk for men, etc.),  this is what Allaah wills to give as a reward to those who obey Him and  patiently strive in this world. Allaah says (interpretation of the  meaning): “Is there any reward for good other than good?” [al-Rahmaan 55:60] With regard to the reason why these things are forbidden, there follow  a few important points: Firstly: We do not necessarily know all the reasons why things are forbidden.  There are some reasons which we do not know. The basic principle is to  accept and submit to the texts even if we do not know the reason, because  submission is the point of Islam which is based on complete obedience  to Allaah, may He be exalted. Secondly: Some of the reasons for the prohibitions may be clear to us, such as  the corruptions that result from zinaa, e.g., the mixing of lineages, the  spread of fatal diseases and so on. When Islam forbids unlawful  relationships, the intention is to protect people’s lineage and honour, which  may not mean anything to the kaafirs and immoral people, who jump on  one another like donkeys, with a boyfriend having intercourse with his  girlfriend and people having intercourse with their own relatives and so  on, as if they are in the jungle. Indeed, they are worse than animals,  for some animals refuse to do such a thing, but these people do not  refuse and do not care. As a result of this promiscuity, the ties that  bind society disintegrate and it becomes filled with fatal sexual diseases  which are an indication of the wrath of Allaah towards those who  violate His sacred limits and make permissible that which is forbidden. This is unlike the relationship of a man with the Hooris in Paradise –  which is what has been asked about here – for we may note that in the  case of a promiscuous woman in this world, her honour is readily  available to all and she has no religious commitment or shame. She is not  bound by a lawful relationship to one person. So men and women have  intercourse with whomever they want, with no restrictions of religion or  morality. But the hooris in Paradise are restrained and restricted to their  husbands to whom Allaah has given them as a reward for their patience  in abstaining from haraam things in this world. As Allaah says  (interpretation of the meanings): “Hoor (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions” [al-Rahmaan 55:72] “with whom no man or jinni has had Tamth [sexual intercourse] before  them.” [al-Rahmaan 55:56] The hoori is a wife for the man, as Allaah says (interpretation of the  meaning): “… and We shall marry them to Hooris [female fair ones] with wide,  lovely eyes…” [al-Dukhaan 44:54]. And they will be confined to their husbands, and no one else will have  a share in them. Thirdly: Allaah – who has declared that in this world a man is not permitted to  have more than four wives at one time – is the One Who will bless the  people of Paradise with whatever He wills of al-hoor al-‘iyn. So there  is no contradiction between what is forbidden in this world and in the  Hereafter, because the rulings of each are different, in accordance with  what the Lord wills. Undoubtedly the Hereafter is far better and more  lasting than this world. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children,  much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and  well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but  Allaah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers) with  Him. Say: ‘Shall I inform you of things far better than those? For  Al-Muttaqoon (the pious) there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord,  underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home) and Azwaajun  Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives). And Allaah will be pleased with  them. And Allaah is All-Seer of the (His) slaves.’” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:14-15] Fourthly: This prohibition may be a kind of test from Allaah to His slaves, to  see whether they will obey these commands and avoid that which He has  forbidden. The test could not be with regard to something for which people  have no inclination and which they do not like; it has to be with  regard to something to which they are inclined and attracted. This testing  may include wealth – will a person take from that which is permitted and  dispose of it in manners which are permitted, and will he fulfil the  rights which Allaah has over it? The test with regard to women is: will  he restrict himself to that which Allaah has permitted him of women, and  will he lower his gaze and avoid seeking pleasure in that which Allaah  has forbidden. It is an aspect of Allaah’s mercy – may He be exalted  and glorified – that He does not forbid something to which people are  inclined without allowing something of that nature and there is much which  is permitted. Fifthly: The rulings (ahkaam) of this world are not like the rulings of the  Hereafter. The wine of this world causes people to lose their minds, unlike  the good wine of the Hereafter which does not make people lose their  minds or cause headaches or stomachaches. What Allaah has prepared for  the believers of women on the Day of Resurrection as a reward for their  obedience is not like zinaa which violates people’s honour, confuses  lineages, spreads diseases and leads to regret. The women of Paradise are  pure and good; they will never die or get old, unlike the women of this  world. Allaah says (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] We ask Allaah to bless us with the best of this world and the next, and  to help us to be obedient to His commands and to have certain faith in  His reward and to keep us safe from His punishment. And Allaah knows  best.    Back to Top