Where Did These 72 Hooris Come From?
By VA
Mohamad Ashrof, New Age Islam
19 August
2023
Where is
the origin of the myth of 72 Hooris? It is generally believed that men who go
to paradise are given beautiful female companions known as Hoori, who are
eternally virgin ‘Apsaras’ (the Captivating virgins of Hindu Mythology),
exclusively intended to fetch male lust. The real meaning of the word 'Hoor
ul Ayn' is 'pleasing to the eyes'.
The Qur'an
uses the word 'Hoori' in the plural four times (44:54, 52:20, 55:72, 56:22).
Hoor in Paradise is mentioned in three verses (37:48-49; 38:52; 55:56). Hoor is
promised to believers in all seven verses above (see Q. 2:25, 3:15, 4:57,
55:70). Other verses indicate that virtuous 'earthly spouses' will be united in
Paradise (Q. 13:23-24; 36:55-57; 40:8; 43:70).
Two
Qur'anic verses refer to "companions with large beautiful eyes" (Sawwajnahum
Bi Hoorin) (Q. 44:54 and 52:20). Other verses describe such spouses as
chaste and modest: "Like gems and small pearls, which no human being or
jinn has touched before them (Q. 55:56), "companions of equal age"
(Q. 78:33), "those who have virginity" (Q. 56:35-37), "pure
companions'' (Q. 2:25, 3:15, 4:57) and so on.
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Also
Read: Are There Houris in the Jannah?
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The great
Qur'anic exegesis of Muhammad Asad emphasizes that the Paradise references
should not be taken literally. He cites Qur'anic verse 32:17 in support of this
view. It also cites the hadith in Bukhari and Muslim referring to the divine
promise to bestow upon 'my righteous servants the likes of which no eye has
seen and no ear has heard'. (Muhammad Asad, The Message of the Quran, Surah
56:22, note:8 & Surah 44:54 note:30).
Nowhere in
the Qur'an is the number of Hoor mentioned. It is indicated in many reliable
hadiths that every believer will receive two Hoorain in Paradise. (Muslim:
2834; Bukhari: 3245). However, there is no authentic hadith that mentions the72
Hooris. Moreover, the number '72' itself is nowhere seen in the Qur'an.
The Qur'an
strongly emphasizes the single origin of mankind from the same source of life
(Q. 4:1). It constantly use the dual expression 'male and female' to emphasize
the equality of the sexes in relation to their rights, duties, virtues and
qualities (Q. 2:226, 3:195, 9:71, 16:97, 33:35). Also, when men and women are
guaranteed the same reward for their good deeds (4:32), it is affirmed that
both have the same spiritual destiny to enter the garden of eternal bliss if
they are righteous (Q.43:70, 4:124). A person's excellence is measured by
righteousness, good works, and position in the issue of justice (Q. 49:13,
5:8).
In line
with the above, in the Qur'an, men and women alike are promised Hoorris or
'pure spouses/companions' (Aswajun Mutaharatun, Q.2:25, 4:57) in Paradise.
Related references to these 'pure spouses' are often assumed to be addressed to
men because of the fundamentally false traditional association of chastity with
virginity. However, the concept of 'purity' in the Qur'an relates only to God
consciousness and stands for justice; it never refers to physical virginity.
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Also
Read: Taslima Nasreen, 72 Houris and Wildan and Ghilman
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The popular
belief that there are 72 virgins in Paradise is just a myth based on hadith and
is not in the Qur'an. All our actions should be beautiful (Q. 16:30, 16:125,
28:54, 41:34); Good deeds are rewarded (Q. 6:160, 27:89, 28:84, 39:10, 42:23);
Everything in the heavenly gardens will be good and beautiful (Q.55:70); The
righteous will have a beautiful dwelling place (Q. 13:29, 3:14); They will
recline there on green cushions and beautiful carpets (Q.55:76); They will be
joined by pure companions who have a beautiful sight (Q.44:54, 52:20, 55:72,
56:22).
Below are
some verses to consider in this regard. Note in particular that each verse is
addressed to both men and women:
Quran 2:25: “[Prophet], give those who
believe and do good the news that they will have Gardens graced with flowing
streams. Whenever they are given sustenance from the fruits of these Gardens,
they will say, ‘We have been given this before,’ because they were provided
with something like it. They will have pure spouses and there they will stay.”
Qur'an 4:57: “As for those who believe and
do good deeds, We shall admit them into Gardens graced with flowing streams and
there they will remain forever. They will have pure spouses there, and We shall
admit them into a cool refreshing shade.”
Qur'an 43:70-73: "‘Enter Paradise, you
and your spouses: you will be filled with joy.’
Dishes and goblets of gold will be passed around them with all that
their souls desire and their eyes delight in. ‘There you will remain: this is
the Garden you are given as your own, because of what you used to do, and there
is abundant fruit in it for you to eat.’''
The condition of entering heaven is that men
and women should be pious and righteous in this world. God knows that man wants
his relatives to join him in heaven. So, here is God's promise:
Qur'an
13:23-24: "They will enter perpetual Gardens, along with their
righteous ancestors, spouses, and descendants; the angels will go in to them
from every gate, ‘Peace be with you, because you have remained steadfast. What
an excellent reward is this home of yours!’”
What if one
of the couples doesn't make it to Paradise? The answer to this is found in the
Quranic verses 44:54, 52:20 and many other verses. That's where Hoor ul Ayn
comes in.
"We
shall wed them with mates who are pleasing to the eye (Hoor ul Ayn)."
(Quran 44:54)
But most
translations/interpretations are problematic; some common translations of the
verse 44:54 wrongly mean virgins with beautiful eyes. Some scholars have
mistakenly assumed that "them" in this context just refers to men.
If the
Qur’anic verses 44:51, 44:52, 44:53 and 44:54 are studied together, it becomes
clear that 'they' in verse 44:54 are Muttakhun - God-fearing, pious. Here are
the sentences:
Q.44:51: “Indeed,
the pious will be in a safe place;
Q.44:52: "In
gardens and fountains;"
Q.44:53: "Dressed
in fine silk and richly embroidered garments, they shall face each other:"
Qur'an
44:54: "Thus We will give them as mates those who are pleasing to the
eye (Hoor ul Ayn)."
Therefore,
it is incorrect to assume that Hoor ul Ayn mentioned in Qur'an 44:54 is female;
it is a sexist assumption. Hoor ul Ayn is gender neutral 'beautiful, pleasing
to the eyes, mate'. This applies equally to both pious men and women.
The Qur'an
itself calls its 'descriptions of paradise and hell as 'parables'
(Q.2:24-26,17; 4:10; 7:44-50,176,177,194; 13:35; 17:48,60,89; 32:17 - 20,
37:61-67; 47:15; 74:31; 76:12-23).
The root
cause of the misunderstanding is that Hoorul Ayn has been mistranslated as
heavenly women. The word has a gender neutral meaning of 'pleasant to the
eyes'. If one would look at the verses of Q. 44:51-55, she will be convinced of
this. No one can say that men are the only ones who wear silk, eat fruit, and
gossip in comfort.
What is
the real meaning of 'Kawaiba Atraba’?
Unfortunately,
the vast majority of Muslim scholars tend to translate Q.78:31-32 in a way that
evokes sexual fantasy. The words 'Kawaiba Atraba' have nothing to do with plump
breasts. Reading the context of the passage, it is understood that it is
talking about natural beauty.
'Kawaiba' =
anything that KAWAIBA = K-AYN-BA = anything that protrudes.
'Atraba' =
mounds of earth
Q.
78:31-32: Victory assured for the pious. They have gardens and vineyards and
also Kawaiba Atraba (meadows of soil mounds).
It is
important to note that the Qur'an uses gender neutral nouns whenever it talks
about the rewards of Paradise. Muttakhun is a term used to refer to
God-fearing, righteous people (both men and women). Therefore, the Qur'an does
not mention a special gift for men or women. In many other verses it is stated
that the reward for Muttakhun is Hoor ul Ayn. In short, Hoor ul Ayn
is gender neutral - a beautiful and beloved spouse or partner.
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V.A. Mohamad Ashrof is the Joint Secretary of
Forum for Faith and Fraternity .
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/72-hooris-hindu-mythology-hoor-ayn/d/130480
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