Decoding Islamic Doctrine of Paradisical Houris
By
Nur Ul Islam Sadequey, New Age Islam
28 August
2023
Recently
released Bollywood movie ‘72 Hoorain’, although made to satiate rising domestic
Islamophobia, has re-exposed the underbelly of Islamic eschatological doctrine
where what the modern scholars of Islam have refuted, the classical ones had no
qualms in admitting. So, what is it about? Let’s examine the theology of virgin
houris in Islam and the milieu in which it developed.
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Also
Read: Are There
Houris in the Jannah?
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The Quranic
term hoor or hoor ein has long intrigued Islamic scholars and critics
alike for its ambiguity. The classical interpretation is almost unanimous that
the term refers to young virgin ladies’ believers will be rewarded in paradise.
This view finds basis in around 50 Prophetic traditions (hadiths) that vividly
describe these virgins’ varying numbers and physical attributes in a highly
sensual manner.
While many
hadiths show houris are paradisiacal reward meant for martyrs only, there are
few that show they are for righteous Muslims and for those who fast during
Ramadan or other males who endure any loss for the sake of Allah.
However,
many modern scholars see the Quranic term hoor far from what is conceived in
hadiths. While they differ on exact meaning but nowhere close to virgins and
carnal pleasures.
A critical
study of all such hadiths that talk about Islamic eschatology, life after
death, reward and punishment, will lead one to conclude that they are purely
didactic, prone to fabrication and contradiction, and majority of them are in
contrast with Quranic teachings.
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Also
Read: Taslima
Nasreen, 72 Houris and Wildan and Ghilman
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It seems
the doctrine of virgin houris emerged and evolved in 9th century as one finds
no mention of houri hadiths in Muwatta of Imam Malik, first collection
of hadith texts written in 8th-century CE. It was a time when Muslims were at
war on various fronts and had already established multifaceted contacts with
outside world. During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad around 80 military
expeditions took place and less than 20 involved fighting. Nowhere Prophet was
heard persuading his followers to fight for doe-eyed and ever willing virgins
in Jannah.
Quranic
Jannah has no sexual gratification described anywhere. It’s for righteous
people (Muttaqin) irrespective of gender. It’s a place of everlasting
bliss and peace where there will be plenty of food and drinks and everything
one wishes for. Gardens, springs, rivers of water, milk, honey, and meat, all
sorts of fruits, no death, no resentment or fatigue, nice clothes, ornaments
etc are obvious descriptions in Quran.
The word
hoor occurred four times in Quran. It is usually translated as ‘fair women with
large, beautiful eyes. However, there is no evidence to support that the
Prophet explained the word hoor or the verses that contain hoor and its
intended meaning. The inferences of unsullied maidens and carnal pleasure drawn
by the classical commentators are their personal ijtihad (interpretation) and
therefore not binding.
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Also
Read: Where Did
These 72 Hooris Come From?
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The famous
classical theologians and commentators like Tabari (died 923 CE), Ash’ari (died
936), Ghazali (died 1111), Ibn Kathir (died 1373) and Suyuti (died 1505) have
acknowledged sensual pleasures in paradise. It seems Tabari repeated same
narrative that emerged in 9th century based on hadiths influenced by foreign
imports and the posterity followed suit.
German
Orientalist Christoph Luxenberg in his book ‘The Syro-Aramaic Reading of the
Koran: A Contribution to the Decoding of the Language of the Koran’, originally
published in German in 2001 argues that the term hoor ein is
Syro-Aramaic which was lingua franca of the pre-Islamic Middle East, and it refers
to ‘white grapes or raisins’. Ancient Christian hymns in Aramaic suggest the
word refers to ‘grapes’ that the departed will enjoy in paradise. Adjective
used for hoor in verse 56:26 says, “like the pearls hidden in the shells” and
“no man or jinn ever touched them” verse 55:72, gives perfect sense in case of
grapes and raisins.
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Likewise,
the term Wildaanun Mukhalladoon is Syro-Aramaic expression which means
‘chilled raisin drinks’ and not the ‘immortal young boys’ who will serve the
drinks. Thus, the other adjectives “in vessels, pitchers and cup (56:18)” and
“when you see them you would think them scattered pearls” (76:19) give sense.
According to Luxenberg, the context makes it clear that it is food and drink
that will be offered in Jannah.
For
Moroccan scholar Khalīd Benakrash (and others like Abdul-Karim Alwan
Al-Khafaji) the term Hoor Ein has Arabic origin meaning spring of
running water. They also argue grammatically that Zawwajnahum does not
mean ‘marrying them’ or the object should come without preposition as can be
seen in various places where this word occurred for marriage in Quran. They say
‘Wa Zawwajnahum Bi Hoor Ein’ (verse 44:54) suggests ‘the people in
Jannah will have the company of running stream’. This description can be found
in several places in Quran.
Syrian
philosopher Mohammad Shahrour (died 2019) says all such verses where Jannah and
zauj (spouse) have occurred are for everybody irrespective of gender, and
deriving sexual connotation is misreading of Quran.
---
Nur Ul
Islam Sadequey is an Arabic scholar and researcher based in Abu Dhabi, UAE
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/islamic-doctrine-paradisical-houris/d/130540
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