Houri

In Islam, the word Houri (Arabic: حورية,‎ also ḥūr or ḥūrīyah) refers to heavenly angels, splendid beings, or celestial virgins who await the saved in heaven after death; alternatively, the term may designate delicious white raisins found in the Qur'anic account of paradise.

Islam teaches that heavenly delights await believers in paradise. Usually translated as "virgins," the Houri appear frequently in Muslim writings. Their various accounts and descriptions have been the source of much speculation and debate concerning the role of sexual intercourse in heaven. The topic of the Houri raises interesting soteriological issues regarding the nature of the body and flesh in the afterlife, views of gender relationships, and the literal or figurative nature of sexuality in heaven.

Etymology

In classical Arabic, Hur'in is made of two words Hur and In. The former word literally means "most beautiful eye" irrespective of the person's gender, while the latter word means "companion." Thus, the English rendering of the compound word Hur'In is "Pure companions with most beautiful eyes." and it is applicable to both male and female. Often, this description has been translated as "dark-eyed virgins" or "wide-eyed virgins." The emphasis on eyes is explained by the Quranic statement that a person’s eye reflects the soul more clearly than any other part of the human body (Qur'an 52: 20).

The modern philologist Christoph Luxenberg, however, argues that the word 'houri' does not mean wide-eyed virgin but actually translates as white grapes. He suggests that the word comes from early Christian descriptions of Paradise as abounding in pure white grapes.

Nevertheless, the word "houri" has entered into several European languages with a meaning of a "voluptuous, beautiful, alluring woman" notwithstanding the fact that the "narration, which claims that everyone would have seventy-two wives has a weak chain of narrators."

Description

The houri are frequently mentioned in Muslim scriptures and commentaries as the source of much speculation and intrigue. They are variously described as "chaste females", "restraining their glances", having "modest gaze", "wide and beautiful/lovely eyes", "untouched / with hymen unbroken by sexual intercourse", "like pearls", "virgins", "voluptuous/full-breasted", "with large, round breasts which are not inclined to hang" "companions of equal age", "non-menstruating/urinating/defecating and childfree", "60 cubits [27.5 meters] tall", "7 cubits [3.2 meters] in width", "transparent to the marrow of their bones", "eternally young", "hairless", "pure", "beautiful", "white", "revirginating", and "splendid", among other descriptions.

In Muslim writings

The Holy Qur’an contains several references to the Houri (Qur'an 44:54, 52:20 ,55:72, 56:22) including the following descriptions:

"And Hur (fair females) with wide lovely eyes. Like preserved pearls."(Qur'an, Surah Al-Waqia(56):22)

"We have created [their Companions] of special creation, and made them virgin-pure [and undefiled after their old age in this life] (Qur’an, Surah Al-Waqia(56):35-36)

"In these [gardens] will be mates of modest gaze whom neither man nor invisible being will have touched ere then." [Chapter (Surah) Ar-Rahman (The Most Beneficent(55):56]

"[There the blest will live with their] companions pure and modest, in pavilions [splendid] [Chapter (Surah) Ar-Rahman (The Most Beneficent)(55):72]

"reclining on couches ranged in rows!” And We shall mate them with companions pure, most beautiful of eye [Chapter (Surah) At-Tur (The Mount)(52):20]

Here are verses that refer to one’s spouse renewal to a pure state:

"And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high: for, behold, We shall have brought them into being in a life renewed, having resurrected them as virgins [Chapter (Surah) Al-Waqi'a (The Event)(56):34-36]

The Islamic Hadith (traditions of the Prophet) also mention the houries (although not all hadiths are equally trustworthy). The Sunni Islamic scholar, Muhammad al-Bukhari (810 - 870 C.E.), authored the most authentic hadith collection named Sahih Bukhari, which states:

• "...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." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 54 "The Beginning of Creation," Hadith 476)[3])

• "They will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers. Their wives will be houris. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in statute), sixty cubits tall."'

According to Ibn Kathir, Muhammed said that men in heaven would have sex with one hundred virgins in one day. Some companions of Muhammad are reported to have said that men in heaven will be "busy in deflowering virgins". Ibn Kathir says that the houri "are delightful virgins of comparable age who never had sexual intercourse with anyone, whether from mankind or Jinns, before their husbands." Although Ibn Kathir relates the opinion of some companions of Muhammad being reported to have said concerning "will be busy with joyful things" that means in heaven people will be "busy in deflowering virgins", he continues to relate other alternate meanings. Another companion, Ibn Abass has said that it refers "listening to stringed instruments". Others such as Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Isma`il bin Abi Khalid have said, "they will be too busy to think about the torment which the people of Hell are suffering." Qatadah implied "with the delights which they are enjoying." Ibn Abas said, "this means that they will be rejoicing." While Mujahid said, "Their spouses,(will be in pleasant shade) means, in the shade of trees."Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and Khusayf said, "beds beneath canopies."

Al-Tirmidhi (824 - 892 C.E.) was a medieval collector of hadiths, some deemed controversial and unreliable.

• Al-Hasan Al-Basri says that an old woman came to the messenger of Allah and made a request, O’ Messenger of Allah make Dua that Allah grants me entrance into Jannah. The messenger of Allah replied, O’ Mother, an old woman cannot enter Jannah. That woman started crying and began to leave. The messenger of Allah said, Say to the woman that one will not enter in a state of old age, but Allah will make all the women of Jannah young virgins. Allah Ta’aala says, Lo! We have created them a (new) creation and made them virgins, lovers, equal in age. (Surah Waaqi’ah, 35-37).

• "[Muhammad] was heard say: "The smallest reward for the people of Heaven is an abode where there are eighty thousand servants and seventy two wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine and ruby, as wide as the distance from [Damascus] to San'a".(This hadith has a weak chain of narrators)

• "A houri is a most beautiful young woman with a transparent body. The marrow of her bones is visible like the interior lines of pearls and rubies. She looks like red wine in a white glass. She is of white color, and free from the routine physical disabilities of an ordinary woman such as menstruation, menopause, urinal and offal discharge, child bearing and the related pollution. A houri is a girl of tender age, having large breasts which are round (pointed), and not inclined to dangle. Houris dwell in palaces of splendid surroundings."

Ibn Maja (824 - 887 C.E.) was a medieval hadith collector, not all of which were authentic. His collection is named the Sunan Ibn Maja:

• "Houris do not want wives to annoy their husbands, since the houris will also be the wives of the husbands in the afterlife. "Mu’adh bin Jobal (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘A woman does not annoy her husband but his spouse from amongst the maidens with wide eyes intensely white and deeply black will say: Do not annoy him, may Allah ruin you.” He is with you as a passing guest. Very soon, he will part with you and come to us."

Artat bin Al-Mundhir said:

"Damrah bin Habib was asked if the Jinns will enter Paradise and he said,`Yes, and they will get married. The Jinns will have Jinn women and the humans will have female humans.

quoted by Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir (Qur'anic Commentary) of Surah Rahman (55), ayah (verse) 56:

"In these [gardens - paradise] will be mates of modest gaze, whom neither man nor invisible being [Jinn] will have touched them then [after they have been created again]."

Interpertations

The concept of 72 virgins in Islam refers to a controversial aspect of Islam in modern times. In a collection by Imam at-Tirmidhi in his "Sunan" (Volume IV, Chapters on "The Features of Heaven as described by the Messenger of Allah," chapter 21: "About the Smallest Reward for the People of Heaven," hadith 2687) and also quoted by Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir (Qur'anic Commentary) of Surah Quran 55:72, it is stated that:

"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 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.

Muslim commentarors have written that "all righteous women, however old and decayed they may have been on earth, will be resurrected as virginal maidens and will, like their male counterparts, remain eternally young in paradise."

Ibn Kathir says that the houri "are delightful virgins of comparable age who never had sexual intercourse with anyone, whether from mankind or Jinns, before their husbands." by commenting,"in the other life, after they became old in this life, they were brought back while virgin, youthful, being delightfully passionate with their husbands, beautiful, kind and cheerful."

Margaret Nydell states that mainstream Muslims regard this belief about 72 virgins in the same way that mainstream Christians regard the belief that after death they will be issued with wings and a harp, and walk on clouds.

Another interpretation of the relevant passages of the Qur'an is The Syro-Aramaic Reading Of The Qur'an written by Christoph Luxenberg. In respect of this particular point, Luxenberg argues that the relevant passage actually translates to a portrayal of paradise as a lush garden with pooling water and trees with rare fruit, including white raisins (considered to be delicacies at the time that the Qur'an was written), not virgin maidens.

While being disarmed by the Israeli troops in 2004, would-be suicide bomber Hussam Abdo, described by Israeli media as a "mentally challenged" boy, said: "Blowing myself up is the only chance I've got to have sex with 72 virgins in the Garden of Eden."

Misconceptions

In the history of Muslim-Christian relations, the concept of "houri" has been used as a polemical tool in both the villification of Muslims by Christains, and in Muslim rhetoric describing heavenly rewards for martyrs in their struggles against alleged infidels. In the first instance, the term has been used in the western world by critics of Islam. However, it is incorrect to equate "Houri" with the English word "whore." The latter term come from the Danish "hore" (Swedish: "hora," Dutch: "hoer," Gothic: "hors," Proto-Germanic: "khoron," Indo-European: "*gar"), which has an original meaning of "lover" and is not etymological related to the Arab non-indo-European word "houri."

In the second instance, various Islamisist organizations have used the idea of being rewarded by Houri in heaven as an incentive to encourage martyrdom operations (e.g. suicide bombings). It is misleading, however, to depict Houri in this way because they are said to be available to all in paradise, not just martyrs.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Asad, Muhammad. The Message of the Qur'an,Publisher: The Book Foundation; Bilingual edition (December 2003), Language: English, ISBN 1904510000
• Fischer, Wolfdietrich. A Grammar of Classical Arabic, Third Revised Edition, Translated from German by Jonathan Rodgers, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2002.
• Kathir, Ibn. Tafsir ibn Kathir (Qur'anic Commentary),"The Delight of Those Who have Taqwa (God-Consciousness) in Paradise," [Chapter (Surah) Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious)(55):56], Dar-us-Salam Publications,2000, ISBN 1591440203,
• Luxenberg, Christoph. Die syro-aramaeische Lesart des Koran; Ein Beitrag zur Entschlüsselung der Qur’ānsprache. Berlin, Germany: Das Arabische Buch, First Edition, 2000. ISBN 3-86093-274-8.
• Stille, Alexander. "Scholars Are Quietly Offering New Theories of the Koran", New York Times, 2002-03-02, pp. A1.
• Warraq, Ibn. “Virgins? What Virgins?” The Guardian, January 12, 2002
• Yusuf, Salahuddin. Riyadhus Salihin, Commentary on Nawawi, Chapter 372, (Dar-us-Salam Publications, 1999). ISBN 159144053X

External links

All links retrieved October 23, 2007.

• "Quranic Description of The Paradise" by Dr. Israr Ahmad Khan, Dept. of Quran & Sunnah Studies, IRKHS, International Islamic University of Malaysia
• Response from IslamQA team to a Muslim asking about sex with virgins in heaven
• A review of a book by Christoph Luxenberg who claims Aramaic origins for the Quran.
• Afterlife and the Quran
• The Marriage of a Muslim Woman in this World and Hereafter - Answering-Christianity.com
• Mary the Mother of Jesus: A Houri in Paradise? - Answering-Islam.org
• British martyrs 'promised 72 virgins' - BBC
• '72 Black Eyed Virgins': A Muslim Debate on the Rewards of Martyrs - Memri.org

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