This article discusses what the Qur'an , hadith and Islamic
scholars say about the 72 virgins, and dispels popular
misconceptions surrounding them.
Contents
1 Sensual Paradise
2 Descriptions
3 Authenticity
4 Virgins or Raisins?
5 Terrorism
6 Conclusion
7 Selected Quotations
8 Responses to Apologetics
9 See Also
10 External Links
11 References
Sensual Paradise[ edit ]
In Islam, the concept of 72 virgins (houri) refers to an
aspect of Jannah (Paradise). This concept is grounded in
Qur'anic text which describe a sensual Paradise where
believing men are rewarded by being wed [1] to virgins with
"full grown", "swelling" or "pears-shaped" breasts. [2][3]
Conversly, women will be provided with only one man, and
they "will be satisfied with him". [4]
Contemporary mainstream Islamic scholars, for example;
Gibril Haddad, have commented on the erotic nature of the
Qur'anic Paradise, by saying some men may need ghusl
(ablution required after sexual discharge) just for hearing
certain verses. [5]
Orthodox Muslim theologians such as al-Ghazali (died 1111
CE) and al-Ash'ari (died 935 CE) have all discussed the
sensual pleasures found in Paradise, relating hadith that
describe Paradise as a slave market where there will be "no
buy and sale, but... If any man will wish to have sexual
intercourse with a woman, he will do at once." [6][7]
It is quoted by Ibn Kathir, in his Qur'anic Commentary, the
Tafsir ibn Kathir, [8] and they are graphically described by
Qur'anic commentator and polymath, al-Suyuti (died 1505),
who, echoing a hasan hadith [9] from Ibn Majah, [10] wrote
that the perpetual virgins will all "have appetizing vaginas",
and that the "penis of the Elected never softens. The
erection is eternal". [11]
The sensual pleasures between believers and houri in
Paradise are also confirmed by the two Sahih collections of
hadith, namely Sahih Bukhari [12] and Sahih Muslim, where
we read that they will be virgins who are so beautiful, pure
and transparent that "the marrow of the bones of their legs
will be seen through the bones and the flesh", [13] and that
"the believers will visit and enjoy them". [14]
Descriptions[ edit ]
There are several descriptions related to houri that are
found in various Islamic references. Some include:
Physical Attributes:
Wide and beautiful/lovely eyes [15][16][17]
Like pearls [18]
Hairless except the eye brows and the head [19]
In addition to Quranic
translations of 78:33
specifying the virgins will be
voluptuous [20] , Sahih
International translates it as
"full-breasted [companions]
of equal age". Tafsir al-
Jalalayn says "and buxom
maidens (kawā‘ib is the plural
of kā‘ib) of equal age (atrāb
is the plural of tirb)" . Several
Islamic scholars explain that
they will have "large, round
breasts which are not
inclined to hang". [21]
Beautiful [13]
White skinned [22]
60 cubits [27.5 meters] tall [23][22]
7 cubits [3.2 meters] in width [22]
Transparent to the marrow of their bones [21][13]
Eternally young [19]
Companions of equal age [20][24]
Sexual Attributes:
Untouched / with hymen unbroken by sexual
intercourse [25][26]
Virgins [27]
Voluptuous/full-breasted [20]
With large, round breasts which are not inclined to
hang [21][3]
Appetizing vaginas [11]
Personality Attributes :
Chaste [15]
Restraining their glances [15][25]
Modest gaze [28]
Other Attributes:
Splendid [29]
Pure [13]
Non-menstruating / non-urinating/ non-defecating
and childfree [21][30]
Never dissatisfied [30]
Will sing praise [7]
Authenticity[ edit ]
Whilst there are numerous sources, including the Qur'an,
which tell us believing males will be rewarded with virgins,
many who are concerned about the authenticity of the 72
virgins concept are under the misconception that there is
only one weak (da`if ) reference to the exact number of
houri given to them. These narrations are in fact found in
many hadith collections with varying levels of authenticity,
ranging from hasan (good) to sahih (authentic).
For example, in the Sunan Ibn Majah, one of the six major
Hadith collections, [31] it states in a hasan (good) [9]
narration that every male admitted into Paradise will be
given eternal erections and wed to 72 wives, all with
libidinous sex organs. [10] Similarly in another hadith with
multiple narrators that has been graded hasan (good), it
states that the martyr ( shahid) will be married to seventy-
two of al-hoor al-‘iyn. [32][33]
In the Sunan al-Tirmidhi, another of the six major Hadith
collections, [31] it states that the smallest reward for the
people of Heaven is an abode with seventy-two houri. [34]
Note that this is not a "weak Hadith that has no Sanad
(chain of narrators)", as some have claimed. [35] It has
been graded hasan sahih gharib, [9] meaning this hadith is
hasan since it has several chains of transmitters, it is
sahih as the chains are all authentic and it is gharib in the
words that Imam Tirmidhi narrated. [36]
Also reported in Sunan al-Kubra and Musnad Ahmad ibn
Hanbal, and declared sahih (authentic)[9] by Ibn Abi
Shayba, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim is the hadith that states
the servant in Paradise will be married with seventy wives
and that they'll be given the sexual strength for a hundred.
[37]
Orthodox Muslim theologians have related further hadith
that give us the exact number of 72, such as al-Ghazali
who wrote, "[The Prophet said] the lowest rank of an
inmate of Paradise will have eighty thousand servants and
seventy two wives." [38]
Virgins or Raisins?[ edit ]
This false myth of "white raisins" originated from Christoph
Luxenberg, a modern author writing under a pseudonym.
[39] His anti-Islamic claim, [40] which has been accused of
having a "Christian apologetic agenda", [41] is that the
Qur'an was drawn from Christian Syro-Aramaic texts in the
early 8th century, in order to evangelize the Arabs, [42] and
that the Aramaic word 'hur' (white raisin) had been
mistranslated by later Arab commentators into the Arabic
word 'houri' (virgin). [43]
The Qur'an describes the physical characteristics of the
houri in many places, and a reading of relevant verses
show that Luxenberg's theory regarding heavenly white
raisins is in error.
Raisins, which are dried grapes, cannot have large eyes,
[17] big breasts, [20] cannot restrain their glances, [25]
cannot be described as chaste, [25] or have any of the
characteristics listed above. The Qur'an further states that
men will be wed to these houri. [1] Men cannot be married
to raisins or white grapes.
Additionally, for someone to accept this "72 raisins" theory,
they would also have to accept that the Qur'an was not
written by Allah or revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in
Arabic during the 7th century, but was in fact written by
Christian evangelists in Syro-Aramaic during the 8th
century.
Terrorism[ edit ]
Suicide is clearly forbidden in Islam, but the permissibility
of martyrdom operations (Istishhad) is an altogether
different topic, with scholars being split on the issue.
Notable scholars and apologists such as Shaykh Yusuf Al-
Qaradawi, the world's most quoted independent Islamic
jurist, [44] and Dr. Zakir Naik , known for his advocacy of
"Qur'anic science ", have justified the use of suicide
bombing in Islam. [45][46][47] Opinion polls have further
shown that an extremely large number of Muslims from
around the world support the practice. [44][48][49][50]
The Qur'an states that all Muslim males, not only martyrs,
will be rewarded with virgins. [27] However, the Qur'an does
also mention that those who fight in the way of Allah
(jihad) and get killed will be given a "great reward", [51] and
there are also hasan (good) hadith [33] which refer to 72
virgins as one of the "seven blessings from Allah" to the
martyr. [32] This has lead to the 72 virgins concept being
widely used as a way to entice other Muslims into carrying
out "martyrdom operations" for Islam.
This is witnessed in Palestine , where the actions of a
mother who sends her son to die as a martyr is sometimes
seen as "marrying him off", [52] and where the concept is
used in Friday sermons and music videos, both airing on
official television. [53][54] It has even been used in the
United Kingdom , where, in one event, Muslim teens were
told to train with Kalashnikov rifles with the promise that
the would receive 72 virgins in paradise if they died as
religious martyrs. [55]
Contrary to what the Qur'an, hadith, scholars and Muslims
themselves say, a western author named Margaret Nydell
in a book that "promotes understanding between modern-
day Arabs and Westerners", states that mainstream
Muslims regard the belief of 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. [56]
The Bible (and more specifically Jesus in the four Gospels )
does not discuss the issue of wings and a harp being
provided for Christians upon their arrival in Heaven.
However, both the Qur'an and Muhammad in the hadith
literature do discuss the issue of virgins being provided for
Muslim men upon their arrival in Paradise. So the claim
made by Margaret Nydell, equating the belief in receiving
heavenly virgins to that of believing in receiving heavenly
wings and harps, is inaccurate and misleading.
Conclusion[ edit ]
The Qur'anic Paradise is sensual in nature, [5] promising
Muslim men voluptuous [20] virgins[27] but does not specify
their exact number. This cannot possibly be a
mistranslation because raisins do not have large eyes[17]
or cannot be wed to men. [1]
The hadith literature compliment the Qur'anic text by
specifying the exact number of virgins as 72 and providing
us with detailed descriptions of their characteristics. These
narrations are not weak but vary in strength from good to
authentic. [9][33][57]
We are also given details on the physical attributes given to
men to sustain 72 virgins, namely, ever-erect penises that
never soften[10][11] and the sexual strength to satisfy 100.
[37][58][59]
Although it does say they will receive a "great reward", [51]
and there are also hasan hadith[33] which refer to 72
virgins as one of the "seven blessings from Allah" to the
martyr, [32] the Qur'an does not specify these virgins are a
reward for jihadists/martyrs, but rather for any Muslim
male who gains admittance to Paradise. [27]
Selected Quotations[ edit ]
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation, And made
them virgins, Lovers , friends, For those on the right
hand;
Qur'an 56:35-38
Abu Umama narrated: "The Messenger of God said,
'Everyone that God admits into paradise will be married
to 72 wives; two of them are houris and seventy of his
inheritance of the [female] dwellers of hell. All of them
will have libidinous sex organs and he will have an ever-
erect penis .' "
Sunan Ibn Majah, Zuhd (Book of Abstinence) 39
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 PBUH
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.
Al-Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, Ch. 21, No. 2687
Each time we sleep with a Houri we find her virgin.
Besides, the penis of the Elected never softens. The
erection is eternal; the sensation that you feel each
time you make love is utterly delicious and out of this
world and were you to experience it in this world you
would faint. Each chosen one [i.e. Muslim] will marry
seventy [sic] houris, besides the women he married on
earth, and all will have appetizing vaginas.
Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Qur'an, p. 351
Anas said, Allah be well-pleased with him: The
Messenger of Allah said, upon him blessings and
peace: “The servant in Paradise shall be married with
seventy wives .” Someone said, “Messenger of Allah,
can he bear it?” He said: “He will be given strength for
a hundred.” From Zayd ibn Arqam, Allah be well-
pleased with him, when an incredulous Jew or
Christian asked the Prophet, upon him blessings and
peace, “Are you claiming that a man will eat and drink
in Paradise??” He replied: “Yes, by the One in Whose
hand is my soul, and each of them will be given the
strength of a hundred men in his eating, drinking,
coitus, and pleasure .”
Sifat al-Janna, al-`Uqayli in the Du`afa’, and Musnad of
Abu Bakr al-Bazzar
This [Qur'an 78:33] means round breasts. They meant
by this that the breasts of these girls will be fully
rounded and not sagging, because they will be virgins,
equal in age.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Abridged, Volume 10 Surat At-
Tagabun to the end of the Qur'an, 333-334
Responses to Apologetics[ edit]
1. "The Qur'an doesn't talk about 72 virgins, only the
hadiths"
Even though the Qur'an does not mention the number of
virgins, it does say in verse 56:36 [27] that Muslim men
will be awarded with virgins in Paradise. The Qur'an
describes their physical attributes, for example they will
have large eyes (56:22) and big breasts (78:33) [20] and
so on. The actual number of houri is thus a minor issue
and 72 is the number of those houris confirmed in
multiple hadith. The hadiths are a crucial part of Islam
and certain Muslims ignore them because sometimes
they contain uncomfortable details about Islam. There
are many hadiths and Qur'anic verses which talk about
various issues of a sexual nature. According to Sahih
Bukhari 1:5:268 which belongs to the most authentic
collection of hadiths, Muhammad himself was given the
sexual strength of 30 men and so on.
2. "The 72 virgins hadith has been classified as Da'if
(weak) or Maudu (fabricated)"
This is not true. The hadith from Sunan al-Tirmidhi has
been graded hasan sahih gharib (a “fair, sound, single-
chained hadith”). [9] Additionally there is not only one "72
virgins" hadith. We have quoted narrations here that
have been graded both hasan (good) and sahih
(authentic), and there are many others.
3. "Obviously this hadith has been made up, is unreliable
and/or is a lie"
See answers to #1 and 2 above.
4. "The Qur'an doesn't talk about the number of virgins
being seventy two"
See answer to #1 above.
5. "It is talking about (white) raisins, not virgins"
This is a myth originating from Christoph Luxenberg, a
recent author with a pseudonym who has no known
qualifications or authority on Islamic issues, and has
been shown to be in error for various reasons .
6. "Islam prohibits suicide"
Yes, hadith do exist that prohibit suicide (Suicide
bombing however is a separate issue) but this has
nothing to do with the fact that Islam promises women
in Paradise as a reward for the "righteous" (i.e. Muslims)
.
7. "If the seventy two virgins thing was something big in
Islam it would be talked about more frequently."
Women in Islamic heaven as a reward are talked about
frequently in the Qur'an as evidenced by the various
places in the Qur'an where their characteristics are
talked about. Also if the Qur'an talks about a certain
issue only once, it cannot be taken lightly in any way as
every word and sentence in the Qur'an is important and
holy to Muslims.
8. "The houri are for both men and women"
The Qur'an explicitly talks about female virgins with large
eyes as rewards for men. On the contrary there is not a
single "women will get guys as a reward" verse. Some
gender neutral verses do exist but they talk about
general rewards only (such as "companionship" etc).
Also, according to Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Jibreen, who
was a leading cleric and a member of the Senior Clerics
Association, "This number is only for men. A woman will
have only one husband in Paradise, and she will be
satisfied with him and will not need any more than
that." [4]
9. "The houri are only servants and not for sexual
purposes"
If that was true, Qur'an 56:36 [27] wouldn't say they are
virgins and it wouldn't mention they have big breasts. In
addition, while the Qur'an does not explicitly say they're
for sexual purposes, other Islamic sources mention
that. One hadith says "The believer will be given such
and such strength in Paradise for sexual intercourse".
Other sources state that "the penis of the Elected never
softens" and that men in heaven will have the sexual
strength of 100 men. [58][59]
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