What Is the Ruling of the Hadith of Who Is Superior, the Women of This World or Hur Al-Ain?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is the hadith authentic where Umm Salama asks Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) about the superiority of women of this world over Hur al-Ain? Also, will women have to wear hijab in Paradise?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
1. Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet’s wife, narrates that she once said to the Prophet: “O Prophet of Allah, are the women of this world superior or the Hur al-Ain? ” He replied: The women of this world will have superiority over the Hurs just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.
Umm Salama then asked: “O Prophet of Allah, what is the reason for this?” He answered: Because they performed Salah, fasted, and worshipped. Allah Most High will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. [The human women] will be fair in complexion and wear green clothing and yellow jewelry. Their incense burners will be made of pearls, and their combs will be of gold. They will say: ‘We are the women who will stay forever, and we will never die. We are women who will always remain comfortable and never experience difficulties. We are the women who will stay, and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women, and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us!’ [Ṭabarani, Al-Mujam al-Kabir, Al-Awsat]
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: Every man in heaven will go to seventy-two of the creatures of Allah (Hurs) and two of the women of mankind. These two (human, believing) women are superior to the Hurs with the worshipping (good deeds) they had performed in this world. [Bayhaqi and Ṭabarani]
This hadith is graded as weak. However, it has many supporting hadiths to it.
[Sakhawi, Al-Ajwibat al-Mardiyya Fima Su’ila al-Sakhawi Anhu min al-Ahadith al-Mardiyya]
2. There is no moral responsibility in Paradise (Janna). However, women will dress modestly naturally.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha’ Allah.
Related
- Why Are Women of This World Always Compared to the Maidens of Paradise? (seekersguidance.org)
- Isn’t It Unhealthy for Women of This World to Compete with the Maidens of Paradise? (seekersguidance.org)
- Explaining Misunderstood Hadith About Women
- Is There Someone in Paradise That Gets Sad When Women Are Hurt on Earth?
- Why Are Only Wives Threatened in Hadith for Making Mistakes?
- Why Does a Maiden of Paradise Curse the Women of This World?
- Reader on Women’s Ranks in the Hereafter
- Is It OK to Never Marry Because There Is No Mercy for Women in It?
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
