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An artist impression of the 72 virgins.

The 72 virgins or 72 houri (/ˈhʊəriz/[1]; from Persian: حُـورِی‎, ḥūrī; plural of 'ḥaurāʾ' or'ḥūrīyah'; Arabic: حُـورِيَّـة‎) refers to a celestial being that is an aspect of Heaven or jannah (Arabic: جنّة‎ 'Jannah'; plural: Jannat). This concept is mentioned in Qur'anic text as a reward to believing men after death. According to the Quran, once in jannah, believers are wed to virgins with "full grown", "swelling" or "pears-shaped" breasts.[2][3][4] The Quran provides a physical and personal description of the houri and denotes them as awards to believers. Sahih (authentic) hadith detail the amount if houris and what they are for.[5]

Orthodox Muslim theologians such as Al-Ghazali (1058 - 1111 CE) and Al-Ash'ari (874 - 935 CE) have discussed the rewards and pleasures found in heaven. Often scholars refer to hadiths that describe heaven 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 Sahih 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 nature of the houri awarded to believers are also confirmed by the two Sahih collections of hadith, namely Sahih Bukhari[12] and Sahih Muslim,[13] 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",[14] and that "the believers will visit and enjoy them".[15]

Authenticity

The concept of houri can be found in major Islamic scriptures. The Quran, states believing males will be rewarded with virgins.[16] Often put under question is the authenticity of the hadiths regarding houri.[5] A common misconception is that there is only one da`if (weak) hadith that refers to the exact number of houri awarded. These narrations are in fact found in many hadith collections with varying levels of authenticity, ranging from hasan (good) to sahih (authentic).[5]

For example, in the Sunan Ibn Majah, one of the six major hadith collections,[17] it states in a hasan (good)[9] narration that every male admitted into heaven 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 shahid (martyr) will be married to seventy-two of al-hoor al-‘iyn.[18][19]

Sunan al-Tirmidhi, another of the six major hadith collections,[17] states that the smallest reward for the people of heaven is an abode with seventy-two houri.[20] Note that this is not a da'if (weak) hadith and has sanad (a chain of narrators)", contrary to common misconception.[21] It has been graded hasan sahih,[9] meaning this hadith is hasan (good) since it has several chains of transmitters, it is also sahih (authentic) as the chains are all declared authentic delivered by Imam Tirmidhi.[22]

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 that [God's] servants will be married in heaven with seventy wives and that they'll be given the sexual strength for a hundred.[23]

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 heaven will have eighty thousand servants and seventy two wives."[24]

Descriptions

There are several descriptions related to houri that are found in various Islamic references. Some include:

Physical Attributes:

voluptuous[25], 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".[26]

In addition to Quranic translations of 78:33 specifying the virgins will be, Sahih International translates it as. Tafsir al-Jalalayn says. Several Islamic scholars explain that they will have

Wide and beautiful/lovely eyes [27] [28] [29]

White skinned [30]

Like pearls [31]

Hairless except the eye brows and the head [32]

60 cubits [27.5 meters] tall [33] [30]

7 cubits [3.2 meters] in width [30]

Transparent to the marrow of their bones [26] [14]

Eternally young [32]

Companions of equal age [25][34]

Sexual Attributes:

Untouched / with hymen unbroken by sexual intercourse [35] [36]

Virgins [37]

Voluptuous/full-breasted [25] The word used is كواعب ( kawaa'ib ), which is a plural of كاعب ( kaa'ib ) and the meaning accordig to the dictionary is نَاهِدَةُ الثَّدْيِ ( naahida thadee ), "buxom breast" [38] .

With large, round breasts which are not inclined to hang [26] [4]

Appetizing vaginas [11]

Personality Attributes:

Chaste [27]

Restraining their glances [27] [35]

Modest gaze [39]

Other Attributes:

Splendid [40]

Pure [14]

Non-menstruating / non-urinating/ non-defecating and childfree [26] [41]

Never dissatisfied [41]

Will sing praise [7]

Association with Terrorism

Suicide is clearly forbidden in Islam[42], but the permissibility of Istishhad (martyrdom) has scholars split on the issue.

Notable scholars and apologists such as Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the world's most quoted independent Islamic jurist,[43] and Dr. Zakir Naik, known for his advocacy of "Qur'anic science", have justified the use of suicide bombing in Islam.[44][45][46] Opinion polls have further shown that an extremely large number of Muslims from around the world support the practice.[43][47][48][49]

The Quran states that all Muslim males, not only martyrs, will be rewarded with virgins.[37] However, the Quran does also mention that those who fight in the way of Allah (jihad) and get killed will be given a "great reward",[50] and there are also hasan (good) hadith[19] which refer to 72 virgins as one of the "seven blessings from Allah" to the martyr.[18] This has lead to the 72 virgins concept being widely used as a way to entice martyrdom.

This phenomena can be 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",[51] and where the concept is used in Friday sermons and music videos, both airing on official television.[52][53] 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 heaven if they died as religious martyrs.[54]

Relevant Quotations

made them virgins, Lovers, friends, For those on the right hand;

Quran 56:35-38 Lo! We have created them a (new) creation, And, friends, For those on the right hand;

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 Abu Umama narrated: "The Messenger of God said, 'Everyone that God admits into paradise will be. All of them will have libidinous sex organs and he will have an.' "

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 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, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine and ruby, as wide as the distance from al-Jabiyyah to San'a.

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 Each time we sleep with a Houri we find her virgin. Besides,; 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[sic], besides the women he married on earth, and

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 Anas said, Allah be well-pleased with him: The Messenger of Allah said, upon him blessings and peace: “.” 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.”

[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 This. They meant by this that the breasts of these girls will be, because they will be virgins, equal in age.



al-Ghazzali, Ihya Uloom Ed-Din, vol.4 p.4. “According to Prophet Muhammad (SW), the Hurs of Paradise will be pure women, free of menstruation, urine, stool, cough and children. The Hurs will sing in Paradise on divine purity and praise—we are most beautiful Hurs and we are for the honored husbands. Muhammad said that an inmate of Paradise will have the sexual strength of 70 men. Muhammad said, “An inmate of Paradise will have 500 Hurs, 4,000 unmarried women and 8,000 widowed women. Each of them will keep embracing him for the duration of his whole worldly life.”

Apologetic Arguments

White Rasins

This claim originated from Christoph Luxenberg, a modern author writing under a pseudonym.[55] It suggests that the term houri actually meant to describe "white raisins." His previous literature,[56] which has been accused of having a "Christian apologetic agenda",[57] is that the Quran was drawn from Christian Syro-Aramaic texts in the early 8th century, in order to evangelize the Arabs,[58] and that the Aramaic word 'hur' (white raisin) had been mistranslated by later Arab commentators into the Arabic word 'houri' (virgin).[59]

The Quran describes the physical characteristics of the houri in many places, such as, large eyes,[29] big breasts,[25] chaste,[35] and restraining their glances.[35] The Quran further states that men will be wed to these houri.[2] These relevant verses suggest that Luxenberg's "white rasins" theory is in error.

Virgins only mentioned in hadith not Quran

Although the Quran does not mention the exact number of virgins, it does state that Muslim men will be awarded with (multiple) virgins in heaven.[37] The Quran describes some of their physical attributes and personality traits[29][25][35].

The number of houri are confirmed in multiple hadiths.[5] Also worth noting is that hadiths are a crucial part of Islam but can be ignored by certain Muslims who disagree with hadiths on details about Islam.

The 72 virgins hadith has been classified as Da'if (weak) or Maudu (fabricated)

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. There are many quoted narrations that have been graded both hasan (good) and sahih (authentic)[5]

Houri are only servants and not for sexual purposes

The Quran details that houri are chaste virgins that have big breasts.[37] While the Quran does not explicitly state they are for sexual purposes this is mentioned in other Islamic sources . One such hadith states "The believer will be given such and such strength in heaven 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.[60][61]

Hour are for both men and women

The Quran indicates that houris will be "untouched before them by both man and jinni" [62] Implying that they are females that are awarded to men.

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