72 Virgins

From WikiIslam

An artist impression of the 72 virgins. Quran, hadith and Islamic scholars mention that virgins will be awarded to Muslims in heaven.

[edit] Introduction

In Islam, the concept of 72 virgins (houri) refers to an aspect of paradise. In the Sunan al-Tirmidhi by Imam at-Tirmidhi, it states:

This concept is also quoted by Ibn Kathir, in his Qur'anic Commentary of Qur'an 55:72 in the Tafsir ibn Kathir. Orthodox Muslim theologians such as al Ghazali (died 1111 CE) and Al-Ash'ari (died 935 CE) have "admitted sensual pleasures into paradise". The sensual pleasures are graphically elaborated by Al-Suyuti (died 1505 ), Koranic commentator and polymath. He wrote:

[edit] Descriptions

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

[edit] Round/swollen breasts

In addition to Quranic translations of 78:33 specifying the virgins will be voluptuous^[13], 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".^[12]

Relating to the mention of virgins in the Qur'an several translators like Hilali-Khan, ^[21] Arthur John Arberry, Edward Henry Palmer, John Medows Rodwell and George Sale have interpreted Qur'an 78:33 to refer to "swelling breasts" or "big, firm, round breasts that are not inclined to sagging.^[22][23] In his tafsir, Ibn Kathir wrote that the verse describes the physical attributes of the virgins. He construed the verse as:

[edit] Martyrs of Jihad Will Be Rewarded

The Quran mentions that whose who fight in the way of Allah and get killed will be given a great reward:

This verse and others like it motivate terrorists and suicide bombers.

Some Muslims use the 72 Virgins concept to meet certain goals, e.g. as a way to entice other Muslims into carry out heinous activities that may endanger their life. It is most often used to entice suicide bombers, coaxing them that they will die as martyrs and will be rewarded with 72 virgins in paradise. In one event, British Muslim teenage boys were told to train with Kalashnikov rifles and promised 72 virgins in paradise if they died as religious martyrs.^[25] It is thought that such enticing methods become the main motivation for poor, depressed and uneducated Muslim youths to become suicide bombers who believe they will spend eternity with 72 Virgins in paradise.

[edit] Other Hadiths

[edit] Conclusion

• Quran promises men voluptuous^[13] virgins^[17] but does not specify their exact number
• Hadiths specify the exact number as 72
• Islam does not specify these virgins are for terrorists or martyrs but rather for any Muslim
• Many characteristics of the virgins have been described in various Islamic sources

[edit] Responses to Apologetics

1. "The Quran doesnt talk about 72 virgins, only the hadiths"
   Even though the Quran does not mention the number of virgins, it does say that Muslims will be awarded with women in Islamic heaven. Quran describes their physical attributes for example they will have large eyes (Q 56:22) and big breasts (Q 78:33)^[13] and so on. The actual number of houris 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. See Qur'an only Islam - Why it is not possible. There are many hadiths and Quranic 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. "Obviously this hadith has been made up, is unreliable and/or is a lie"
   See answer to #1 above
   
   
3. "Quran doesnt talk about the number of virgins being seventy two"
   See answer to #1 above
   
   
4. "It is raisins, not virgins"
   This is a false myth. The Quran describes the physical characteristics of the virgins. Raisins which are dried grapes, cannot have large eyes (Q 56:22), big breasts (Q 78:33), cannot be described as virgin^[17] or any of the characteristics referenced above. Quran 44:54 says the men will be wed to houris. Men cannot be married to raisins or white grapes.
   
   
5. "Islam prohibits suicide (bombing)"
   Yes hadith do exist that prohibit suicide but this has nothing to do with the fact that Islam promises women in heaven as a reward for the "righteous" (i.e. Muslims)
   
   
6. "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 Quran as evidenced by the various places in the Quran where their characteristics are talked about. Also if the Quran talks about a certain issue only once, it cannot be taken lightly in any way as every word and sentence in the Quran is important and holy to Muslims.
   
   
7. "The houris are for both men and women"
   The Quran 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).
   
   
8. "The houris are only servants and not for sexual purposes"
   If that was true, Quran 56:36^[17] wouldn't say they are virgins and it wouldn't mention they have big breasts. In addition, while the Quran 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. ^[26] See Sexuality in Paradise for more quotes about the sexual aspects of Islamic heaven.

[edit] See also

• What Islamic sources say about Sexuality in Paradise
• The Rewards of Jihadists
• Martyr
• 72 Questions About The 72 Virgins‎ (humor)
• The Virgins Speak Out (humor)
• Numbers of Islam - other number-related facts about Islam

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikipedia has an article related to:

Houri

Video

• Saudi Cleric Extols the Virtues of Allah's Virgins in Paradise, "They are White Women who are Menstruation-Free, Free of Feces, Urine, Phlegm"

Articles

• Does the Koran really promise Islamic martyrs 72 virgins?
• Virgins? What virgins? - an article by Ibn Warraq
• British martyrs 'promised 72 virgins' - BBC, 2003

Humor

• Video: Atheist Comedian 72 Virgins in Heaven
• Image: Much to their surprise, the virgins awaiting Muslims in Heaven were not quite what they expected

Muslim links

• Debunking the ‘Suicide for 72 Virgins’ Myth (see Response section above)