THOSE THAT WILL ENTER JANNAH

"Each of them will have two wives,"

Are the women supposed to be happy about this?  How could a woman look forward to going to Jannah if they must share a man.  I prefer my husband and I be together.  This would be heaven, not having to share him.

Anyway, I often become concerned about things reported by Abu Harayrah since he often said things not in favor of women, but certainly pleasing to some men. 

I found this particular topic very interesting. And brings to mind a whole host of questions.  Some of which we wont fully understand during this life time.

Salams_wife picked up on the point regarding the 'two wives'.

Are the women supposed to be happy about this?  How could a woman look forward to going to Jannah if they must share a man.  I prefer my husband and I be together.  This would be heaven, not having to share him.

Anyway, I often become concerned about things reported by Abu Harayrah since he often said things not in favor of women, but certainly pleasing to some men. 

Now I dont have any good answer other than my opinion, and it will promote further converstation I expect.

In Islam we should recognise and accept that a man in this life is permitted to have up to 4 wives, if in a position to be able to support them all equally. Most of the time it is not considered necessary these days, tho' in days gone by it was necessary when men died at war for example and widows were left uncared for. So this I think is safe to assume. And logical too.

To some extent the next life applies there also. It is possible that a marriage on earth is not complete in Heaven because one of the marriage partners has failed to comply well enough to grant him life with his partner in Heaven. In this instance there could be 'extra' worthy women in Heaven needing a husband. And we know that Allah does not like women to be alone. But I'm wondering if during  the existence of the world that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that there are more women born than men in the first place. To know that we would need to examine statistics.  So in Allahs plan it would be necessary for plural marriage both here and in Heaven. If this is the case then men can see that my opinion does not mean that men are less worthy than women.

Also I think love has a different meaning in Heaven, not the one we associate here on earth. Salams_wife pointed out that sharing her husband is not for her. And understanding this is not something most wives can do. But I think it is different after we die. And all will then become clear. I dont believe that having two wives is favouring the man and giving him a reward. I see it that it is necessary for every wife to have a husband in Heaven. Only that. It would not be fair to any worthy woman to be denied a husband would it?

I think in answer to Israfils point about seeing the marrow of ones bones, is more that it is trying to explain that man/woman in Heaven has become something far more beautiful than any human form here. As human beings we all have some blemish or imperfection. So I dont see that we will have these after this life. The ornaments of gold and so on could just be trying to help us understand the beauty of Heaven. As Jesus taught in parables so that the people of His time could understand the teachings, so might the Prophet(pbuH) explain it this way.

All of you have your points.  I agree that there should be no jealousy in heaven or other negative emotions that we have here in this dunya.

I think my problem is I don't view heaven in the exact way described.  In my own way, I am a humble person.  I don't wish for great riches in this life.  I don't wish for them after death either.  What good does gold, jewels, fine combs and all of that do for me in death? 

For me heaven is different.  I dream of a place that has peace.  A place I can be with those I loved in this life.  Just a place that is comfortable, it does not have to be grand for me.  Someplace where we don't feel hunger or thirst or other needs we face here.  That is heaven to me, peacefulness and happiness.

Sometimes I think many people need to hear these grand descriptions of heaven to give them incentive to do right in this life.  Perhaps that is what Allah meant to do (though I cannot know).  Honestly I don't need all of those grand things to do the right thing, to obey the will of Allah.  Perhaps it is because I am more simple in my wants.  This is why I have such a hard time with these descriptions given.  Thanks to all of you for your input.  It leaves me a lot to think about.

I was trying to think of this from another perspective.  Trying to think of why it bothered me so much to think of a man wanting or needing two wives.  Then it came to me that I feel pity for those men.  If a man feels the need for more than one wife then it means he did not find the one who meets all his needs.  It means he did not find that all encompassing love that makes one want no one else now or in the afterlife.  It is so sad they feel the need for this incentive when if they found just the one woman that could make them feel complete, it would be better than a thousand wives.

Every day when I pray I thank God that he gave me a husband that wants no one else.  When I brought this subject up to my husband he said some men feel the need for this incentive to do good in their lives.  Yet my husband said he would reject any woman but me in heaven.  I take comfort in this, as God knew my heart could not handle sharing.

There is a need for multiple wives on this earth if there is war or other such problems.  In this I agree.  A man who takes another wife because she might not otherwise have a chance to marry is a good man so long as he treats his wives fairly.  That was the point.  Men should only have more than one wife if there is need, that he can provide equally for more than one wife, and that he treats them equally.  In heaven there will not be the troubles of this earth and generally all population statistics show men and women are born at nearly the same rate.  There is certainly not twice as many women. 

I believe I will pray for the men out there that want extra wives.  I will pray for them to find the one wife who will make him so happy he will never look to another woman.  In my heart, this is what I feel is right.