Are the delights of Paradise only for men?
You should understand that Paradise and its delights are not only for men, to the exclusion of women. Rather they are, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): {prepared for the righteous} [Al `Imran 3:133] of both genders, as Allah, may He be exalted, tells us elsewhere (interpretation of the meaning):
{And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer – those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.} [An-Nisa’ 4:124]
{Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.} [An-Nahl 16:97]
When Allah mentions the delights that exist in paradise, namely different kinds of foods, beautiful scenery, dwellings and clothing, that includes both genders (male and female). Both will enjoy what is mentioned above.
It was narrated from Umm `Umarah Al-Ansariyyah that she came to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: I cannot see anything but it is for the men, and I do not see anything mentioned for women. Then this verse was revealed (interpretation of the meaning):
{Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.} [Al-Ahzab 33:35] (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (3211); it is also in Sahih At-Tirmidhi (2565)
Based on that, everything that is mentioned of the delights of Paradise is for both men and women equally.
Description of the women of Paradise
Allah, may He be exalted, has described the women of Paradise as restraining or limiting their glances in three places in the Quran:
- {In them are women limiting [their] glances, untouched before them by man or jinni.} [Ar-Rahman 55:56]
- {And with them will be women limiting [their] glances, with large, [beautiful] eyes.} [As-Saffat 37:48]
- {And with them will be women limiting [their] glances and of equal age.} [Sad 38:52]
The commentators are of the view that what is meant is that they will restrain their glances, looking only at their husbands , and they will not want to look at anyone else; they will not see anyone in Paradise more handsome than their husbands. This was stated by Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, `Ata’ Al-Khurasani, and Ibn Zayd.
It was narrated that one of them will say to her husband: By Allah I have not seen anything in Paradise more handsome than you, or anything in Paradise that is dearer to me than you. Praise be to Allah Who has made you for me and has made me for you. (Hadi Al-Arwah)
This sublime description and praise of the women of Paradise comes from Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, which indicates that the matter is not as you think, that a woman in Paradise will be longing for a man other than her husband, or that that will reduce her bliss in Paradise or spoil her joy therein. For Paradise is the abode of everlasting, eternal bliss, wherein there will be no worry, toil, distress or grief.
The fact that a man will have more than one wife in Paradise does not mean that there will be any shortcoming in the joy and pleasure of any of his wives, as is the case in this world, for the delights of Paradise are different from the delights of this world.
That includes what was narrated by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), who said: “The believer in Paradise will be given such and such strength for sexual intercourse.” He was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, will he really be able to do that?” He said, “He will be given the strength of one hundred (men).” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (2536). Al-Albani said: “It is authentic because of corroborating evidence.” (Mishkat Al-Masabih, 536)
According to a Marfu` Hadith narrated by Zayd ibn Arqam: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, one of them will be given the strength of a hundred men with regard to eating, drinking, desire and intercourse… (Narrated by Ahmad (18783); classed as authentic by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami`, 1627)
For more details, please see the following answer: 11419 , 257509 , 8068 , 59896 , 173281 , and 160965 .
And Allah knows best.
