Hoor Al Ayn Issue

                                          (Do not own image)
                                             
I know that this subject has been discussed numerous times but I want to add my two cents. " Houris " are usually describes as beautiful maidens of heaven that are one of the rewards of Muslim men. These " Houris" are "azwaj" or partners of Muslim men they are there to serve them. There are some ahadith and verses from Quraan that refers to " Houris".

These are some of the ahadith referring to "Houris":
1. According to Ibn Kathir (died 1373 CE) in his Holy Quranic commentary (Tafsir) of the above Surah Al-Rahman (55), verse 72: "The Prophet Muhammad was heard saying: ‘The smallest reward for the people of paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives (houris), over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sana'a [Yemen]’." [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

2. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the full moon, and the batch next to them will be (glittering) like the most brilliant star in the sky. Their hearts will be as if the heart of a single man, for they will have neither enmity nor jealousy amongst themselves; everyone will have two wives from the houris, (who will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that) the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the bones and the flesh." [Al-Bukhari vol.4, book 54, number 476]

3. Abu ‘Umama (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "Allah will not admit anyone in the Paradise but Allah, the Mighty and glorious will marry him with 72 wives, two will be from virgin (houris) with big eyes and 70 will be his inheritance from the people of the Hell-Fire*." Every one of them will have a pleasant vagina and he (the man) will have sexual organ that does not bend down during sexual intercourse (perpetual erection)." [Ibn Majah, volume 5, number 4337]

Other than these ahadith are explicit they are also very weird and in appropriate. I don't know what is meant by the marrow of their legs will be seen through the bones and the flesh because that sounds like an x-ray image and I don't know how is that suppose to be attractive. I really do not think that the prophet Mohammed who is very respectable and shier than a virgin would say something like a man will have sexual organ that does not bend or every one of them will have a pleasant vagina! 

These are some verses from the Holy Quran that refers to "Houris": 

1. "Wherein both (gardens) will be those (maidens) restraining their glances upon their husbands, whom no man or jinn yatmithhunna (has opened their hymens with sexual intercourse) before them. Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinns and men) deny? (In beauty) they are like rubies and coral." [Sura Ar-Rahmân (55):56-58]

2. Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation. And made them virgins; Loving (their husbands only), equal in age. [Sura Al-Wâqi'ah (56):37-40]

3. "And with them will be chaste females, restraining their glances (desiring none except their husbands), with wide and beautiful eyes; (Delicate and pure) as if they were (hidden) eggs (well) preserved." [Sura As-Sâffât (37):40-48]

These are the most used interpretation of the above verses, I would also like to add that words between the brackets are added by the interpreter. Although there are scholars who claim that houris are not just female but can be male too this interpretation is opposed by many other scholars. 

 Gender-less interpretation is like the following, "But as for those who have faith and do right actions, We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. In them, they will have spouses of perfect purity..."(Surat an-Nisa', 57) . However the dominant interpretation of "Houris" remains to be female maidens. 

I think that "Houris" can be male or female, if there are verses that lean towards "Hooris" being female there are other verses that do not. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that most interpretations of Quran through out Islam's history was interpreted by men and thus appealing to a male audience. 

Does this affect Muslim women's faith?     

I do think generally speaking yes it does. There are many questions about the subject of "Hooris" asked online and offline to scholars and imams as well as Muslim intellects and naturally the vast majority of the questions are coming from Muslim women. A lot of the interpretations are male oriented especially when it comes to sexuality, specifically the ahadith, it seems to place much more importance on male sexuality and fantasies of multiple women, youth and virginity. Yet there is no equivalent to that for females and there is no known Quranic verse or hadith that specifies something just for women who enter heaven and not men. This makes it harder to accept such interpretations and makes it seem that men are always getting something more although both are worshiping Allah and trying to please him. Also, the replies usually given do not answer the question asked about why do men get "Hooris" while women don't. It gives a list of how men feel about women and how women should just stop thinking about it but does not give a definite answer because simply there is really no answer which leads me to think that the reward is for both men and women. 

How should Muslim women deal with it?  

I think it is important to put faith in Allah and trust that he will never wrong you or be unfair. It can be hard at times especially when a lot of people are against you even people that share the same faith. Accepting gender-less interpretation about "Houris" will also help and give you more stability both mentally and emotionally. Moreover, it will strengthen your relationship with Allah as you are more at peace. 

In conclusion,  the issue of Hoor Al Ayn can effect a lot of Muslim women negatively. It is important for religious men and women to appeal for both Muslim men and women to create a unified ummah, not one that can be easily divided. It is also human to want to have your own partner and not wanting to share, why suppress that even in heaven? Why lie and say women want to share their husbands with 72 hooris? Why be one from many when you can be one and only? Everyone yearns to have someone for them either their spouse or a partner from heaven and acknowledging that is crucial.