Have you ever paused to reflect on the connection between earthly married life and the hereafter? Often, we consider marital disputes to be merely a matter of momentary emotions or worldly affairs. However, there is another dimension that is invisible but so real, namely the response from the inhabitants of heaven, especially the maidens of paradise, or Hoor al-‘Ayn.
In Islamic teachings, the bond of marriage is very sacred. However, there is an interesting story narrated from the book Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari by As-Safiri. This story opens our eyes to the fact that every bad treatment of a wife towards her husband in this world is actually “heard” even in heaven.
This article will thoroughly explore the history, the meaning behind it, and valuable lessons for husbands and wives to build a harmonious family that is blessed by Allah.
What Do the Heavenly Maidens Say When a Wife Hurts Her Husband?
In the tenth discussion of the book, a condition is explained that might send shivers down the spines of wives who often neglect their husbands’ rights. The maidens of paradise know the condition of their future spouses here in the earthly world. They have a strong spiritual connection, even before the physical meeting takes place in paradise later.
Here is the original wording from the reference book:
العاشرة : قالوا : إن الحور العين يعلمن بأزواجهن في الدنيا . فلا تؤذي امرأة زوجها في الدنيا إلا قالت زوجته من الحور العين : لا تؤذيه قاتلك الله . فإنما هو عندك دخيل يوشك أن يفارقك إلينا .
Meaning:
“Tenth: They (the scholars) said: Indeed, the Houris (Hoor al-‘Ayn) know the condition of their husbands in the world. So, no wife harms her husband in the world, but her counterpart among the Houris says: ‘Do not hurt him, may Allah destroy you! Indeed, he is with you only a guest who will soon part from you to come to us.'”
Deconstructing the Meaning of “Dakhil” (Guest)
There is one key word that is very deep in meaning in the text above, namely “Dakhil“. Linguistically, this can mean guest, stranger, or someone who is visiting briefly.
The houris reminds the wives in this world that their possession of their husbands is temporary. Husbands in this world are merely ‘guests’. If the wives of this world do not serve them well, the guest will leave. Separation is inevitable, either through divorce or death, and the husband will return to his “original home” with the houris, wives who treat him with more respect.
This is a stern warning to wives not to feel arrogant or have complete power over their husbands. There are those who love and await their husbands far more in the afterlife.
The Heavenly Maidens’ Prayers for Their Husbands’ Piety.
Not only do they become angry when their partners are hurt, but the heavenly maidens also actively pray for their goodness. Their affection is sincere and oriented towards salvation in the afterlife.
Still from the same source, the wording of their prayer is mentioned:
وورد أنهن يدعون لأزواجهن يقلن : اللهم أعنه على دينك . وأقبل بقلبه على طاعتك . وبلغه بعزتك يا أرحم الراحمين 1
اه شرح صحيح البخاري للسفيري
Meaning:
“It is also narrated that they (the houris) would pray for their husbands by saying: ‘O Allah, help him to hold fast to Your religion, turn his heart towards obedience to You, and bring him (to us) with Your glory, O the Most Merciful of the merciful.'”
Observe the content of the prayer. The celestial maidens are not asking for wealth or worldly possessions for their husband. They are asking for three main things:
- Strength to hold fast to religion.
- A heart submissive to obedience.
- Safe passage to heaven with glory.
This shows that the best support system for a pious man is not only from the people around him, but also from the prayers of holy beings who miss him in the afterlife.
Lesson for Wives: Guarding Speech and Deeds
The message from this narration is not to frighten, but as material for self-reflection (muhasabah). A pious wife certainly does not want to receive curses or bad prayers from other creatures of Allah.
Harming a husband can take many forms:
- Crude words or shouting.
- Humiliating the husband in front of others.
- Rejecting her husband’s kind invitations.
- Being ungrateful for the sustenance provided.
When a wife is able to restrain her ego and act gently, she not only wins her husband’s heart in this world, but also wins the competition with the houris. In fact, many other narrations mention that righteous women of this world will become queens for the houris in heaven later because of their deeds of worship—something the houris do not possess because they were created directly in heaven without going through the trials of the world.
Comfort for a Wronged Husband
For husbands who may be going through trials in their marriage, this story is a comfort to the heart. Be patient with the behavior of your spouse that may be less than pleasing.
Know that your patience is not in vain. There are “spies” in the heavens who see your struggle to provide for and guide your family. When fatigue strikes and human appreciation is not received, remember the prayers of houris that always accompany your steps to remain steadfast on the path of Allah.
Comparison Between a Worldly Wife Who Hurts vs. a Celestial Maiden of Paradise
To facilitate understanding, let’s look at a character comparison in the following table:
| Aspect | Worldly Wife (the Disobedient One) | Heavenly Maidens (Hoor al-Ayn) |
| Attitude towards Husband | Hurting, distressing the heart | Praying for, longing for, defending |
| Perspective | Considering the husband as her possession forever | Considering the husband as a “guest” in this world |
| Response during Conflict | Angry, selfish | Praying for the husband to be patient & devout |
| Orientation | Worldly demands | Religious safety & the afterlife |
| Final Status | Threatened with bad prayers | Awaiting with glory |
FAQ: Questions About Fairies and Righteous Wives
Here are some frequently asked questions related to this topic:
Is it possible for a wife in this world to become an houris for her husband?
Yes, even more noble. A righteous wife, obedient to Allah and her husband, will enter paradise and become a queen to the houris (Sayyidatul Hur). Her beauty will surpass that of the original houris of paradise because of the good deeds (prayer, fasting) she performed in the world.
What is meant by “harming a husband” in this hadith?
Hurting here encompasses both physical and emotional harm without a legitimate religious reason (a reason justified by religion). If a husband commands sin and the wife refuses, that is not considered harm, but rather obedience to Allah. However, if a wife belittles her husband due to a lack of wealth or physical attributes, that is what is forbidden.
What if a husband is cruel to his wife?
Islam is a religion of justice. If a husband is oppressive, he will also receive a just recompense from Allah. There are houris and Allah’s law that apply to husbands who neglect or harm their wives. This article focuses on the context of As-Safiri’s narrative about a wife who harms her husband.
Are houris jealous of the wives of the world?
In the context of this history, the “anger” of houris is more of a defense of devout servants of Allah, not blind jealousy like humans. They do not want Allah’s beloved to be hurt by those who should serve Him. They are unwilling to see the beloved of Allah being hurt by the one who is supposed to serve him..
Final Reflection
This story from Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari teaches us to view marriage through the lens of faith. For wives, make your household a field of reward by serving your husband as best as possible, so that the maidens of paradise are jealous of your piety, not angry at your behavior.
For husbands, let this be a motivation to continue improving yourselves and your faith. The higher a man’s piety, the greater the longing of the inhabitants of heaven for him.
May Allah guide us all to create families that are sakinah, mawaddah, warahmah, and reunite us with our spouses and families in His paradise someday.
Reference
- Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn ʿUmar ibn Aḥmad al-Safīrī al-Shāfiʿī, al-Majālis al-Waʿẓiyyah fī Sharḥ Aḥādīth Khayr al-Bariyyah ﷺ min Ṣaḥīḥ al-Imām al-Bukhārī, edited by Aḥmad Fatḥī ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, vol. 2 (Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyyah, 2004), p. 34. ↩︎
