Question: I was raised a 'believer' and studied several religions to end up as a "scientific agnostic" who does not know the 'why'-s and 'how'-s but asks questions about items other people believe in.
Many yeas ago on a different list I engaged in a discussion when an irate 'believer' bursted out: "who gave you the audacity to feel so much 'smarter' than the rest of us?" so now I keep my mouth shut. - As far as I can (??). Then again on another kind of list I asked a female Muslim US professor about Huris and what happens to human females after death? the answer was: it is not so simple. Nothing more.
Do you have a solution to (human) women whether they go straight to hell, or to heaven? What happens to them THERE(?) ?
The other day I heard a cute solution for nonbelievers on TV (it was a stupid soap opera): a priest said to a nonbeliever: God offers solace to the universe for those who believe. Why to the universe? otherwise it is OK.
I do not bother you with more of my questions but am interested in the solution for the womenfolk (both terresstrial and afterwordian).
Answer: According to what I read in the Quran and my understanding of it, all of us humans, men and women, are in pledge for our beliefs and our deeds (Quran 52:21), and will benefit from our truthfulness (Quran 5:119). We are all being tested, and all those who pass this terrestrial exam and get accepted in Heaven, will find their reward, far above and beyond their expectations and imagination (Quran 32:17), awaiting them! God is keeping an accurate account of all thoughts and deeds, and the record doesn't leave out a single thing (Quran 18:49).
In Quran, 66:10-12, God gives the example of four women: two who disbelieved (the wife of Noah and and wife of Lot) who will not be able to enter Heaven in spite of having been married to righteous persons in this world, and God gives the example of two believing women (Aasiya, the queen of Pharoah, and Maryam, the daughter of Imran / mother of Jesus) who will enter Heaven because of their righteousness.
While many verses speak of fair and just reward for all believing men and women, 'huris' are mentioned in only four of the 6000+ verses of the Quran. Mostly 'huris' are understood to be females, but I'm not too sure about that, as the word itself is neuter gender in Arabic. Whether we humans will retain our genders or not in Heaven and if there will be sex / procreation in Heaven is also subject to speculation. Honestly, I don't know, but I trust that all those who are accepted in Heaven, will be in a perfect state of joy, comfort, happiness and pleasure. When I dwell upon the various verses of the Quran giving a preview of Heaven, I think the human soul's yearning for the perfect person, its soulmate, will be fulfilled.
As regards the terrestrial portion of your question, men and women are but two types of humans, one of whom is responsible for the financial and security needs of the family (the man), while the other (the woman) has the domestic responsibility. In many ways, women enjoy a privileged position. I attempted to answer a similar question some years ago, you may wish to read this: http://islam-qna.
I hope I've answered your main question. Please feel free to ask further.
Reproduced below are few relevant verses:
5:119 Allah will say, "This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness." For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. [Translator: Sahih International]
6:32 And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah , so will you not reason? [Translator: Sahih International]
9:71 The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. [Translator: Sahih International]
18:49 And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one. [Translator: Sahih International]
24:26 Vile women are for vile men, and vile men for vile women. Good women are for good men, and good men for good women; such are innocent of that which people say: For them is pardon and a bountiful provision. [Translator: Pickthall]
32:17 And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. [Translator: Sahih International]
33:35 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. [Translator: Sahih International]
33:58 And those who harm believing men and believing women for [something] other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin. [Translator: Sahih International]
47:19 Know thou therefore that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for thy sin, and for the believers, men and women. God knows your going to and fro, and your lodging. [Translator: Arberry]
52:21 And those who believed, and their seed followed them in belief, We shall join their seed with them, and We shall not defraud them of aught of their work; every man shall be pledged for what he earned. [Translator: Arberry]
57:18 Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward. [Translator: Sahih International]
The 4 verses about Houris / Hoors
44:54 Thus (shall it be), and We will wed them with Houris pure, beautiful ones. [Translator: Shakir]
52:20 Reclining on ranged couches. And we wed them unto fair ones with wide, lovely eyes. [Translator: Pickthall]
55:72 Fair ones, close-guarded in pavilions - [Translator: Pickthall]
56:22 And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,- [Translator: Yusuf Ali]
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