In general, Muslims qualify for Paradise on the following basis:
Sura 33:35: “For Muslim men and women, – for believing men and women-for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise, – for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.”
However, there are other ways to qualify. One of these is:
Al-Bukhari Vol. 4, B 53, No. 352: “Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “Allah guarantees him who strives in His Cause and whose motivation for going out is nothing but Jihad in His Cause and belief in His Word, that He will admit him into Paradise (if martyred) or bring him back to his dwelling place, whence he has come out, with what he gains of reward and booty.“
(See chapter 9 for additional ways—especially for men—to ensure they qualify.)
For those who do qualify for Paradise, great pleasure awaits, and it will continue forever. It is a place of sensual enjoyment in which eating, drinking, and – by implication – sexual pleasure forms the central elements. The Qur’an contains an abundance of references to this Paradise or Garden, the place where Muslims who deserve it – whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds – will dwell eternally. Only a few examples are quoted:
Sura 2:25: “And give glad tidings (O Mohammed) onto those who believe and do good works; that theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow; …Therefore to them are pure companions; there for ever they abide.” (Pickthall, 1997:6)
The “they” in this verse are most likely men who qualify, and the “pure companions” who will be with them in the gardens are women (specifically virgins). After warnings of a “Grievous Penalty” (see Sura 37:29–39) for those who refuse to convert to Islam or who do not respect Allah’s prophet, there is good news for the “purified” in Sura 37:40–44 and 48:
“Fruits (delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity, in Gardens of Felicity (bliss, happiness), facing each other on raised couches (of dignity); … And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).” (Ali, 2000:398)
Another promise of what awaits qualifying men appears in Sura 38:50–52:
“Gardens of eternity, whose doors will (ever) be open to them; therein they will recline (at ease): therein can they call (at pleasure) for fruit in abundance, and (delicious) drink; And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances, (companions) of equal age.” (Ali, 2000:409)
The reward for men remains primarily women. Sura 44:52, 54 states that those who fulfil their duty (in Jihad) will find themselves:
“Among gardens and springs; So; and We (Allah) shall join them to Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.” (Ali 2000:451)
Allah also promises in Sura 47:15:
“(Here is) a Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits; and Grace from their Lord.”
And again, in Sura 52:17, 19, 20:
“As to the righteous, they will be in Gardens, and in happiness, .. (To them will be said:) ‘Eat and drink with good pleasure because of your (good) deeds.’ They will recline (with ease) on couches (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We (Allah) shall wed them to maidens, with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes.” (Ali, 2000:484)
Things go very well in Paradise for the men who qualify, according to Sura 55:70, 72, 74, 76:
“Wherein (are found) the good and beautiful – … Fair ones, close-guarded in pavilions – … Whom neither man nor jinni (spirit) will have touched before them – … Reclining on green cushions and fair carpets”. According to Pickthall (1997:390) “close-guarded in pavilions”. And according to Ali (2000:496) the maidens are “restrained in pavilions.”
It appears from two of the translations above that these “pure maidens” are being kept there against their will; otherwise, it can be assumed that there are other beings in the Paradise who could pose a threat to them. If they are there voluntarily, terms like close-guarded and restrained would hardly be necessary. Is Islam’s paradise really such a dangerous place for virgins? One cannot help wondering where these maidens come from and why they are there. Are they perhaps simply part of the pleasure promised to the men who qualify for Paradise?
Sura 56 also describes what awaits Muslims whose “good deeds” are sufficient to enter Paradise:
“There wait on them immortal youths” (v.17) “And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes, Like unto hidden pearls” (v. 22,23), “We (Allah) have created them a (new) creation and made them virgins, lovers, equal in age.” (V.35-37) (Pickthall, 1997:391)
There are many more examples in the Qur’an – too many to quote here. If each man receives more than one virgin in Paradise, as some sources claim; for example Karim, 1998:23:44 Vol. 2 p. 358, suggesting as many as 72 virgins per man, it seems there will be more women than men in Paradise. Yet this does not align with another claim: that there will also be more women in hell. According to Sahih Al-Bukhari’s compilation of the Hadith, (Khan 1987:28, 301 Vol. 1 & 2:161), Muhammad said:
“I was shown the hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women.”
It will also be shown that these promises of eternal pleasure are largely intended to motivate Muslim men toward Jihad. Any man who truly believes these promises would be willing to sacrifice his life in Jihad to obtain them.
Violence in Christianity will be discussed next. After that, in chapter 9, violence in Islam will be examined, including Jihad and the reasons behind it.