not hear the roaring of the fire of Hell. This shows that the change, that will come over man in the Resurrection, will be so thorough that even his present senses will be changed into others of which it is impossible for him to conceive in this life, senses which would hear the lowest tones of one kind, but not the most terrible sounds of another.
The things mentioned among the blessings of Paradise are, therefore, not the things of this world but things which we have neither seen nor heard of in this life; nor, with our present senses, can we even conceive of them. All descriptions given are simply to show that the life of the righteous will be perfect in the Resurrection. It is with the same end in view that mention is made of the company of men and women in that state, to which sensually minded people have attached a sensual significance. Writing under the word zauj, used in the Holy Qur’ān in connection with the companionship of men and women, Rāghib24 says that “the meaning of zawwajnā-hum bi-ḥūr-in ‘īn is that we have given them ḥūr as companions (qarannāhum bi-hinna), and the Holy Qur’ān does not say zawwajnā-ḥūm ḥūr-an, as you say in the case of the marriage of a man with a woman, zawwajtu-hū imra‘at-an, hinting that the relations there will not be as they are known to us here in this life”.25 It is also stated that in the “relations with women in Paradise there is no suggestion of procreation”;26 and as sexual relationship, as understood in this life, is a requirement of nature to help the act of procreation, it is clear that the relationship of sexes or the company of men and women in the Resurrection has quite a different significance.
The mention of women in the Holy Qur’ān is, in the first place, to show that men and women are both equal in the sight of God, and that both will enjoy the higher life in the Resurrection. That women, in general, shall have access to Paradise like men, is made clear in many places: “And whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, these shall enter the Garden” (40:40; 4:124). “Whoever does good deeds, whether male or female, and is a believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life” (16:97). “I will not suffer the work
24 The famous lexicologist of the Holy Qur’ān.
25 See also LL., which confirms that the use of the word zauj as a double transitive verb without being followed by a particle means marrying and when made doubly transitive with particle bi to join and unite a thing to its fellow or like. Along with it is quoted 81:7 which is translated as meaning and when the souls shall be paired or united with their fellows.
26 RM. 1, p. 172.