Can lovers meet in Jannah?

[Yasmeena S.]

Salam Aleykum MV.    I read the topic on meeting family and friends in Jannah with lot of interest.
https://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=5588.0

I wish to proceed with a similar but more specific question here.  I hope you will understand.  Can two people who love each other in this dunya but can’t get married, be together in Jannah?  I am only seeking to find some answers based on the Qur’an alone.

I love a guy and he loves me but there are some reasons for which we cannot marry. So we decided we will not see each other in this dunya any longer because meeting now and again without marriage can lead to Haram conduct. Instead InshAllah, as believers (Muslims) we can meet in Jannah. As long as we met in this world, we kept our relationship clean, never indulged in anything Haram despite our love for each other. This is very painful for me emotionally but I am keeping myself strong with the help of my Faith in Allah.

He is  a very pious young man, leads a Halal life one hundred percent, has acquired Hifz, knows the entire Qur’an by memory. Also sometimes leads prayers in major mosques and Tarawih prayers in Ramadan. We both live in the West as immigrants, same country, same city. He plans to set up a mosque of his own in the near future for which he is currently visiting the mosques of some other Muslim countries around the world to get acquainted with the process of running and managing. My family and me are also practicing Muslims Alhumdulilah, we lead Halal life and I am very close to the Qur'an but I don’t know the Qur'an by memory and I don’t observe hijab except while offering my salah and visiting the mosque.  But he didn’t seem to mind that, and appreciated my iman and devotion to Allah.

He is Arab Muslim from Maghreb, I am non-Arab Muslim and older than him.  I am 37, he is 29.  If anyone is wondering why we couldn’t get married, I am not sure of the exact answer myself.  Allah knows best.  Could be the age difference or different ethnicities he felt may interfere with social compatibility.  But whatever the reason, it came from his side. Neither me nor my parents had any issues with him nor his family.  He only told me one day it’s better if we stop seeing each other to preserve it as Halal as he cannot marry in the near future for reasons of family obligations.  His parents are elderly and not keeping good health.  He is the eldest but one in his family and needs to focus on them.  This is the impression I was given.   He said he loves me and will not feel the same for anyone else.

I am hurting a lot and my mind is crowded with questions. If I love someone in this dunya but can’t get married to him, and miss him dearly until I pass away, will I be able to meet him in the permanent dunya if Allah grants forgiveness to both of us on the Day of Judgement?

I put this question at few other Muslim forums & sites before coming here, but they couldn’t understand too well and couldn’t give answers based on the Quran.  Some also made me feel it’s Haram to fall in love.  I ended up with greater confusion and lesser peace of mind.

Your perspective on my story might help InshAllah.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Walaykum as Salam Sister Yasmeena.  Very sad and sorry to learn your story.   Unfortunately such things happen in earthly life.   There’s nothing wrong with falling in love as long as you keep the relationship Halal which you did.  Alhumdulilah for your strong Faith in Allah. 

I must say, that guy's way of ending the relationship sounded somewhat confusing.  But Allah knows best.

Though there is no Verse in the Quran that specifically mentions about lovers of earthly world, however the mention of all the wonderful things in Paradise collectively alluded to in the Noble Quran would, in my opinion, include the companionship of one’s earthly beloved in Paradise as well.  And the Noble Quran does certainly mention of providing pure companions to believers who attain Jannah.

There you will have (all) that your souls desire, and there you will have (all) for which you pray.  41:31  Fussilat.

There they have all that they desire, and there is more with Us.  50:36  Qaf.

Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode.  3:14 Al Imran.

No soul knows what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.   32:17  As Sajdah.

"And as for those who believe and do good works, We shall make them enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow - to dwell therein for ever; there for them are pure companions - and We shall make them enter plenteous shade."   4:57  An Nissa.

“Allah promises to the believers, men and women, Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide - blessed dwellings in Gardens of Eden. And - greater (far)! - acceptance from Allah. That is the supreme triumph.”  9:72 At Tawbah.

These pleasures and comforts of Paradise include everything Halal and pleasant we wanted in this world but most of us could find little or nothing of what we desired.

When Allah says pure companions, it could refer to either your spouse with whom you lived a happy life, or someone you knew and loved in this dunya in a Halal way but could not marry or it can also mean that those believers (women and men) who lived a lonely but Halal life on earth will be granted pure companion who are in-dwellers of Jannah, that is, someone who resides in Jannah .. among the purest of all humans, Alhumdulilah.

As you know, all decisions in the next world are entirely up to Allah.  He decides according to what we have earned, and He grants us what He considers best for us.

Having said that, only Allah knows what will be your personal circumstances by the time you leave this world.  You are still young and may Allah grant you a long life, InshAllah.  It’s likely, few years or few months from now, you may meet someone else, decide to settle down, raise a family and you won’t find it too difficult to put this heartache behind you.  It may sound quite impossible now, but the wounds of romance are often more superficial than we think;  the passage of time does wonders to heal them, Alhumdulilah.  Thus, when you leave this world and Insh’Allah acquire maghfirah on the Day of Judgement, your priorities may be very different and you might be looking forward to meeting very different people in your new permanent life. The person you dearly love at the moment might be no more than a faded memory.  In this case, Allah would grant you the privilege of meeting people most important in your life. That guy’s  situation may likely shape out similarly.   Only Allah knows our future and He knows what is best for us.

The other possibility is that both of you may still nurture your love for each other until you embark on your Final Journey.  Both of you may feel you couldn’t find the happiness you wanted without each other.  In this case, with maghfirah from Allah, it is very probable He may bring the two of you together in Jannah.  After all, Allah has the best plan for us.   His Judgement is flawless. 

At present the most important thing for you is to firmly continue adhering to Halal in every way. Be regular with salah.  Don’t miss fasting in Ramadan unless it’s because of health reasons, and never ever stop reading and following the Noble Quran.  Not to mention, living Halal is always the lifeline of our soul regardless of our earthly relationships and priorities.  Increasing our dependency on Allah invariably helps us to feel independent of this world which is a great feeling!   May Allah make it easy for you.   Insh’Allah, you will get through this emotionally tough time more smoothly than you imagined.   Allah bless.

I would also like to recommend that you read one of our earlier posts here at MV penned by Sister Zainab some years ago titled Reward of women in Paradise.  InshAllah, this post may help you with further clarifications.

[Zainab_M]

Walaikum as Salaam.  My deepest sympathy.  I can imagine how it feels.  Though that guy’s approach doesn’t quite add up as Sister Ruhi rightly implied, just hold tight to Allah and keep walking on your path of a Halal earthly life till the end, and let Allah decide and be the Judge.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Wa'salam.  Really sorry sister.   Whatever the reason, that man should have been more upfront instead of a hazy excuse, leaving you on edge.  Apparently, though he has memorized the Quran, he has not understood Allah’s instructions and His values which He has stated, inferred and referred in His Final Message.

[Akram]

If you are in Jannah and some of your friends are in hell, can you plead with Allah and bring your friends who are in hell to Jannah?   

[N. Truth Seeker]

NO .... no way.

Interaction between believing and disbelieving friends  in the Hereafter V.37:54-57 (As-Saffat) 

[Yasmeena S.]

Thank you for trying to help me with rational points from the Qur'an.  Any more Quranic perspectives, if you can find in Allah's Message, will be welcomed. 

[keen observer]

Are both of you Sunnis, or one Shiia other Sunni?

[Yasmeena S.]

yes, both sunnis.

[ukhti naz]

If Allah provides me with forgiveness and maghfarah and allows me to enter Jannah, my first choice would be to meet people of history, our brothers and sisters of Islamic golden age who lived hundreds of years in the past. I would also want to meet Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh and the numerous martyrs of Gaza and Lebanon.

[Zainab_M]

If Allah provides me with forgiveness and maghfarah and allows me to enter Jannah, my first choice would be to meet people of history, our brothers and sisters of Islamic golden age who lived hundreds of years in the past. I would also want to meet Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh and the numerous martyrs of Gaza and Lebanon.

Yes, me too.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Sounds great.  In the next world, time is naught.  You can find a companion in Jannah with the will of Allah, and that companion might be a believing person who lived in this world 300 or 400 years before you, or maybe 300 or 400 years after you (if the world lasts that long by the will of Allah).  So you’re not gonna think, oh! That person is 400 yrs my junior or 350 yrs my senior.  Because time and age differences are only in this world. In permanent world, these earthly calculations are all obsolete.

This is the Day of Decision, We have brought you and the men of old together.  77:38 Al Mursalat.

[Zainab_M]

Very correct.  Yes, in the next world, time is naught.   Jannah is never ending, you can literally meet everyone and spend years with each person and it may feel like a few days.  The beautiful environment, the delicious food and pleasant company are all so exhilarating and yet so permanent, not gone in a jiffy with moving time as in this dunya.

And indeed, a day with your Rabb is like a thousand years of those which you count.  22:47  Al-Hajj.

[Tazkiya Tawfeeq]

Did he ever tell you he is serious about marriage in so many words or did you take his affections for granted?

[Yasmeena S.]

Why would I take anyone for granted?  Of course he told me, he said that 3 or 4 times, each time I asked to reassure myself.  As a practicing Muslima I am surely not into dating or temporary relations with no plans of marriage.  He knows that and his perception is the same.