Can lovers meet in Jannah?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

In some cases it’s true.  But it largely depends on the person.  Everyone is not the same.  As long a person is firmly committed to their Halal principles and values, there shouldn’t be any reasons for worry.  And this commitment is very important. 

The point is that circumstances vary in different families where young adults may be alone, may have lost both their parents or parents are divorced and don’t care.   So they have no choice but to find their own future spouse.  Even if parents are there, adult children do have the entitlement to choose whom they want to marry.  If they prefer to marry someone they already know instead of someone their parents choose, there is nothing wrong in discussing that with their parents.  It needs to be discussed with respect from both sides. The children must choose a suitable future spouse who is a believer and one needs to remember that the relationship cannot be consummated until married.  If marriage is not possible, then they must quit.  If they know they cannot marry yet continue meeting as “friends” then yes, a door is left open for committing Haram.   This must be completely avoided so you don’t ruin your chances of acquiring maghfirah in the Hereafter for admittance to Jannah.

[Zainab_M]

.....  May Allah grant him guidance before he starts running his own mosque or else I don’t know what the heck he’s gonna teach.

Ameen, such folks do need guidance ..

[N. Truth Seeker]

who agrees with that?

Also, an unhappy marriage is nothing nice in the Sight of Allah.

“And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, ‘Keep your wife and fear Allah,’ while you concealed within yourself that which Allah was to bring to light. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him.”  33:37 Al Ahzab.

Let us understand this Verse correctly.  Reference here is to the arranged marriage of Zayd (Prophet’s pbuh adopted son) and Zainab (Prophet’s pbuh first cousin).  It was the Prophet who arranged their marriage despite the fact Zainab and Zayd never knew each other and had no feelings for one another.  It’s not known exactly how long their marriage lasted, but from all accounts it was a fairly short marriage.  The Prophet did realize they were not happy.  Yet he never suggested divorce to either of them.  On the contrary he persuaded Zayd to keep the marriage intact.  After all, it was the Prophet (pbuh) who arranged this marriage with every good intentions.  He (pbuh) was also aware that if the marriage broke, people might blame him (pbuh) viewing it as a mistake on his (pbuh) part for arranging a marriage of a couple who had no compatibility with each other. The Prophet (pbuh) did not want the society to think that way.  That’s why Allah says “while you concealed within yourself that which Allah was to bring to light” .. that means divorce between Zayd and Zainab was inevitable despite the Prophet’s wishes to the contrary, because an unhappy marriage is not something which Allah wants for anyone.  Therefore, Allah also tells the Prophet (pbuh) that his (pbuh) concern was the fear of what the people might talk, but he (pbuh) should have been more concerned about the wishes of Allah Who does not desire unhappiness for anyone including an unhappy marriage.  This is the explication of this Verse 33:37 also given by Pickthall in the footnote of the first publication of his translation.  It’s a very good commentary, correct and agreeable.

From this perspective, if a young adult feels a marriage by his parents will not bring much happiness in their life compared to marrying the one they love, they certainly have a valid point which is perfectly Halal.  However, needless to say, they have to strictly keep the relationship Halal until legally married.  Thus, falling in love is not Haram.  You only have to be careful you don’t follow the Western concept of a “love marriage.”  That would certainly be Haram.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

.....  Thus, falling in love is not Haram.  You only have to be careful you don’t follow the Western concept of a “love marriage.”  That would certainly be Haram.

Exactly. very well put.

Verse 33:37 beautifully elucidated brother.

[Latifah Khaleedi]

If he had told you at the beginning within a month or two of meeting him that he does not intend marriage, you would have ended the friendship, and by now very possible you have been married to someone else and forgotten him.  That's how much time of your life he made you waste. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

If he had told you at the beginning within a month or two of meeting him that he does not intend marriage, you would have ended the friendship, and by now very possible you have been married to someone else and forgotten him.  That's how much time of your life he made you waste. 

Very correct.

[Esme]

Well, I have a specific question. In Jannah, will husband-wife relationship still be considered as such?  I mean, for instance, a woman is a believer but her husband is a disbeliever. He qualifies for Hellfire and sha qualifies for Paradise.  Will that marriage still remain intact after separating in the afterlife?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Nope, it won’t remain intact in the Afterlife.  If one spouse was disbeliever and died in a state of disbelief, and the other was a believer, then the disbelieving spouse will certainly not qualify for maghfirah and therefore won’t enter Jannah.   The disbelieving spouse will be separated from their believing spouse.  So how can the marriage stay intact?  It won’t.  The believing spouse may get companionship in Jannah depending on their desire which only Allah knows best. 

“Indeed, they who deny Our revelations and scorn them, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened nor will they enter the Garden until the camel goes through the needle's eye.  Thus do We requite the guilty.”  7:40 Al Araf.

[N. Truth Seeker]

.........

Verse 33:37 beautifully elucidated brother.

You're most welcome sister.

[Akhti Aminah]

I used to keep wondering, will we be in a situation to recognize our family and friends in Jannah?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Of coure we will.  “Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children”  70:11  Al-Maarij. You will remember and see all of them – family and close friends -  but believers will only maintain relationships with those who believed in dunya and who also enter Jannah.   For example, if a mother was a Muslim but her children were disbelievers who cannot enter Jannah, she won’t meet them and will not miss them because she will know Divine Justice is perfect, no one is wronged, and there is no sadness in Jannah.  Everyone will know that Allah never treats anyone unjustly, and will be full of gratitude for Him.  Needless to mention, on the Day of Judgement, simply being a “Muslim” by title or lineage or as a status symbol won’t count, unless the person genuinely believes in One Allah, loves Him, and lives their lives as much as possible according to His instructions as elucidated in the Noble Quran.

[Akhti Aminah]

and will all believers admitted to Jannah have their own separate homes, any opinions based on the Quran?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Certainly yes.  “Allah has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme felicity” (Quran 9:72).  So, in addition to the beauty of the vast Garden in Jannah, there will also be mansions and lovely homes.  Exact details are only known to Allah.

[Ruhi_Rose]

And Allah also mentions the prayer of Pharaoh's wife who, unlike her husband, was
a believer :

the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Rabb, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."    66:11  At Tahrim.


In her prayer she requested Allah to provide her with an abode in Jannah .. a house or a home in Jannah.  Dwellers of Jannah will wander amid the lovely vast Garden, and when they feel the slightest need for a rest, they will have their comfortable homes with beautiful couches and beds to relax and take a nap.  And only Allah has the precise details. What we know for sure is, life of a believer in Jannah will give them NO reason even for a bit of complaint.

[N. Truth Seeker]

Very correctly perceived sister.