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Do Women in Jannah Stay in Tents and Indoors Only?

28 August, 2025
Q Some people claim that in Jannah women will stay indoors while only men will go out. They cite the following evidences: 1. Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Verily, there is a market in Paradise to which the men will come every Friday. The wind will scatter fragrance on their faces and clothes and will increase their excellence and beauty. They will return to their wives after having been increased in excellence and beauty and they will say: By Allah, we have seen you increased in excellence and beauty! They will say to them: By Allah, you have been increased in excellence and beauty!” (Ṣahih Muslim 2833) 2. The Quran says: “In them will be good and beautiful ones. Fair ones reserved in tents” (Al-Rahman 55:70-72). 3. In Sahih Al-Bukhari (3243), `Abdullah bin Qais Al-Ash`ari reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A tent (in Paradise) is like a hollow pearl which is thirty miles in height. On every corner of the tent the men will have wives that cannot be seen by the others.” (Abu `Imran added in another narration: “The tent is sixty miles in height.”) Some interpret this to mean that the women of Paradise will not be able to meet their families such as their children, parents, or friends, and that they will only see their husbands. Others ask whether the word “Ahl” in the Hadith refers only to the Hur al-`Ayn or could also include the believing women of this world. How should these narrations be understood? Does this mean that women in Paradise will be confined and unable to meet their families and loved ones?

Answer

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
28 August, 2025

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

In this fatwa:

Islamic texts reject the idea that women in Jannah stay in tents or indoors only. The Quran (52:21, 13:23-24) and Hadith confirm that women will be reunited with their parents, children, spouses, and loved ones, experiencing eternal companionship and blessings.

Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Misconceptions about Women in Jannah

It seems there’s a misconception that women will be confined to their homes in the Hereafter, which contradicts the teachings of the Quran and the authentic traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim addresses this topic in his work Al-Ruh (The Soul), where he explains that righteous men and women will be reunited in the Hereafter, regardless of their gender. In fact, Allah’s mercy will ensure that all believers, both men and women, experience eternal companionship with their loved ones who shared the same faith.

Ibn Al-Qayyim’s view on this subject highlights the abundant blessings for the faithful in the Afterlife, especially the reunion of virtuous individuals with their families, provided they are also righteous believers. This eternal companionship is a profound source of joy, as it reflects Allah’s mercy and the fulfillment of His promises to His devoted servants.

Several verses from the Quran affirm this understanding. One powerful verse is from Surah At-Tur (52:21), which promises that:

{And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith — We will join their descendants with them, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he has earned, is a pledge.” (At-Tur 52:21)

This verse assures that those who believe and have righteous descendants will be reunited with them in Paradise, even if their descendants are on a different spiritual rank. Allah elevates the status of the righteous to ensure that no one feels left out or deprived of the joy of being together with loved ones.

Paradise as a Place of Family Unity

In another passage, Allah describes how the believers will enter the Gardens of Eternity:

{The Gardens of Eternity, which they will enter along with the righteous among their parents, spouses, and descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, ˹saying,˺ ‘Peace be upon you for your perseverance. How excellent is the ultimate abode!’} (Ar-Ra`d 13:23-24)

This verse beautifully illustrates that Paradise is not just a place of individual reward but a realm of family unity, where loved ones are reunited under Allah’s boundless mercy. The presence of family members—whether parents, spouses, or children—becomes part of the ultimate reward.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shared a comforting Hadith that further supports Ibn al-Qayyim’s view:

“A person will be with those whom he loves.” (Sahih Muslim)

This Hadith emphasizes that relationships based on love for Allah and His Messenger will transcend this world and continue into the Hereafter. The righteous are not only reunited with those they loved in this life but with those who shared the same faith and commitment to Allah’s commands.

Ibn Al-Qayyim elaborates on this by referencing the lives of the Prophet’s companions. For example, Abu Bakr and `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) were promised eternal companionship with the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Paradise, alongside their righteous families. These stories demonstrate how relationships formed on the foundation of faith will last forever, culminating in an eternal reunion in Paradise.

In conclusion, Ibn Al-Qayyim’s teachings about the reunion of the righteous in the Hereafter challenge any misconception that women or men would be confined or isolated. Instead, Allah promises an everlasting reunion, where the righteous, whether men or women, will be reunited with their families in a state of eternal bliss. 

For full understanding about women in Jannah, see the following fatwas:

Almighty Allah knows best.

About Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty is a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada