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Selecting one's mate in Paradise

Question

If a man has 2 wives, Allah will ask him in Jannah with whom he would prefer to have in Jannah? Is it the same case with women?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Al-Tabarani reported in al-Kabir that Um Habiba (Radiya Allahu Anha) said: “O! Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), a woman who had two husbands, then dies and enters Paradise, and her husbands enter Paradise as well, to whom of the two will she be, to the first husband or the to last husband?” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: “She will choose the better of the two in manners with her in the worldly life, and he will be her husband in Paradise.” He further said: “O! Um Habiba, the person of good conduct and manners takes the good of this world and the good of the Hereafter.”

Al-Tabarani reported the same Hadith in Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat that Um Salama narrated saying: “I told the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), a woman amongst ourselves marries two, three or four husbands then dies and enters Paradise, and all of them enter Paradise as well; who amongst them will be her husband?” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: “She will be given the choice and she will choose the best of them in conduct and manners,” she would say: “O! My Lord, this husband is the best of them towards me in conduct and manners so marry me to him.” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) then told her: “O! Um Salama (Radiya Allahu Anha), the person of good conduct and manners takes the good of this life and the good of the Hereafter.”

Al-Haithami said in Mujam’a al-Zawaid: ‘This Hadith is reported by Al-Tabarani, and Salman Bin Abi Karima is mentioned in the chain of narrations.' However, Abu Hatem and Ibn Ady said that 'it is a weak Hadith.'

Ibn al-Jawzi in the Ilall al-Mutanahia said: ‘This is not an authentic Hadith.’

As regards the man, it is not reported that he will choose (between his wives) but rather all his wives belong to him and he does not have to choose between them.

Allah knows best.

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