Welcome to this week's episode of the series "Let's Know Islam".

One of the Heavenly blessings are chaste and beautiful Heavenly women. Holy Quran has referred to Houris in several ayahs. Heavenly Houris are innately chaste and pure-hearted.

The youth and apparent beauties of individuals in the mortal world are temporary and transient; while the youth, happiness, and freshness of Heavenly Houris are permanent. They are eternal and immortal like paradise and never-ending Heavenly blessings.

Describing Heavenly wives, the 56^th to 58^th ayahs of Surat al-Rahman in Holy Quran note: "In them are maidens of restrained glances, whom no human has touched before, nor jinn. So which of your Lord's bounties will you both deny? As though they were rubies and corals."

Furthermore, 70^th to 72^nd ayahs of Surat al-Rahman, in description of Heavenly Houris state: "In them are maidens good and lovely. So which of your Lord's bounties will you both deny? Houris secluded in pavilions."

Heavenly women maintain good manners, and appropriate characteristic traits, in addition to beauty. Islamic narrations, in description of this ayah have enumerated a number of good traits of Heavenly women, which can also refer to some of some of the elevated characteristic traits of women in this world, and in other words, can be considered as a role model for all women. For instance, those women are well-mannered and eloquent. They do not harm others, and are pure-hearted. In short, Heavenly women maintain all appropriate characteristic traits and beauty which an ideal wife should have. Hence, Holy Quran has referred to them as good and lovely maidens.

Holy Quran has also mentioned the beauty of Heavenly women in the 22^nd and 23^rd ayahs of Surat al-Waqi'ah, noting: "and big-eyed houris, like guarded pearls."

These Heavenly women have big, black eyes and are attractive. They have been created in paradise, as a reward for the good deeds that benefactors have carried out in the world.

Heavenly women, in addition to their magnificent beauty, maintain highly elevated and appropriate traits and are merited for marriage with the inhabitants of paradise. These Heavenly women maintain ethical and spiritual virtues. The presence of these chaste and pure-hearted women next to their spouses in Heavenly gardens, grants them peace of mind.

The 57^th ayah of Surat Nisa in Holy Quran notes: "As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, We shall admit them into gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them forever. In it there will be chaste mates for them…"

Meanwhile, based on what is understood from ayahs and Islamic narrations, this world's married couples, who will be inhabitants of paradise, can reunite in paradise and maintain an elevated life, keeping each other's company. In accordance to Islamic narrations, the status of righteous women in this world is superior to the status of Houris of paradise, and this world's righteous women are also more beautiful than Heavenly Houris. This is because of the prayers and good deeds which righteous women have observed and carried out in this world.

Many ayahs of Holy Quran have mentioned the material and spiritual blessings bestowed on the inhabitants of paradise. In fact, given that the Day of Resurrection maintains physical, and spiritual aspects, both, Heavenly blessings also maintain both of these aspects. The spiritual joys grant further happiness and freshness than material joys to the inhabitants of paradise.

The 54^th and 55^th ayahs of Surat al-Qamar in Holy Quran partly refer to the material and spiritual blessings granted to those, who carry out good deeds, noting: "Indeed the Godwary will be amid gardens and streams, in the abode of truthfulness with an omnipotent King."

These ayahs point out the appropriate fate of those, who have faith in God and carry out good deeds.

The terms of interaction of the inhabitants of paradise is part of the Heavenly joys. As a reminder, there is no trace of jealousy, hatred, deceit, accusation, insult, humiliating and pointless remarks in Heaven. It should be pointed out that the hardships and tensions which we endure in the mortal world are mainly rooted in the pointless and humiliating remarks. However, in paradise, remarks are amicable; and inhabitants of paradise treat each other with kindness and courtesy.

There is no trace of hardship and pain in Heaven, and nothing threatens the security and comfort of the inhabitants of paradise.

The 34^th and 35^th ayahs of Surat al-Fatir in Holy Quran note: They will say, 'All praise belongs to Allah, who has removed all grief from us. Indeed, Our Lord is all-forgiving, all-appreciative, who has settled us in the everlasting abode by His grace. In it we are untouched by toil, and untouched therein by fatigue.

MR/MG