The “72 Wives” Claim By Christians Refuted

A Detailed Examination of Christian Criticism and the Hadiths

Christian critics of Islam, particularly figures such as Sam Shamoun, Robert Spencer, David Wood, and others, frequently cite the claim that Muslims believe they will receive 72 virgins or wives in Paradise. This argument is often used to suggest that Islam promotes a materialistic and sensual view of the afterlife, one that contrasts with Christianity’s more spiritual vision of Heaven. However, these critics often misrepresent the concept, cherry-picking Hadiths and misinterpreting Islamic eschatology. A closer look at the Hadiths they cite, as well as a proper understanding of their authenticity, reveals a very different picture.

This article will explore the Hadiths related to the claim of 72 virgins, examine the arguments made by critics such as Sam Shamoun, Robert Spencer, David Wood, and others, and demonstrate why these arguments fail. We will also delve into the concept of Hadith authenticity, showing that many of the Hadiths used to support the “72 virgins” claim are weak or unreliable.

The Role of Hadiths in Islamic Belief

Before addressing the critics and specific Hadiths, it is important to understand how Hadiths fit into Islamic theology. While the Quran is the primary source of Islamic law and doctrine, Hadiths — the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — provide additional context for understanding the Quran and guiding daily life. However, not all Hadiths are equal in terms of their authenticity.

• Sahih (authentic): These Hadiths have a reliable chain of narrators and are accepted as trustworthy.
• Hasan (good): These are of good quality but may have some slight issues with their chain of narration.
• Da’if (weak): These Hadiths are considered unreliable due to problems in their chain of narration, which may include gaps or questionable narrators.
• Mawdu’ (fabricated): These are completely false Hadiths that were intentionally made up.

The Hadiths that describe 72 virgins or wives are considered weak (Da’if) by most scholars of Hadith criticism. As such, they cannot be used as the foundation for theological or doctrinal beliefs in Islam.

Critics of Islam and the 72 Virgins Claim

1. Sam Shamoun

Sam Shamoun, a Christian apologist, frequently uses the 72 virgins claim to criticize Islam, arguing that it is a materialistic and sensual religion. Shamoun’s main focus is the idea that Islam promises physical pleasures to its followers in the afterlife, which he contrasts with Christianity’s emphasis on spiritual rewards. He often refers to the Hadith from Jami’ at-Tirmidhi about the 72 virgins to support his claims. In doing so, Shamoun attempts to discredit Islamic teachings by portraying them as focused on earthly indulgence.

2. Robert Spencer

Robert Spencer, another well-known critic of Islam, has written extensively on the subject of Islamic eschatology and the promise of 72 virgins. In his book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), Spencer points to the Hadiths about 72 virgins as evidence of Islam’s materialistic and carnal view of Paradise. Spencer, like Shamoun, argues that such promises are indicative of the baser aspects of Islamic theology, which he believes encourages a desire for physical pleasures in the afterlife.

3. David Wood

David Wood, a Christian critic who frequently engages in debates about Islam, has also used the 72 virgins argument in his critique of the faith. Wood argues that Islam’s portrayal of the afterlife, with its focus on sensual rewards, undermines its claim to be a spiritual and moral religion. He often refers to the Hadiths about 72 virgins to suggest that Islam’s vision of Paradise is far more materialistic than the Christian understanding of Heaven.

The Relevant Hadiths and Their Analysis

1. Hadith from Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (2687)

The most widely cited Hadith regarding 72 virgins comes from Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith number 2687:

“There is no one whom Allah will admit to Paradise but Allah will marry him to 72 wives: two from the Houris of Paradise and seventy from the inheritance of the people of Hell. And they will have desirable front passages and he will have a male organ that never becomes flaccid.” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2687)

• Weak Chain: This Hadith is considered weak (Da’if) by scholars such as Al-Albani. The reason for its weakness lies in the unreliable narrators in the chain, specifically a narrator named Hisham ibn ‘Ammar, who is criticized for his memory. Ibn Hajar and Al-Albani have both questioned his reliability in transmitting Hadiths.
• Context: Scholars emphasize that the Hadith should not be taken literally. Rather than being a description of earthly desires, it is generally understood metaphorically, reflecting the ultimate reward and bliss in the afterlife. This Hadith cannot be used as evidence of the materialistic nature of Islam’s afterlife doctrine.

2. Hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (4338)

Another Hadith often quoted by critics comes from Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith number 4338):

“In Paradise, there is a pavilion made of a single hollow pearl. The believer will enter and his family will enter with him. They will be married to seventy-two women of Paradise, and two women from the Houris of Paradise will be given to him.”

• Authenticity: This Hadith is also considered weak (Da’if). The main problem is that the chain includes weak narrators who were known to have inaccuracies in their transmissions. Al-Albani declared it weak in his work Silsilat al-Ahadith ad-Da’ifah.
• Interpretation: Like the Hadith in Tirmidhi, this Hadith is not to be taken literally. Scholars explain that the references to “women of Paradise” are symbolic of spiritual rewards rather than literal virgins. The focus of the Hadith is on the eternal joy and happiness that awaits believers, not on physical gratification.

3. Hadith from Sahih Muslim (315)

A Hadith from Sahih Muslim also touches on the rewards in Paradise but does not mention the number 72:

“In Paradise, there is a pavilion made of a single hollow pearl, and no human has ever seen anything like it. In it, there are 70,000 women, and each of them has a face brighter than the full moon.”

• Context and Authenticity: This Hadith, though from a more reliable source, is understood to describe the bliss and spiritual rewards of Paradise rather than promising literal sexual encounters. The number of women is often seen as a symbolic expression of ultimate happiness, peace, and closeness to Allah, not a literal promise of physical pleasure.

4. Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari

One of the more famous Hadiths about rewards in Paradise is from Sahih al-Bukhari:

“In Paradise, there will be no fatigue, no sleep, and no desires that are unfulfilled.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6568)

• Implication: This Hadith contradicts the interpretation that the rewards of Paradise are physical. It emphasizes the fulfillment of spiritual and emotional desires rather than sensual pleasures. The focus is on the perfection of the afterlife, not materialistic indulgence.

Refuting the “72 Virgins” Argument

1. The Weakness of the Hadiths: As demonstrated, the most cited Hadiths supporting the 72 virgins claim are weak (Da’if) or of dubious authenticity. Islamic scholars such as Al-Albani, Ibn Hajar, and others have criticized the chain of narrators for issues like faulty memory or unreliability. These weak Hadiths cannot form the basis for any theological argument in Islam.

2. Metaphorical Language: Even if these Hadiths were authentic, they would still need to be understood in the broader context of Islamic eschatology. Islamic descriptions of the afterlife are often allegorical or metaphorical. The rewards of Paradise are meant to convey the idea of ultimate happiness, spiritual fulfillment, and closeness to Allah, not physical or sensual pleasures.

3. Islamic Emphasis on the Afterlife: The Quran and authentic Hadiths emphasize that the true rewards of Paradise are spiritual in nature — the pleasure of Allah, eternal peace, and the absence of suffering. The idea of sensual pleasure in the afterlife is a gross oversimplification of Islamic teachings.

4. Absence of Such Claims in the Quran: The Quran does not mention the concept of 72 virgins or wives. Instead, the Quran speaks about the rewards of Paradise in terms of spiritual joy, closeness to God, and eternal peace. Any Hadiths that describe physical pleasures are secondary and should be understood in light of the overarching message of Islam.

Conclusion

The “72 virgins” argument put forward by Christian apologists such as Sam Shamoun, Robert Spencer, David Wood, and others is based on weak Hadiths that are either unreliable or misunderstood. A proper understanding of the Hadith sciences, particularly the classification of weak Hadiths (Da’if), makes it clear that these claims cannot be used to discredit Islam. Moreover, the teachings of Islam, both in the Quran and the authentic Hadiths, emphasize the spiritual rewards of Paradise, and the concept of sensual pleasures is a misrepresentation of the true nature of Islamic eschatology.

Muslims are encouraged to focus on the deeper, spiritual meanings of the afterlife and not to fall into the trap of sensationalizing the rewards described in the Hadiths. The critics’ arguments fail when examined in the light of Islamic scholarship and proper contextualization of the sources.