Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. Are all women in paradise are of the same age; never changes or age?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In answering the above question, we cite the book Jinan al-Khuldi by Sheikh Mahir Ahmad al-Sufi (pg. 294) which states: In fact, the women of paradise never change or age and are in their most attractive form. Allah SWT states in the Quran:
وَعِندَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ أَتْرَابٌ
“And with them will be women limiting [their] glances and of equal age.”
Surah Sad (52)
Al-Baghawi said: All of them are 33 years old. (See Tafsir al-Baghawi known as Ma’alim al-Tanzil, 4/66)
Ibn Kathir explains: “أَتْرَابٌ” (of equal age), which means in terms of maturity and age. (See Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Azim, 7/72)
Also, Allah SWT says in the Quran:
إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً ﴿٣٥﴾ فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا ﴿٣٦﴾ عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا ﴿٣٧﴾
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation (35) And made them virgins, (36) Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age, (37)
Surah al-Waqi’ah (35-37)
Imam Ibn Kathir explains on the saying of Allah SWT: “أَتْرَابًا” (of equal age), he quotes that al-Dahhak narrated from Ibn Abbas: “Which means their age is the same, 33 years old.” Mujahid states “أَتْرَابًا” means balance. And in another narration from him: “أَتْرَابًا” means alike.” (See Tafsir al-Quran al-'Azim, 8/6)
Sheikh al-Maraghi states in his tafseer: Verily, We prepared women of paradise from among the virgin which are loved by their husbands, as they treat their husbands well. All are of the same age; one is not different from another. We give these women of paradise to the people of the right (ashab al-yamin). (See Tafsir al-Maraghi, 14/6797)
Hence, the phrase atrab (أَتْرَابًا) in those two verses clearly states that their age is the same and only one, attributed with youngness without getting old.
May Allah bless us with His paradise. We close this with a du’a:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ رِضَاكَ وَالْجَنَّةَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَالنَّارِ
“O Allah, we ask of You Your mercy and paradise. And we seek refuge from You from Your warth and hellfire.”
Ameen.