Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have a question about our family in paradise. DO we get to marry whoever we want in paradise? I heard that in paradise allah keeps asking us what we want, so if i really liked someone and didn`t get to marry him because of my parents will I get to choose who I want to marry in paradise or will I still be with the man who my parents married me to even if i dont like him? and do we get to see our family and people we know in paradise? thank you so much 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Wife with husband she does not like in paradise

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …and do we get to see our family and people we know in paradise?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 36 Surah Ya Seen verses 55-58:

Verily the People of the Gardens shall that Day enjoy in everything that they do; they and their wives will be in groves of (cool) shade, reclining on Thrones (of dignity). They shall have all kinds of tasteful fruits, and they shall have there, whatever they may desire. They will have been greeted with ‘Peace’, a Word (of salutation) from a Lord, Most Merciful.

Allah Say sin the Holy Quran Chapter 40 Surah Ghafir verses 7-9:

7 Those (Angels) who sustain the Throne (of Allah) and those around it sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him; and implore forgiveness for those who believe: "O Our Lord! Thy reach is over all things in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive then those who turn in repentance and follow Thy Path: and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire!

8 And grant O our Lord! That they enter the Gardens of Eternity which Thou hast promised to them and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their posterity! For Thou (Allah) art the Exalted in Might, Full of Wisdom.

Without an iota of a doubt sister, every single person one knew and loved on this earth will recognize and remember each other in Paradise. The loved ones amongst the believers who lived their lives on this earth in the obedience and awe of Allah Subhanah and were all fortunate enough to enter Paradise, the Lord Most High, Most Merciful will re-unite all of them with their loved ones amongst their parents, their wives, their children and grand-children, and their believing friends in the Realms of Paradise.

Not only will Allah Subhanah re-unite the members of one’s family from amongst their righteous wives, and parents, and children in those Eternal Gardens of Bliss; but the fortunate and honored dwellers of Paradise will remember and recognize every one they associated with on this earth! They will even remember and, if they wish, be shown the reality of the arrogant and unrighteous acquaintances and the ‘worldly friends’ who used to belie and mock the Truth on earth, and are thus being humiliated, disgraced, and tortured in the Fire of Hell!

^{Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah Saafaat verses 40-61:}

40 But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah

41 For them is a Sustenance Determined

42 Fruits (Delights) and they (shall enjoy) honor and dignity.

43 In Gardens of Felicity.

44 Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):

45 Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain

46 Crystal-white of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof)

47 Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.

48 And beside them will be chaste women; restraining their glances with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).

49 As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded.

50 Then they will turn to one another and question one another.

51 One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth)

52 "Who used to say `What! Art thou amongst those who bear witness to the truth (of the Message)?

53 `When we die and become dust and bones shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?' "

54 (A voice) will say: "Would ye like to look down?"

55 He will look down and see him in the midst of the Fire.

56 He will say: "By Allah! Thou wast little short of bringing me to perdition!

57 "Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord I should certainly have been among those brought (there)!

58 "Is it (the case) that we shall not die

59 "Except our first death and that we shall not be punished?"

60 Verily this is the Supreme Achievement!

61 For the like of this let all strive who wish to strive.

Your Question: ….DO we get to marry whoever we want in paradise?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 50 Surah Qaaf verse 35:

There they (the men and women of Paradise) shall have all that they will desire, and We have with Us yet more for them!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqan verses 15-16:

Ask them, “Is this (the Fire) better, or the Everlasting Gardens which have been promised to the God-fearing, righteous people (men and women)?”. That will be the recompense of their good deeds and the final destination of their journey, wherein, they will get everything they desire, and wherein they will dwell forever. This is a promise which your Lord has taken upon Himself to fulfill.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 32 Surah Sajdah verse 17:

No living being knows what comfort of the eyes has been kept hidden from them, as a recompense for their (righteous) deeds!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.302 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah said, 'I have prepared for my pious worshipers such things as no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and nobody has ever thought of.' "

In short, the fortunate people who will be rewarded Paradise by Allah Subhanah, will get an abundance of all things from their Lord Most Generous: eternal life of pleasure, gardens, wealth, properties, palaces, servants, canals of milk and honey, natural springs, abundance of food and fruits, loving husband/wives, and children, and family, and friends, etc. And above all, they will get the Pleasure and Good Will of their Lord Most Supreme, Most Majestic!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 119:

Allah will say: "This is a Day on which the Truthful will profit from their Truth: theirs are Gardens with rivers flowing beneath their eternal home: Allah well-pleased with them and they with Allah: that is the Great Salvation!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Al-Bayyinah verse 8:

Their reward is with Allah: Gardens of Eternity Beneath which rivers flow; They will dwell therein for ever; Allah well pleased with them and they with Him: all this for such as fear their Lord and Cherisher.

Respected sister in Islam, in the realms of Paradise, it is not that one will be forced to keep or live with the spouse one married on this earth against their will…..but when given a choice the fortunate dwellers of Paradise will choose and desire their own spouse above all the dwellers of Paradise….such will be the attraction, and love, and beauty the Lord Most Gracious will instill in the sight of the couple who were married to pious spouses on this earth, and both were fortunate enough to enter Paradise!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan