(Original Source: http://abu-hurayrah.blogspot.com/2005/07/more-women-in-hell.html)

 More Women in Hell?

 By Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abassommar

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Sometimes we quote one hadith and thinks that’s the end of the story. I do this often. But you can only get the end of the story when you combine all ahadith that are relevant to that hadith and make a serious analysis and study to find out the real end of the story:

Sayyiduna Imraan ibn Husayn [Radhiallaahu anhu] reports that Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, ‘I saw women as the major inhabitants of Jahannum.’ (Sahih Bukhari Hadith3241; Sahih Muslim Hadith6872, 6873)

Sayyiduna Imraan ibn Husayn [Radhiallaahu anhu] reports that Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, ‘I saw women as the minority of the inhabitants of Jannah.’ (Sahih Muslim Hadith6877)

These Ahaadith gives the impression that the women of this world will be less in Jannah compared to the men. However, Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra [Radhiallaahu anhu] was asked as to who will be in the majority in Jannah, the human males or females, he replied by narrating the Hadith in which Rasulullah [Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam] has stated that ‘every male in Jannah will have 2 (human) wives.’ (Sahih Muslim Hadith7076)

Hafiz ibn Hajar al-Asqalani [ra] says, ‘Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra [Radhiallaahu anhu] used this Hadith as a proof to maintain that there would be more women in Jannah than men… and this is clearly understood.’ (Fath al-Baari vol.6 pg.400; Hadith3246)

The Muhadditheen (experts in Hadith) have resolved this apparent contradiction through the following explanations:

1. These Ahaadith are clear that females in Jannah and Jahannum will outnumber males by a great margin. (Sharh al-Nawawiy vol.9 pg.170)

2. The women could be more in Jahannam and less in Jannah at the beginning. Thereafter, when they are cleansed of their sins or when intercession on their behalf is accepted, they would be entered into Jannah and they would outnumber the men there too. (Fath al-Baari vol.6 pg.401; Hadith3246 – Sifatul Jannah of Hafiz ibn Katheer pg.130)

3. The Ahaadith that indicate the women as the major inhabitants of Jahannam refer to that time when Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] had physically seen Jannah and Jahannam. They do not mention that it will always remain like that. (Faydhul Baari and Malfoozaat-e-Kashmiri vol.4 pg.244)

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abassommar
FACULTY OF SPECIALTY IN HADITH SCIENCES
checked & approved by: MUFTI EBRAHIM DESAI (FATWA DEPT.)

Ma Salam