Will a Wife Be with Her Husband in Heaven in the Same Position?

Syekh Mahir Ahmad Ash-Shuffi, in his work Jinanul Khuldi, Naimuha wa Qushuruha wa Huruha, explains that this is a classic question often asked by women, especially those who have a good relationship with their Lord and possess a high degree of piety and righteousness. Their question is always the same: ‘Where will I be with my husband in his position, when I have done deeds in the world like his, or perhaps even more? Where is my position? My position should be equal to his.’ To answer this doubt, Syekh Mahir Ahmad Ash-Shuffi explains that when we think of divine reward, we tend to visualise palaces, gardens, and worldly pleasures. This is because the mind alone is incapable of comprehending the true nature of our existence in paradise. Furthermore, it is impossible for the created mind to know the true manner of our existence in eternal paradise. The first answer to this question is to distance the world and its pleasures from our illustrations and to understand one truth: that this matter is far greater than the world and all it contains. The understanding of one’s position in this world is completely different from the understanding of one’s position in the hereafter. The last person to enter paradise, after whom the gates will be closed, will be given dominion equivalent to the kingdom of a king in this world, plus ten times more. Then, Allah will tell him to wish, and when he has exhausted his wishes, Allah will grant them. Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrated from Al-Mughirah bin Syu’bah in a marfu’ hadith that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: ‘The last inhabitant of paradise to enter is a man who will come out crawling, and Allah will say to him, “Go and enter paradise!” He will approach it and think that it is full, so he will return and say, “O Lord, I found it full.” Allah will say, “Go and enter paradise, for you will have the like of the world and ten times more, or you will have ten times the like of the world.”’