At our April 16 Story Hour in San Francisco, Heina did a great reading called “The Heavenly Sex-Bots” about the sexualized nature of paradise in Islam. In particular, she talked about how very different the rewards (or more realistically, the duties) are for women. For instance, while a man goes to heaven based on his earthly deeds, a wife’s rewards are wholly dependent on her husband calling her to heaven to be by his side (along with his virgins). As Heina says, in part:
Muslim women do believe it, some believe in it all, fervently, wholly.
That there are heavenly maidens that Allah has already predestined to marry their husbands after they die.
That these women are perfect as per the beauty myth circa 600 BC: eyes with dark pupils and clear whites, glowing with fairness of both kinds, and forever virgins.
That, like Aphrodite-Venus, they were created with the utmost in carnal knowledge paired with that ever alluring, ever-renewing virginity.
That, when an earthly wife refuses or displeases her husband, those virgins scold them from up on high, reminding them that the man is only to stay with them temporarily.
That, if an earthly wife refuses sex with her husband, the angels curse her all night.
That the hour al-ayn, luminous and numerous like scattered pearls, are promised to their husbands.
That the earthly wife has to be called by him to join her husband in heaven.
That if the earthly wife isn’t called, there’s no promise of sex for her.
If you weren’t able to be there with us (or even if you were), the video of her whole performance is below. If you’re not a video kind of person, she has the entire script up on Skepchick.
Leave a Reply