Will a married woman be able to choose a husband in Jannah if she does not desire to be with her husband in Jannah?

Question:

The wives of the believers will have their husbands in Paradise, and the unmarried woman will have whatever man she desires in Paradise.Is it possible for a married woman to have the option of the unmarried woman if she does not desire to be with her husband in Paradise, and is just living her life for the sake of her children?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Allāh Ta’ālā states in the Qurān:

فَلاَ تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ (سورة السجدة، رقم الآية 17)

No soul knows (the reality) of what is hidden from them from the cooling bounties (of Jannah) (Surah as-Sajdah, Verse 17)

It is clear from the above-mentioned verse that the reality of Jannah (paradise) is beyond human comprehension.

In a Hadīth al-Qudsī, Rasūlullāh Sallallāh Alaihi Wa Sallam has stated:

أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِي الصَّالِحِينَ مَا لاَ عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ، وَلاَ أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ، وَلاَ خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ (صحيح البخارى، بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي صِفَةِ الجَنَّةِ وَأَنَّهَا مَخْلُوقَةٌ)

(Allāh Ta’ālā says) I have prepared for my obedient servants that which no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever thought of. (Sahīh al-Bukhārī)

In normal circumstances, a wife enjoys the company of her husband. In your case, it seems that you may have some misgivings regarding your husband. In Jannah, all misgivings will be removed and hearts will be free from hatred and dislike. Consider the following verse:

وَنزعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ (سورة الحجر، رقم الآية 47)

And We will remove the malice from the hearts (of the inhabitants of Jannah) (Surah al-Hijr, Verse 47)

In essence, the desires of each and every inhabitant of Jannah will be fulfilled. Allāh Ta’ālā states in the Qurān:

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ (سورة حم السجدة، رقم الآية 31)

And for you in Jannah is whatever your heart’s desire. (Surah HāMīm as-Sajdah, Verse 31)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.