Why are some things forbidden in this world when they are permitted in Paradise?

In His Holy Book, Allaah has mentioned Paradise and what He has prepared therein. He has mentioned the attributes of Paradise and of its people in numerous places in the Quraan, such as the aayaat (interpretation of the meaning):

Therein will be a running spring.

Therein will be thrones raised high.

And cups set at hand.

And cushions set in rows.

And rich carpets (all) spread out

[al-Ghaashiyah 88:12-16]

But for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. in Paradise).

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?

With spreading branches.

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?

In them (both) will be two springs flowing (free).

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?

In them (both) will be every kind of fruit in pairs.

[al-Rahmaan 55:46-52]

Wherein both will be Qaasiraat ut-Tarf [chaste females (wives) restraining their glances, desiring none except – their husbands], with whom no man or jinni has had Tamth [sexual intercourse] before them.

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?

(In beauty) they are like rubies and coral.

[al-Rahmaan 55:56-58]

Hoor (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions

[al-Rahmaan 55:72]

And (there will be) Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes (as wives for Al-Muttaqoon the pious).

Like unto preserved pearls.

A reward for what they used to do.

[al-Waaqiah 56:22-24]

There are many saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which describe the women of Paradise and state that they will be prepared on the Day of Resurrection for the muttaqoon (pious). Among these ahaadeeth is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

The first group to enter Paradise will look like the moon on the night when it is full, then those who follow them will look like the brightest star in the sky; they will not urinate or defecate or spit or blow their noses. Their combs will be of gold and their sweat will be musk and their incense-burners will be pearls. Their wives will be al-hoor al-iyn. Their appearance will be the same and they will look like their father Adam who was sixty cubits tall.

(Saheeh al-Jaami, 2015).

It was also reported that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: A tent will be a pearl sixty miles high, in each corner of which will be a wife for the believer whom no one else will see.

(Saheeh al-Jaami, 3357).

In these ahaadeeth the women of Paradise are mentioned who have been prepared for the men. In His Book, Allaah called them al-Hoor. Al-Hoor is the plural of Hooraa . Al-Qurtubi said in al-Ahkaam (17/12): (This means) a woman in whose eyes the white is intensely white and the black is intensely black. We believe in that with absolute faith uncontaminated with any doubts. It is part of the essentials of our belief. For more information see Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Kitaab Bad al-Khalq, Baab Sifat al-Jannah; and Saheeh Muslim, Abwaab Sifat al-Jannah; and Sifat al-Jannah by Abul-Naeem al-Isfahaani, which describes the women of the people of Paradise and their beauty.

With regard to the question about why Islam encourages and gives glad tidings of things in Paradise which are forbidden in this world, such as men having intimate relationships with women outside of the framework of marriage before we answer this question, we must make a serious point, which is that Allaah forbids whatever He wills in this world to its people, for He is the Creator and Sovereign of these things, so it is not permissible for anyone to object to the ruling of Allaah on the basis of his foolish thinking and imperfect understanding. The ruling and the decision of the matter, before and after, is only with Allaah, and there is none who can overturn His ruling, may He be glorified and exalted.

With regard to the question of why Allaah forbids some things in this world, then in the Hereafter will permit them as a reward to those who abstained from them (such as wine, zinaa, wearing silk for men, etc.), this is what Allaah wills to give as a reward to those who obey Him and patiently strive in this world. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

Is there any reward for good other than good? [al-Rahmaan 55:60]

With regard to the reason why these things are forbidden, there follow a few important points:

Firstly:

We do not necessarily know all the reasons why things are forbidden. There are some reasons which we do not know. The basic principle is to accept and submit to the texts even if we do not know the reason, because submission is the point of Islam which is based on complete obedience to Allaah, may He be exalted.

Secondly:

Some of the reasons for the prohibitions may be clear to us, such as the corruptions that result from zinaa, e.g., the mixing of lineages, the spread of fatal diseases and so on. When Islam forbids unlawful relationships, the intention is to protect peoples lineage and honour, which may not mean anything to the kaafirs and immoral people, who jump on one another like donkeys, with a boyfriend having intercourse with his girlfriend and people having intercourse with their own relatives and so on, as if they are in the jungle. Indeed, they are worse than animals, for some animals refuse to do such a thing, but these people do not refuse and do not care. As a result of this promiscuity, the ties that bind society disintegrate and it becomes filled with fatal sexual diseases which are an indication of the wrath of Allaah towards those who violate His sacred limits and make permissible that which is forbidden.

This is unlike the relationship of a man with the Hooris in Paradise which is what has been asked about here for we may note that in the case of a promiscuous woman in this world, her honour is readily available to all and she has no religious commitment or shame. She is not bound by a lawful relationship to one person. So men and women have intercourse with whomever they want, with no restrictions of religion or morality. But the hooris in Paradise are restrained and restricted to their husbands to whom Allaah has given them as a reward for their patience in abstaining from haraam things in this world. As Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

Hoor (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions

[al-Rahmaan 55:72]

with whom no man or jinni has had Tamth [sexual intercourse] before them. [al-Rahmaan 55:56]

The hoori is a wife for the man, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

and We shall marry them to Hooris [female fair ones] with wide, lovely eyes [al-Dukhaan 44:54].

And they will be confined to their husbands, and no one else will have a share in them.

Thirdly:

Allaah who has declared that in this world a man is not permitted to have more than four wives at one time is the One Who will bless the people of Paradise with whatever He wills of al-hoor al-iyn. So there is no contradiction between what is forbidden in this world and in the Hereafter, because the rulings of each are different, in accordance with what the Lord wills. Undoubtedly the Hereafter is far better and more lasting than this world. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present worlds life; but Allaah has the excellent return (Paradise with flowing rivers) with Him.

Say: Shall I inform you of things far better than those? For Al-Muttaqoon (the pious) there are Gardens (Paradise) with their Lord, underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is their) eternal (home) and Azwaajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives). And Allaah will be pleased with them. And Allaah is All-Seer of the (His) slaves.

[Aal Imraan 3:14-15]

Fourthly:

This prohibition may be a kind of test from Allaah to His slaves, to see whether they will obey these commands and avoid that which He has forbidden. The test could not be with regard to something for which people have no inclination and which they do not like; it has to be with regard to something to which they are inclined and attracted. This testing may include wealth will a person take from that which is permitted and dispose of it in manners which are permitted, and will he fulfil the rights which Allaah has over it? The test with regard to women is: will he restrict himself to that which Allaah has permitted him of women, and will he lower his gaze and avoid seeking pleasure in that which Allaah has forbidden. It is an aspect of Allaahs mercy may He be exalted and glorified that He does not forbid something to which people are inclined without allowing something of that nature and there is much which is permitted.

Fifthly:

The rulings (ahkaam) of this world are not like the rulings of the Hereafter. The wine of this world causes people to lose their minds, unlike the good wine of the Hereafter which does not make people lose their minds or cause headaches or stomachaches. What Allaah has prepared for the believers of women on the Day of Resurrection as a reward for their obedience is not like zinaa which violates peoples honour, confuses lineages, spreads diseases and leads to regret. The women of Paradise are pure and good; they will never die or get old, unlike the women of this world. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.

And made them virgins.

Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age

[al-Waaqiah 56:35]

We ask Allaah to bless us with the best of this world and the next, and to help us to be obedient to His commands and to have certain faith in His reward and to keep us safe from His punishment. And Allaah knows best.