The Historical Method of Quranic Exegesis: The Development of the Houris’ Image in the Context of the Qurʾān

Abstract

There is no consensus regarding the identity of the houris mentioned in the Qurʾān. Traditionally, they are understood as heavenly maidens prepared as a reward for righteous Muslims. However, not all scholars believe that houris are maidens. For instance, Christoph Luxenberg defended the hypothesis that houris are not ‘maidens’ at all, but rather ‘white grapes’ under which righteous Muslims would rest. Such a view of Islamic eschatology calls into question the validity of the traditional approach to interpreting those Quranic passages that contain direct references to these beings or allusions to their existence in paradise (depending on interpretation).

If analysis of C. Luxenberg’s ideas demonstrates the validity of his hypothesis, it could undermine the authority of exegetes who have interpreted Quranic passages mentioning or alluding to houris in the traditional manner. This, in turn, could cast a shadow over Islam as a whole — as a religion that allegedly distorts its own sacred text. The aim of the article is to examine this non-traditional Islamic view using the historical me­thod of interpretation. The study has demonstrated the inadequacy of this author’s ideas.

The essence of the historical method consists in tracing the development of any concept (paradise and hell, faith and unbelief, angels and demons) in the Quranic text. In order to understand how a particular concept or article of faith developed from a chronological perspective, it is necessary not only to analyze the Quranic passages addressing this issue, but also to arrange them in chronological order. The latter is a task far more difficult than it might appear at first glance. The main problem is that the order of the suras (chapters) of the Qurʾān does not correspond to the order in which they were revealed. In other words, the first sura was not revealed by Muhammad before the others, and the 114th (the last one) was not revealed after all the rest. However, it is precisely this approach that helps not merely to summarize knowledge regarding any aspect of Muslim doctrine, but to trace its development.