Islamic Paradise, Houris and Sex

People might be wondering why Muslims alone carry out so many suicide bombings (or missions) so often  killing themselves and also others, considered as infidels in their language. One might contemplate  the motivations behind such acts! Sure, there are many reasons behind such acts and one such is attaining entry in to Paradise.

Also, it is not uncommon to come across some prominent Muslims declaring proudly that life in this world is not important but life in ‘hereafter’ [Life after death] is more important in Islamic view e.g. the view of the so called moderate Muslim: Imam Rauf, the brain behind $100 million mega imperial mosque in New York near ground zero.

Or who might proudly declare like this: Americans love Pepsi Cola; we (Muslims) love Death.

Or who might try to blow themselves, including young boys, up to kill others to enter paradise.

Or consider the following verse:

009.038(YUSUFALI): O you who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when you are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter.

Death, ‘hereafter’ and Paradise! For now, with out getting in to details of ‘hereafter’ lets look at the concept of Paradise as described in Koran and traditions of Prophet Mohammad (hadith). For people with critical minds, this concept of paradise in Islam explains a lot about primitiveness, shrewdness and, more importantly, psychological portrait of Prophet Mohammad.

It all starts with Muslims holding the belief that non-Muslims go to hell after death to burn there for eternity while Muslims go to Paradise. This is what Koran says and also gives graphical details about how Allah tortures non-Muslims for eternity for the simple reason that they did not worship him as laid down in Koran. It also gives graphical details about Paradise and how Muslims (men) enjoy there.

Just like many verses existing in Koran condemning non-Muslims to hell fire, Koran has plenty of verses literally telling that Muslims enter gardens of paradise:

11.023(YUSUFALI): But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord,- They will be companions of the gardens, to dwell therein for aye!
2.082(YUSUFALI): But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever).
4.057(YUSUFALI): But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall soon admit to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal home: Therein shall they have companions pure and holy: We shall admit them to shades, cool and ever deepening.
4.122(YUSUFALI): But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness,- we shall soon admit them to gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,-to dwell therein for ever. Allah's promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than Allah's?

9.072(YUSUFALI): Allah hath promised to Believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. ……
9.089(YUSUFALI): Allah hath prepared for them gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein: that is the supreme felicity.

‘Gardens with rivers flowing beneath’ …….; sounds poetic but it is real and tangible and will get sensual too! This kind of view pervades philosophy of Islam to such an extent that Muslims are often referred to as companions of Garden while non-Muslims are referred to as companions of hell fire. Koran even gives vivid description of how Muslims, from the premises of paradise, mock non-Muslims burning in hell fire:

7.042(YUSUFALI): But those who believe and work righteousness,- no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear,- they will be Companions of the Garden, therein to dwell (for ever).
7.044(YUSUFALI): The Companions of the Garden will call out to the Companions of the Fire: "We have indeed found the promises of our Lord to us true: Have you also found Your Lord's promises true?" They shall say, "Yes"; but a crier shall proclaim between them: "The curse of Allah is on the wrong-doers;-
7.50(YUSUFALI): The Companions of the Fire will call to the Companions of the Garden: "Pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance." They will say: "Both these things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him."

The philosophy of Muslims in paradise and non-Muslims burning in hell for eternity is not just exclusivist in its beliefs of what will happen after 'death' but in real and present life too as Allah fills Koran with verses exhorting Muslims to fight in his cause and subjugate non-Muslims; as Allah declares non-Muslims as his enemies (verse 2:98), he literally tells that non-Muslims are so evil by drawing their (Muslims) attention by comparing how he rewards Muslims and punishes non-Muslims:

47.015(YUSUFALI): (Here is) a Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits; and Grace from their Lord. (Can those in such Bliss) be compared to such as shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)?
9.073(YUSUFALI): O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.

Last verse is telling Muslims to fight people rejecting Islam because they were anyway condemned to hell as it tells their abode is hell. Viewed from Islamic perspective, by fighting and converting non-Muslims, Muslims are just saving non-Muslims from certain hell fire so, Muslims need not have any reservations regarding ethics in fighting non-Muslims. After all, when enemy is presented as wretched and lecherous, it becomes much easier for leaders to exhort their followers to war. Fighting even becomes humanitarian - for this 'fighting' and worshipping him, Allah lavishes everything human heart desires on this earth, including sensual pleasures on Muslims in Paradise.

According to Islamic theology - in the words of Ibn Kathir: "Allah saves Muslims from the torment of the Fire, which is a bounty itself. Added to this blessing is the fact that Muslims enter into Paradise, which has delights that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard nor has a heart ever imagined. All this because, Muslims served Allah alone [like slaves serve their master] by worsipping Allah alone (free of shirk) and stayed away from things and acts prohibited by Allah." So, the paradise of Allah is real and physical; it is like a improved version of earth filled with delights with absence of hardships.

Most religions - probably, the purpose of very religion is - try to answer the question of purpose of life on the earth; Islam gives the simplest answer: purpose of humanity is to worship Allah alone [verse 51:56: I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.] and to enter paradise to enjoy Allah's bounty as described in Koran.

Most of the descriptions of paradise in Koran immediately follow graphical details of how non-Muslims are tortured by Allah in hell. In this article, I just presented some relevant parts from those chapters in Koran giving descriptions of paradise and I avoided hadith in the beginning i.e. I have not quoted from hadith. The verses giving descriptions of wine and houris are in red letters and italics.

This is how Chapter 78 describes paradise and those, delights and joys, that are offered in paradise:

78:031-034(YUSUFALI):

• Verily for the Righteous there will be a fulfilment of (the heart's) desires;
• Gardens enclosed, and grapevines;
• And voluptuous women of equal age; ------- (1)
• And a cup full (to the brim).     ---------- (2)

So, (1) says women (houris) are on menu and 'voluptuous women' does not give the actual picture of these women! Many translations use phases like 'full breasted' or 'swelling breasts' for actual description (here, here). As one reads through, it becomes much clear that as Muslim men enter Paradise, they are wedded to beautiful women, generally called 'houris' , so that Muslim men can satisfy their desires of heart.

Classical Islamic scholar Ibn Kathir describes as: "wide-eyed maidens with fully developed breasts. The Arabic word used here is Kawa`ib . Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and others have said that this means round breasts. They meant by this that the breasts of these girls will be fully rounded and not sagging, because they will be virgins, equal in age. This means that they will only have one age.'' We discuss this subject of  'houris' at the end of this post in detail. 

(2) says wine is also on the menu! Allah prohibited Muslims from consuming alcohol on the earth! How could this be? You will get the answer below.

Chapter 37 gives more details on this Islamic paradise:

37.040-049 (YUSUF ALI):

• But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,-

• For them is a Sustenance determined,
• Fruits (Delights); and they (shall enjoy) honour and dignity,
• In Gardens of Felicity,
• Facing each other on Thrones (of Dignity):
• Round will be passed to them a Cup from a clear-flowing fountain,
• Crystal-white, of a taste delicious to those who drink (thereof),
• Free from headiness; nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.  ------- (3)
• And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty). -------- (4)
• As if they were (delicate) eggs closely guarded. 

Allah allowed wine in Paradise and gives his slaves in copious amounts because wine in paradise does not have intoxicating effects, meaning no headache and madness, on residents as (3) suggests. Biological functions and metabolism in Allah's hell are completely different from earth just as Allah's hell defies all scientific laws and laws of physics on earth. Ibn Kathir describes 'wine in cups' in the following manner: "cups, jugs and the glasses will contain wine drawn from a flowing spring, not from containers that might get empty. Rather, this spring of wine flows freely; Muslims will never get headaches from this wine nor intoxicated. Rather, this wine does not affect their minds, even though it has a strong and tremendously delightful taste. Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas: "The wine (of this life) has four side-effects, it intoxicates, gives headaches, induces vomiting and causes excessive urine. So Allah mentioned the wine of Paradise free of these characteristics.""

Chapter 44 gives more details on appearance of houris:

44:051-056 (YUSUF ALI):

• As to the Righteous (they will be) in a position of Security,
• Among Gardens and Springs;
• Dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, they will face each other;   -------(5)
• So; and We shall join them to fair women with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.   ----(6)
• There can they call for every kind of fruit in peace and security;
• Nor will they there taste Death, except the first death; and He will preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire,- 

Fair women?  Isn't Allah racist as he does not entertain the idea of black and non-white women as houris as (6) suggests? The idea of houri (women married to Muslims in Paradise) as fair is also seen in the verse 55:70 (In them will be fair (Companions), good, beautiful;- )

Now, we come to chapter 52: 

52.017-024 (YUSUF ALI):

• As to the Righteous, they will be in Gardens, and in Happiness,-
• Enjoying the (Bliss) which their Lord hath bestowed on them, and their Lord shall deliver them from the Penalty of the Fire.
• To them will be said:) "Eat and drink ye, with profit and health, because of your (good) deeds."
• They will recline (with ease) on Thrones (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We shall join them to Companions, with beautiful big and lustrous eyes.  ------- (7)
• And those who believe and whose families follow them in Faith,- to them shall We join their families: Nor shall We deprive them (of the fruit) of aught of their works: (Yet) is each individual in pledge for his deeds.
• And We shall bestow on them, of fruit and meat, anything they shall desire.
• They shall there exchange, one with another, a (loving) cup free of frivolity, free of all taint of ill.
• Round about them will serve, (devoted) to them, young male servants (handsome) as Pearls well-guarded.  ------- (8)

In (7), verse 52:20, read  'join them to Companions, with beautiful big and lustrous eyes' as 'wed them to ....'.

From (8), we again see that Allah is allowing one of those activities he banned on the earth; here, it is  lesbianism (sodomy), something which he describes as abominable crime (on earth) to the effect that he casts shower of brimstones on people (People of Lot) practicing it; and in Islamic law, sodomy (Lesbianism) is punishable by death (here). Two other verses speaking about sodomy in paradise are:

056.017 (YUSUFALI): Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness),
076.019 (YUSUFALI): And round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness): If thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls

Ibn Kathir on the verse 76:19 says: "Young boys from the boys of Paradise will go around serving the people of Paradise. (perpetual youth) means, 'Boys are in one state forever which they will be never changing from, they will not increase in age'. Concerning Allah's statement, (If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls.) it means, 'when you see them dispersing to fulfill the needs of their masters, their great number, their beautiful faces, handsome colors, fine clothing and ornaments, you would think that they were scattered pearls. ' There is no better quality than this, nor is there anything nicer to look at than scattered pearls in a beautiful place."

Some Muslim commentators, troubled by this kind of verses, claim that the boys mentioned about are simply servants. By using language that implies that the boys are young, fresh, virgin (well guarded pearls and hidden pearls) and beautiful (scattered pearls) leaves little room for interpretation, except of purpose of sexual pleasures, by those who seek to justify the availability of boys in the hereafter for Muslim men. Why had Allah not used older men or women, not mentioning their beauty or virginity or freshness, as servants? Simply mentioning like obedient servants would have done! Or even why (boy servants) do they have to stay ever-young and adorned in opulent dresses exhibiting splendor? But, there are many Islamic scholars who are not shy of admitting it; Late author and journalist Muhammad Galal Al-Kushk wrote:

"The men in Paradise have sexual relations not only with the women [who come from this world] and with the black-eyed, but also with the serving boys. In paradise, a believer's penis is eternally erect." (Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 11, 2001.)

Chapter 56 is probably the first sura (Chapter) on giving details of heaven and hell, when Koran is seen in chronological order. It divides humanity in to 3 groups; companions of left hand definitely refers to non-Muslims while companions of right hand refers to Muslims. But the third group is also of Muslims categorized as 'foremost'; Ibn Kathir - in his tafsir - says, "this category is comprised of those who are the foremost and nearest before Allah. They are in a better grade and status and nearer to Allah than those on the right side. They are the chiefs of those on the right side, because they include the Messengers, Prophets, true believers and martyrs. They are fewer than those on the right side."

Ibn Kathir also notes that Muslims coming under the group 'companions of right hand' are lesser in rank than the group of Muslims under 'foremost'. It means all Muslims will go to paradise but suicide bombers (those who are waging Jihad) will go to better paradise.

Apart from this difference and other minor differences, there is not much difference in joys of paradise available to these groups in terms of food and women.

56.007-038(YUSUFALI):

• And ye shall be sorted out into three classes. 
• Then (there will be) the Companions of the Right Hand;- What will be the Companions of the Right Hand? 
• And the Companions of the Left Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Left Hand? 
• And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter). 
• These will be those Nearest to Allah: 
• In Gardens of Bliss: 
• A number of people from those of old, 
• And a few from those of later times. 
• (They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones), 
• Reclining on them, facing each other. 
• Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness),   -------(9)
• With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains: 
• No after-ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication:  ---(10)
• And with fruits, any that they may select: 
• And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire. 
• And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,-  ------- (11)
• Like unto Pearls well-guarded. 
• A Reward for the deeds of their past (life). 
• Not frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill,- 
• Only the saying, "Peace! Peace". 
• The Companions of the Right Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Right Hand? 
• (They will be) among Lote-trees without thorns, 
• Among Talh trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another,- 
• In shade long-extended, 
• By water flowing constantly, 
• And fruit in abundance. 
• Whose season is not limited, nor (supply) forbidden, 
• And on Thrones (of Dignity), raised high. 
• We have created (their Companions) of special creation.   --------- (12)
• And made them virgin - pure (and undefiled), -   -------- (13)
• Beloved (by nature), equal in age,- 

If Chapter 56 divided Muslims in two groups where in one group is higher than other in the eyes of Allah, Chapter 55 gives an idea that there are two kinds of paradise, one better than other. Ibn Kathir tells the first garden mentioned in this chapter is for the group 'foremost' and is better and grandiose than the next one because every thing is this 'first' garden is made of gold and in the 'second' garden, every thing is made of silver. He says that vessels in the second paradise, even though they are made of silver, are crystal clear meaning what is inside of them will be visible from outside because Silver in paradise is very white and transparent. Ibn Kathir again strengthens the logic that those who died while waging Jihad will be superior in the eyes of Allah and will be in better paradise compared to other Muslims.

55.046 (YUSUFALI):  But for such as fear the time when they will stand before (the Judgment Seat of) their Lord, there will be two Gardens-
55.048 : Containing all kinds (of trees and delights);-
55.050 : In them (each) will be two Springs flowing (free);
55.052 : In them will be Fruits of every kind, two and two.
55.054 (: They will recline on Carpets, whose inner linings will be of rich brocade: the Fruit of the Gardens will be near (and easy of reach).
55.056 : In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched;-      ------- (14)
55.058 : Like unto Rubies and coral.    ------ (15)

55.062 (YUSUFALI): And besides these two, there are two other Gardens,-
55.064 : Dark-green in colour (from plentiful watering).
55.066 : In them (each) will be two Springs pouring forth water in continuous abundance:
55.068 : In them will be Fruits, and dates and pomegranates:
55.070 : In them will be fair (Companions), good, beautiful;-      --------- (16)
55.072 : Companions restrained (as to their glances), in (goodly) pavilions;-   ------- (17)
55.074 : Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched;-  ----- (18)
55.076 : Reclining on green Cushions and rich Carpets of beauty. 

Chapter 76 is another chapter which describes punishment of non-Muslims in hell followed by delights of Muslims in paradise. Regarding the climate in paradise, one will get a hint from here that as Ibn Kathir says: "There will be no disturbing heat with them nor any painful cold, rather there will only be one climate that will be always and eternal and they will not want it to be changed." But one can not understand, then, why Muslims are given a drink of camphor which is for cooling (verse 76.05).

76.012-021(YUSUFALI):

• And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk.
• Reclining in the (Garden) on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's) excessive cold.
• And the shades of the (Garden) will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility.
• And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and goblets of crystal,-
• Crystal-clear, made of silver: they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes).
• And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Zanjabil,-
• A fountain there, called Salsabil.
• And round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness): If thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls. 
• And when thou lookest, it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent.
• Upon them will be green Garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine Pure and Holy. 

Ibn Kathir explains the verses (17-18) in the following manner: "On one occasion they will be given a drink (wine) that is mixed with camphor, and it is cool. Then on another occasion they will be given a drink mixed with ginger, and it is hot. This is so that their affair will be balanced. However, those who are nearest to Allah, they will drink from all of it however they wish." "Salsabil is the name of a spring in Paradise. It is called this due to its continuous flowing and the severity of its current." And Tasnim is the name of other spring. One will contain water and other will contain wine. 

Regarding the food, Koran elucidates on variety of foods available to Muslims in paradise like meat, fruits and anything a Muslim desires. For some reason, it is fruits which get lot of mention in Koran. Ibn Kathir, yet again describes, that every fruit that is available on earth is available in paradise, difference being they are better in taste and also available all the time, not depending on seasons. He even says, "Whenever Muslim attempts to get any fruit, it will come nearer to him and come down from its highest branch as if it hears and If he stands it will rise with him an equal amount, if he sits it will lower itself for him so that he can reach it and if he lies down it will lower itself for him more so that he can reach it."

With such gluttony, how will Muslims relieve themselves in paradise and what will happen to all that food? Metabolism in paradise is completely different from that of earth and there isn't any need for relieving or spitting or vomiting or urinating as following hadith describes:

I heard Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying that the inmates of Paradise would eat and drink but would neither spit, nor pass water, nor void excrement, nor suffer catarrah. It was said: Then, what would happen with food? Thereupon he said: They would belch and sweat (and it would be over with their food), and their sweat would be that of musk and they would glorify and praise Allah as easily as you breathe. (Sahih Muslim; book 40, # 6798)

Body waste through sweating! Considering possibility of lots of sweat and bad smell with it, Allah made sweat in paradise smell like or like musk. It is funny that only duty for them in paradise is praising and glorifying Allah. Hasn't Allah said that Muslims are in paradise for doing that on earth? Heaven knows who really needs that kind of praise and glorification on earth and heaven?

Finally, chapter 83 informs that wine in paradise will be mixed with musk; musk should not be in shortage as Muslims keep sweating it out.

83.022 (YUSUFALI):
Truly the Righteous will be in Bliss:
On Thrones (of Dignity) will they command a sight (of all things):
Thou wilt recognise in their faces the beaming brightness of Bliss.
Their thirst will be slaked with Pure Wine sealed:
The seal thereof will be Musk: And for this let those aspire, who have aspirations: 

Besides wine and delicacies of food, comforts of paradise include luxuries of reclining on cushions and carpets and thrones, wearing of silk garments and being adorned with gold and silver ornaments with pearls.

It is, before proceeding further, worth mentioning that Koran is completely clue less or unclear in telling whether Muslims go to paradise immediately after death or only on the Day of the Judgment. Some hadith say that Muslims who died in Jihad will be immediately admitted to paradise while others have to wait for Day of Judgment. This proposition becomes another and added incentive to Jihadists on going on suicide bombings.

Another incentive thrown by Koran and Hadith for those dying in Jihad is that they do not have to spend any time in hell fire as Allah forgives all their past sins. Sure, every Muslim ends up in paradise but first they too will be punished by Allah in hell fire for limited time for minor sins they committed on earth as part of Allah's mercy towards Muslims. 

In reverse analogy, it must give an idea to readers that, since Allah burns infidels in hell for eternity for their disbelief in Allah and Islam, how big crime this disbelief in Islam is? Koran aptly sums it up in verses 4:48 and 4:116: Disbelief in Islam is the unpardonable sin. Then, does belief in Islam leads to some spiritual enlightenment in this life or after death? For men, belief in Islam leads to orgy and one can decide whether this is enlightenment? 

HOURIS         

Of all joys and delights in paradise, the one promise that eclipses all these physical and real delights is the promise of beautiful women, who are of special creation and called houris, to Muslim men. Koran itself gives, as one has seen from above verses, extensive descriptions of how these houris look like and their special qualities. And then we have hadith too.

Some might think that only those Muslims who waged Jihad will be presented with houris! But above verses (14) and (16) clearly suggest that all Muslim men will get to enjoy houris. The differences between ordinary Muslims and Muslims who waged Jihad and died in Jihad is that later are in superior paradise with various Prophets as companions and two other mentioned above.

Koran starts with saying that Muslim men upon entering paradise will be wedded to houris:

So; and We shall join them to fair women with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes (44:54)
They will recline (with ease) on Thrones (of dignity) arranged in ranks; and We shall join them to Companions, with beautiful big and lustrous eyes. (52:20)

Other two translations use the word 'wed' in place of 'join'. From hadith, we have:

Allah's Apostle said, "The first group of people who will enter Paradise, will be glittering like the full moon and those who will follow them, will glitter like the most brilliant star in the sky. They will not urinate, relieve nature, spit, or have any nasal secretions. Their combs will be of gold, and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers. Their wives will be houris. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in statute), sixty cubits tall." (Sahih Bukhari, volume 4, book 55, #544)

Some Muslims tend to say that the women mentioned in above Koranic verses are not for sexual purposes but, Koran mentioning the word 'wed' or 'join' combined with description of their beauty and many other attributes only point to one purpose i.e. sex. Then, hadith literally referring to these houris as wives further confirms that it is all about sex.

But, how many houris every Muslim man gets to enjoy? Koran does not give any number but hadiths give the number:

Every man who enters paradise shall be given seventy two houris (wide eyed virgins); no matter at what age he had died, when he is admitted into paradise, he will become a thirty-year-old, and shall not age any further. A man in paradise shall be given virility equal to that of one hundred men. (Tirmizi vol.2)  -----  (19)

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "The martyr receives six good things from Allah: he is forgiven at the first shedding of his blood; he is shown his abode in Paradise; he is preserved from the punishment in the grave; he is kept safe from the greatest terror; he has placed on his head the crown of honour, a ruby of which is better than the world and what it contains; he is married to seventy-two wives of the maidens with large dark eyes; and is made intercessor for seventy of his relatives." (MISHKAT AL-MASABIH (Hadith))

The Prophet said: “The least reward for the people of paradise is 80,000 servants and 72 wives” (Tirmizi 2562)

Allah's Apostle said, "In Paradise there is a pavilion made of a single hollow pearl sixty miles wide, in each corner of which there are wives who will not see those in the other corners; and the believers will visit and enjoy them. And there are two gardens, the utensils and contents of which are made of silver; and two other gardens, the utensils and contents of which are made of so-and-so (i.e. gold) and nothing will prevent the people staying in the Garden of Eden from seeing their Lord except the curtain of Majesty over His Face." (Sahih Bukhari; vol. 6, book 60, #402)

Coming to description of various attributes of houris, Koran tells houris are of specially creation and...:

56:35-37(YUSUF ALI): We have created (their Companions) of special creation.
And made them virgin - pure (and undefiled), -
Beloved (by nature), equal in age,- 

37:048 : And besides them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes (of wonder and beauty).
55:056 : In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched;- 
55.058 : Like unto Rubies and coral.
55.072 : Companions restrained (as to their glances), in (goodly) pavilions;- 
55:074 : Whom no man or Jinn before them has touched;-

Overall, houris are beautiful with big, lustrous eyes, shy, pure and virgin - who were never touched before -and waiting solely for their Muslim man to enter paradise to initiate them in to body pleasures. Houris are created in such a manner by Allah that even after intercourse, houris stay like virgins (source, page 290) In the words of Prophet Mohammad:

The Prophet said: A houri is a most beautiful young woman with a transparent body. The marrow of her bones is visible like the interior lines of pearls and rubies. She looks like red wine in a white glass. She is of white color, and free from the routine physical disabilities of an ordinary woman such as menstruation, menopause, urinal and offal discharge, child bearing and the related pollution. A houri is a girl of tender age, having large breasts which are round (pointed), and not inclined to dangle. Houris dwell in palaces of splendid surroundings. (Al-Tirmizi, volume 2, pg 35-40)

But, what about the words like 'chaste' and 'restraining their glances' in the verse 37:48? This is how Ibn Kathir explains:

'Chaste females' and 'wives restraining their glances' means they desire none except their husbands and see them as the most beautiful men in Paradise. Various sources said that one of these wives will say to her husband, "By Allah! I neither see anything in Paradise more handsome than you nor more beloved to me than you. So praise be to Allah Who made you for me and made me for you.'' 

Houris are young and equal in age, but what about Muslims entering paradise? One man might die at the age of 90 years or 40 years or a baby boy might die when it is few days old! So, at what will be his age as he enters paradise?  Allah is all knowing so, he transforms all Muslim men entering paradise to 30 year olds [see (19)]. So a baby boy of 10 days old will get a 30 year old body and 72 virgins!!! Shouldn't jealousy come up with in houris as there are 72 of them and only one man? Not a problem, because in paradise, every Muslim man will be given the virility of 100 men [see (19)]:

The Prophet said: “The believer will be given tremendous strength in Paradise for sexual intercourse”. It was questioned: “O prophet of Allah! can he do that?” He said: “He will be given the strength of one hundred persons.” (Tirmizi, 2536) [Ibn Kathir too confirms this in his tafsir]

Allah’s Messenger said: “Allah will not admit anyone into Paradise but Allah, the Mighty and glorious will marry him with seventy two wives, Every one of them will have a pleasant vagina and he (the man) will have sexual organ that does not bend down during sexual intercourse.” (Ibn Majah, 5:4337)

72 houris and strength of 100 men! Bit unbalanced? It is not just with their wedded houris, Muslim men will have sex! Because there is a market place in paradise which consist of women and boys and Muslim men can visit this too:

The Apostle of Allah said, "There is in Paradise a market wherein there will be no buying or selling, but will consist of men and women. When a man desires a beauty, he will have intercourse with them."(Al Hadith, Vol. 4, p. 172, No. 34)

And, person with strength of 100 men, it can come around to one intercourse per every 15 minutes; what ever it is, delights of paradise can only be called lust. If one reads properly they can realize Islamic philosophy in simplest words that Koran stating worship of Allah is the sole purpose in this life to attain paradise - after death - so that men can satisfy their carnal desires; this kind of construct reduces a man to a sexual beast.

At the same time, lets ask a simple question: what about Muslim women? What do they get in Islamic paradise? Previously, we have seen what Prophet Mohammad said about women! Koran does not mention any thing about women nor hadith give any details except that women in paradise are united with their husbands; So, if a woman found that her husband is abusive on the earth, she will have no choice but to be his wife in paradise too only in the hope that her husband is really transformed with that famous drink Allah gives every man on entering paradise which removes all evil and be satisfied in the knowledge that her husband is having wonderful time with houris. At what age she enters paradise? Neither Koran nor hadith give any details. They are not needed because concept of woman in Islam is that they not unto themselves but belongs to one or other man at all time.

How do Muslims take to this kind of description (one can also read this)? It is enough to know that the most prestigious institute of Islamic learning gets involved in debates on this kind of issues:

In 1992, Islamic assassins had gunned down ...Farag Foda, a professor and a columnist, a human rights activist, and an outspoken critic of Islamic militants.....About two weeks  before his murder, he mocked what passed for intellectual discourse among Islamists by citing a recent sermon Egypt's most popular preacher....[who] had been telling his audience that Muslims who entered paradise would enjoy eternal erections  and the company of young boys draped in earrings and necklaces. Some of the ulema, the religious scholars at Al-Azhar University had disagreed. Yes, they said, men in paradise would have erections, but merely protracted, not perpetual. (Judith Miller, God has Ninety Nine Names, Simon and Schuster, 1996, pp 25-36)

For further reading:  http://islamqa.com/en/ref/10053