Question:

I know the Quran states that we can get whatever we want and desire. I am black and want to be white in heaven or Jannah. I want white skin, blue eyes, and long flowing hair in Jannah. But my friends and family say that I can never be white in heaven. Is this true?

Answer:

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

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Before addressing the question, it is important to note that Allāh ﷻ has not assigned any superiority to a specific race, color, or culture. The only virtue that one has over another is through taqwā (connection with Allāh ﷻ).

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (سورة الحجرات: ١٣)

“O Mankind! We created you all from a single man and a single woman and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. According to Allāh, the most honored of you are the ones most mindful of Him: Allāh is all-Knowing, all-Aware.” (49:13)

In fact, Allāh ﷻ has informed us that our different colors and languages are signs of Him.

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِينَ (الروم: ٢٢)

“Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. There truly are signs in this for those who know.” (30:22)

We should always be grateful to Allāh ﷻ for the appearance He has given us and never look at it as a fault or deficiency. Instead, we should strive to beautify our appearance in accordance with the guidelines set by the sunnah so as to show our gratitude to Allāh ﷻ.

That being said, a person can have whatever they wish in Jannah. Allah ﷻ says:

وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ (سورة الفصلت: ٣١)

“(In the Hereafter) You will have everything you desire and ask for.” (41:31)

ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ أَنتُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ تُحْبَرُونَ. يُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِصِحَافٍ مِّن ذَهَبٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ ۖ وَفِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ الْأَنفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْيُنُ ۖ وَأَنتُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ (سورة الزخرف: ٧٠-٧١)

“Enter Paradise, you and your spouses: you will be filled with joy. Dishes and goblets of gold will be passed around them. And in it is all that their souls desire and their eyes delight in. You will remain in it forever.” (43:70-71)

Additionally, it is mentioned in a ḥadīth narrated by Imām Tirmidhī رحمه الله  that there is a market in Jannah in which no goods are sold. Instead, people are shown different appearances, and whichever appearance they like, they can assume.[1]

In Jannah, its inhabitants’ desires will all be in line with the natural human disposition, untainted by the influences and biases of this world. It is not necessary that one may desire in Jannah what they desired in this world. However, if in Jannah, you desire to look a certain way, it will, inshāʾAllāh, be granted to you.

And Allāh Taʿālā Knows Best

Muftī Mohammed Wahaajuddin
Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA

Checked and Approved by:

Muftī Faisal bin Abdul Hamīd al-Mahmūdī
Darul Iftaa Canada (www.fatwa.ca)

[1]

جامع الترمذي، كتاب صفة الجنة عن رسول الله ﷺ، باب ما جاء في سوق الجنة، ج٢ ص٢٢٣-٢٢٤، الطاف
حدثنا أحمد بن منيع، وهناد، قالا: حدثنا أبو معاوية قال: حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق، عن النعمان بن سعد، عن علي، قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: إن في الجنة لسوقا ما فيها شراء ولا بيع إلا الصور من الرجال والنساء، فإذا اشتهى الرجل صورة دخل فيها. هذا حديث حسن غريب