" I looked into the Fire and I saw that most of its people are women, and I looked into Paradise and I saw that most of its people were the poor." Other chains report similar narrations.
Hadith Text & Context
This narration is authentically reported in Sahih al-Bukhari (3241, 5197) and Sahih Muslim (2737) from multiple Companions, including Ibn Abbas and Imran ibn Husain. The Prophet (ﷺ) delivered this statement during a sermon, providing a profound glimpse into the realities of the Hereafter.
Scholarly Commentary on Women's Predominance in Hellfire
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this predominance does not indicate inherent deficiency in women's faith, but rather stems from specific spiritual challenges. The primary causes scholars identify are: ingratitude towards spouses (kufran al-'ashir), excessive speech that leads to slander and falsehood, and being easily swayed by emotional whims that contradict religious obligations.
Al-Qurtubi notes in his Tafsir that this description serves as a grave warning and motivation for spiritual rectification, not as a final judgment on all women. Many female Companions and righteous women throughout Islamic history attained the highest ranks in Paradise.
Understanding the Poverty-Paradise Connection
The predominance of the poor (fuqara) in Paradise stems from their greater reliance upon Allah, detachment from worldly distractions, and fewer temptations towards arrogance and oppression that often accompany wealth. Poverty itself is not virtuous - rather, the patience (sabr), contentment (qana'ah), and gratitude (shukr) exhibited while poor become means of elevation.
Imam al-Nawawi clarifies in Sharh Sahih Muslim that "poor" here refers to both material poverty and spiritual poverty (faqr ila Allah), emphasizing that the true means to Paradise is piety (taqwa), whether one is rich or poor.
Balancing Understanding & Avoiding Misinterpretation
Classical scholars consistently emphasize that these descriptions are general observations, not absolute decrees. Individual salvation depends solely on one's faith and deeds. Wealthy believers who are grateful and charitable, and women who are pious and righteous, will certainly enter Paradise.
The purpose of such narrations is to alert communities to common spiritual pitfalls and encourage self-reformation. As Imam al-Ghazali states in Ihya Ulum al-Din, these descriptions serve as "mirrors for the soul" rather than as demographic predictions.