The Qur'an, while referring to the rewards of the pious in the Hereafter, has categorically stated that: All persons - men as well as women - shall be fully rewarded for their deeds and shall not be wronged in the least ( Aal Imraan 3: 195, Al-Nisaa 4: 124, Al-Nahl 16: 97, Ghaafir 40: 40); They shall get all that they may desire and all that they can ask for, as a first gift from God. His blessings would follow subsequently ( Fussilat 41: 31); and They - men as well as women - shall have perfected counterparts/spouses as a reward of their deeds ( Al-Baqarah 2: 25, Aal Imraan 3: 15, Al-Nisaa 4: 57). As should be obvious from the above points, there is absolutely no difference in the reward of men and women, as it is mentioned in the Qur'an. Furthermore, it may be noted that the Qur'an has not mentioned anything about '70 hories'. The Qur'an has only mentioned 'perfected spouses/counterparts'. An interesting point to note here is that some people have criticized the Qur'an for appealing to the very basic needs and desires of man, which include his desire for taste in edibles and beauty and chastity in his partner. I really do not understand how can a person with even a cursory knowledge and exposure of human nature criticize this aspect of reward, mentioned in the Qur'an. The Qur'an has simply stated that in the life hereafter, man shall be granted all these things that he very strongly desires to possess in the life of this world and due to which, many a times, he is driven away from the path of his Lord's liking. A study of human history as well as that of contemporary societies shall clearly evidence the fact that one of the strongest attractions that has led man away from God and His directives is that of the opposite sex. Many a times, man has sinned because of this impulse. The Qur'an has simply assured man that there is no harm in this attraction if one's behavior is controlled within the boundaries prescribed by the Shari`ah [i.e. the limits prescribed by God]. It has assured man that if, in the life of this world, man would control himself within the boundaries prescribed by the Shari`ah , his Lord in His infinite mercy shall grant him all that he desired to get but from which he refrained himself, only to deserve the mercy and good will of His Lord. For a normal human being the concept of an everlasting reward without the satisfaction of his most pressing desires is obviously incomplete. The Qur'an has recognized this fact, as all realistic views should. Only an ascetic, incomplete and unnatural view of life with arbitrary concepts of reward and punishment can refute this fact. 23 rd March 2000 Answer published by Moiz Amjad