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72 virgins is an Islamophobic myth[dubious – discuss] that states that a shahid (martyr) will get 72 houris in Jannah (heaven).[1] Absent from the Quran,[1] it is in Hadith 1663 of Jami` at-Tirmidhi, and classified by al-Tirmidhi himself as hasan (good).

Radical imams and teachers of Islamic theology, including a Palestinian teacher from Nablus, and extremist Islamic groups, including ISIS, Boko Haram and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, have cited this myth as a recruitment strategy. There is a controversial position held by some counterterrorism scholars that Islamic terrorists are enthusiastic about dying in battle because they believe that they will be rewarded with 72 virgins in heaven due to the myth. This is often used to explain suicide attacks, and sometimes cited as the primary motivation over other possible motivations, such as politics or personal circumstances.

Tirmidhi's hadith

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Narrated Al-Miqdam bin Ma'diykarib: That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There are six things with Allah for the martyr. He is forgiven with the first flow of blood (he suffers), he is shown his place in Paradise, he is protected from punishment in the grave, secured from the greatest terror, the crown of dignity is placed upon his head - and its gems are better than the world and what is in it - he is married to seventy two wives along Al-Huril-'Ayn of Paradise, and he may intercede for seventy of his close relatives." [ Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

— al-Tirmidhi, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Volume 3, Book 20, Hadith 1663[2]

In counterterrorism research

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Further information: Palestinian suicide attacks § 72 virgins

Assaf Moghadam and a few other researchers say Palestinians who are willing to die in attacks on Israelis are motivated by the promise of rewards in the afterlife, that are described in "Islamic teachings" and various hadiths.[3][4][5] These rewards include forgiveness of sins, protection from hell, a crown of glory, marriage to seventy-two virgins (houris), and the ability to extend these privileges to seventy relatives.[3][5] These promises create a strong incentive for individuals to undertake martyrdom, viewing it as a way to trade their limited earthly possessions for the luxurious rewards promised in paradise.[3] Reports indicate that many are convinced of these rewards, which significantly influences their willingness to undertake martyrdom.[3] Reportedly, there has been at least one case of a suicide bomber taking steps, like wrapping toilet paper around their genitals, to preserve their ability to enjoy these rewards.[3] Palestinian media and Palestinian Islamic Jihad has framed martyrdom in terms of marriage to virgins, further solidifying this expectation.[3]

According to some researchers the story of the 72 virgins promised to suicide bombers in paradise is a myth with no basis in Islam, and it is an Islamophobic trope.[dubious – discuss] The majority of Palestinian suicide bombers are educated and not driven by economic despair. Furthermore, Jihadi leaders themselves reject candidates who seek self-sacrifice for rewards like virgins, as these individuals are considered unfit for such missions. Instead, suicide bombers are typically selected for their ideological commitment, patience, and planning abilities.[6][7] The 72 virgins trope is not relevant to Palestinian religious life, and instead has often been perpetuated by western media. Muslim scholars emphasize that it is not part of Islamic teachings.[8][dubious – discuss]

Scott Atran, a cultural anthropologist researching terrorism, argued against the narrative that suicide bombers are primarily motivated by the belief in rewards such as 72 virgins. In his research and interviews with jihadi leaders, Atran asserts that he has never encountered a case where suicide bombers were driven by such beliefs, emphasizing that if anyone were to approach jihadi leaders seeking martyrdom for the promise of virgins, the door would immediately be “slammed in their face”.[9]

Political scientist Robert Pape stated in a study of over 2,200 suicide attacks carried out over a 30-year period that 95% of these attacks had nothing to do with promises of 72 virgins or heavenly rewards. Instead, they were a response to foreign occupation; 90% of the attacks were anti-American and occurred in regions under U.S. occupation. The study also noted a dramatic decline in suicide bombings in Israel after the country withdrew from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Pape argued that suicide bombing is primarily driven by cultural divides, and the failure of other forms of resistance, with suicide bombing emerging as a last resort.[10][11][12]

Use by Islamic extremists

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Radical imams and Islamic extremist groups have cited this myth as a recruitment tool.[13] According to a former member, the Islamic State (IS) taught that if a militant died for IS, they would get 72 eternal virgins as a reward.[14] IS also holds that if a female kills an IS militant, the militant forefits the virigins in heaven.[13] Similarly, Boko Haram promised the suspected perpetrators of the Suleja bombing 72 virgins each, according to a Nigerian Army officer, citing seized records of the suspects.[15]

Hussam Abdo, a 14-year-old Palestinian, explained that he attempted a suicide bombing because he was bullied for his short stature in school and because he wanted the martyr's rewards in heaven, including the 72 virgins. Abdo furthermore said that he learned the martyr's rewards from a teacher in his school in Nablus, his hometown.[16] Palestinian Islamic Jihad also framed the funeral of one of its militants who got killed in militant operations as the militant's wedding to the 72 virgins.[3]

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Seventy-Two Virgins was the title of a novel by UK Conservative Party politician Boris Johnson.[17][18] Pink News described the novel as having ‘racist, misogynistic, homophobic’ references, such as describing Arabs with “hook noses” and “slanty eyes”.[19]

The Hindi-language movie 72 Hoorain posited that Islamic terrorism is highly motivated by the 72 virgins myth and more pervasive than other forms of religious terrorism. The Chicago-based Muslim scholar, Yasir Nadeem al Wajidi challenged the latter point, saying that such incidents constitute only a small fraction of global violence. He argued that while Muslims universally condemn extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda as terrorists, other violent mobs, especially those targeting Muslims, are often not labeled as terrorists.[20]

The most notable use of the 72 virgins trope was the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) psychological warfare unit's Hebrew language Telegram channel named "72 Virgins – Uncensored".[21][22] The channel shared graphic images and videos of Palestinians taken in the Gaza Strip.[23] The Telegram channel was run by the Israeli military psychological warfare division starting on 9 October 2023, shared graphic images and videos of Palestinians taken in Gaza.[24] The name is a reference to the myth.[25][26] The channel originally presented itself as independent, but due to its privileged access to videos and images taken by soldiers, it was discovered to be run by the psychological warfare division of the IDF. The channel was shut down for operating against policy by targeting Israelis, with the unit's usual role being to target enemy and other international audiences.[27][22][28][29][30] The Wire described the channel as "racist", for using language like, "Roaches to Be Exterminated".[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b El-Ali, L. (2022). Virgins: There Are No 72 Virgins Waiting for Anyone in Paradise. In: No Truth Without Beauty. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. [1]
  2. ^ "Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1663 - The Book on Virtues of Jihad - كتاب فضائل الجهاد عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Moghadam, Assaf (2003). "Palestinian Suicide Terrorism in the Second Intifada: Motivations and Organizational Aspects". Studies in Conflict & Terrorism. 26 (2): 71–73. doi:10.1080/10576100390145215. (article on pages 65–92)
  4. ^ Pedahzur, Ami, ed. (2006). Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism: The Globalization of Martyrdom. New York: Routledge. pp. 90–92. ISBN 978-0415770309. (pages 64-65 and 90-92)
  5. ^ a b Pedahzur, Ami, ed. (2006). Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism: The Globalization of Martyrdom. New York: Routledge. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0415770309.(pages 64-65 and 90-92)
  6. ^ Atran, Scott (5 May 2003). "Who Wants to be a Martyr?".
  7. ^ "Studies into violent radicalisation; Lot 2 The beliefs ideologies and narratives" (PDF). The Change Institute. February 2003.
  8. ^ "Palestinians aren't trying to go to heaven — they are fleeing hell". 3 November 2015.
  9. ^ https://hal.science/ijn_00505418/document [bare URL]
  10. ^ Pape, Robert A.; Feldman, James K. (7 October 2010). Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-64564-3.
  11. ^ Australian Army Journal. 3 (3). Summer 2003 https://researchcentre.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/aaj_2006_3.pdf. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=WovWAAAAMAA [bare URL]
  13. ^ a b Crilly, Rob (20 September 2014). "Isil fanatics 'fear being killed by a woman will deprive them of virgins in paradise'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  14. ^ Blair, Leonardo; Reporter, Senior (September 19, 2014). "Inside ISIS: Fighters Promised '72 Eternal Virgins in Heaven' While Christian Women Raped as Husbands Beheaded, Says Ex-Member". www.christianpost.com.
  15. ^ "Boko Haram: Bombers Promised 72 Virgins In Heaven".
  16. ^ Macintyre, Donald. "Child bomber wanted to meet 72 virgins in paradise after being mocked at school". The Independent. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Crime Round Up Oct 2004". Literary Review. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  18. ^ Brown, Hannah (2019-07-05). "Boris Johnson's Novel, Seventy-Two Virgins: A Glimpse into his Inner World". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  19. ^ Maurice, Emma Powys (28 November 2019). "Boris Johnson's resurfaced novel contains horrific 'racist, misogynistic, homophobic' references". PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.
  20. ^ Masroor, Riyaz (14 June 2023). ’72 حُوریں‘: انڈیا میں آئندہ ماہ ریلیز ہونے والی فلم پر تنازع کیوں کھڑا ہو گیا؟ ['72 Virgins': Why has a controversy arisen over a film set to release in India next month?]. BBC Urdu (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2024. یہ فلم 7 جولائی کو ریلیز ہو رہی ہے اور سوشل میڈیا پر جاری کردہ اس کے ٹیزر کے مطابق فلم میں یہ دکھانے کی کوشش کی گئی کہ کس طرح دہشت گرد تنظیموں کے رہنما معصوم نوجوانوں کو 'جنت میں حُوروں کا لالچ' دے کر غیرمسلموں کے قتل پر آمادہ کرتے ہیں۔ [The film is due for release on 7 July, and according to its teaser released on social media, the film attempts to show how leaders of terrorist organisations entice innocent youths to kill non-Muslims by "luring them to paradise".] [verification needed]
  21. ^ "Roaches to Be Exterminated: Israel Military Admits Running Racist Telegram Group Against Palestinians". thewire.in. India. February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Israeli Army Admits Running Unauthorized Graphic Gaza Influence Op: An IDF psychological warfare unit ran a Telegram channel targeting Israeli audience without approval".
  23. ^ Yaniv Kubovich (12 December 2023). "Graphic Videos and Incitement: How the IDF Is Misleading Israelis on Telegram". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. The IDF unit responsible for psychological warfare operations operates a Telegram channel called '72 Virgins – Uncensored,' which targets local audiences with 'exclusive content from the Gaza Strip'
  24. ^ "Roaches to Be Exterminated : Israel Military Admits Running Racist Telegram Group Against Palestinians". thewire.in. India. 8 February 2024.
  25. ^ El-Ali, Leena (2022). "Virgins: There Are No 72 Virgins Waiting for Anyone in Paradise". No Truth Without Beauty: God, the Qur'an, and Women's Rights. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer International Publishing. pp. 273–282. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-83582-8_21. ISBN 978-3-030-83581-1.
  26. ^ Warraq, Ibn (12 January 2002). "Virgins? What virgins?". The Guardian.
  27. ^ a b "Roaches to Be Exterminated : Israel Military Admits Running Racist Telegram Group Against Palestinians". The Wire. India. 8 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Gaza war: Israel army behind inflammatory '72 Virgins' Telegram channel".
  29. ^ "IDF says it ran unauthorized '72 Virgins - Uncensored' Telegram channel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 6 February 2024.
  30. ^ "How an Israeli Telegram channel is used to incite violence against Palestinians". Middle East Eye.
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