And if a superior deed invariably secured all the rewards of inferior deeds, Allah would never have prescribed an inferior deed at any time. Thus, granting the higher reward does not necessarily entail granting the lower, nor does it necessarily follow that the higher must be withheld. Such a possibility is consistent with the revealed Law in the case of rewards generally. Do you not see that those occupying the highest ranks in Paradise are not granted the lower ranks, yet this constitutes no deficiency for them? Allah, glorified be He, makes every servant content with what He has given him. It is therefore possible that He has made women content with the higher form of “the vision” instead of both its higher and lower forms together.

What supports this is the possibility that the vision on Friday is a reward for deeds performed on Friday in this world, while the vision in the morning and evening is a reward for deeds performed in the morning and evening. This is rationally possible, even if no report has been transmitted to that effect. If it is possible, then withholding “the Friday vision” from women because its requisite cause is absent in their case does not entail withholding “the vision at the two cool times of day” when its requisite cause is present in their case.

It is also rationally possible that they do not attend the Friday vision simply because it is a gathering of men, and protective jealousy exists in Paradise. Do you not recall:

“When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw Paradise and saw a palace with a young woman at its gate, he said, ‘I wanted to enter, but I remembered your protective jealousy.’ ‘Umar replied, ‘Would I be jealous of you?’”

Allah knows best the true nature of things. If that is so, this consideration does not apply to the vision in the morning and evening, because that vision may occur while the people of Paradise are in their dwellings.

Furthermore, regarding the possibility that “the vision is a reward for deeds,” reports have been transmitted indicating that the vision on Friday is a reward for attending the Friday prayer, as indicated by the fact that, during it, they will be in