The admission of one spouse to Paradise does not necessarily mean that the other will also be admitted

 

Is it true that when one spouse enters the paradise he or she will take the other spouse into Jannah also?

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

If one spouse is admitted to Paradise, that does not
necessarily mean that the other will also be admitted. The fate of the wives
of Nooh and Loot (peace be upon them) is sufficient to prove that this view
is mistaken, because they both went to Hell even though their husbands were
Prophets. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Allaah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve:
the wife of Nooh (Noah) and the wife of Loot (Lot). They were under two of
our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed them (their husbands by
rejecting their doctrine). So they [Nooh (Noah) and Loot (Lot)] availed them
(their respective wives) not against Allaah and it was said: ‘Enter the Fire
along with those who enter!’”

[al-Tahreem 66:10] 

Ibn Katheer said: “Allaah
says, ‘Allaah sets forth an example for those who disbelieve’
meaning, the fact that they may mix with Muslims or live among them will be
of no avail to them and will not benefit them before Allaah, if faith does
not enter their hearts. Then Allaah mentions the example and says, ‘the
wife of Nooh (Noah) and the wife of Loot (Lot). They were under two of our
righteous slaves’ meaning, two Prophets and Messengers; they were with
them and in their company night and day, eating with them, being intimate
with them, and interacting with them in the closest way; ‘but they both
betrayed them’ means, with regard to faith and belief, because they did
not share their faith or believe that they were Messengers of Allaah. So
that did not help them at all and it did not ward off harm from them. Hence
Allaah says, ‘So they [Nooh (Noah) and Loot (Lot)] availed them (their
respective wives) not against Allaah’ meaning, because of their kufr.
And it was said to both wives, ‘Enter the Fire along with those who
enter!’”

(Tafseer Ibn Katheer,
4/394).

 But there is the hope
that if one of the spouses enters Paradise and is of a higher status than
his spouse or children, Allaah may cause them to join him.

 Children may benefit
from the righteousness of their parents by being raised in status to join
them in Paradise, if they enter it. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

 “And those who
believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith, —  to them shall We join
their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in
anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned”

[al-Toor 52:21] 

And Allaah knows best.