Houris A designation by Europeans of those imaginary beings whose company in paradise, according to the Mohammedans' belief, is to form the principal felicity of the believers. The name, derived from hour al oyun, signifies black-eyed. They are represented in the Koran as most beautiful virgins, not created of clay, like mortal women, but of pure musk, and endowed with immortal youth, and immunity from all disease. See the Koran, chap. 55, 56 (Sale's translation); and the Prel. Disc. s. 4; Brande and Cox, Dict. of Science, Liter. and Art, 2:153.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More