Question # 103: Shekh my friend committed zina with girl now he regrets what should he do now. Did Allah forgive him please help… please guide he is Muslim little bit practicing and girl is Christian. Please help he didn’t get reply from anywhere, I think I should ask you about this, please help him

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: Zina is a major sin and one of the worst crimes; Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has enjoined hadd punishment in this world and the punishment in the Hereafter is harsher and more severe. It makes no difference whether zina is committed with a Muslim woman or a non-Muslim. However, one who has fallen into this major sin must repent sincerely to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and keep away from everything that may lead to this haram or cause him to return to it. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) rejoices over the repentance of sinners and accepts it from them. He says in the Qur’an that He will forgive, whatever He pleases, except for shirk. However, sincere repentance has the following conditions:

  • One must refrain from the sin;
  • One must feel remorse for having perpetrated that sin;
  • One must make a firm decision never to return to that sin, fearing Allah’s punishment, seeking His forgiveness, and glorifying His mightiness.

Long Answer: Zina (fornication or adultery) is a major sin and one of the worst crimes. It makes no difference whether zina is committed with a Muslim woman or a non-Muslim. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Faahishah (i.e., anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin, and an evil way that leads one to hell unless Allah Forgives him)” (Soorah al-Isra’, 17:32) Therefore, one who has committed zina has to repent, as a stern warning is issued to the one who does that. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an:  “And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace” (Soorah al-Furqan, 25:68-69)

As for the punishment in the Hereafter, it was narrated in the hadith of the Mi’raj (ascension), that Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “… then we proceeded and came to something like a tannoor (a kind of oven).” [The narrator] said: “I think he said, ‘in which there were clamoring voices.’” He [the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم)] said: “We looked into it and there we saw naked men and women. Flames were coming to them from the bottom of it, and when the flames reached them, they made an uproar. I said to them [i.e., the two angels who were accompanying him], ‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘Proceed, proceed!’… I said to them, ‘I have seen strange things this night. What is this that I have seen?’ They said, ‘We will tell you…. The naked men and women in the structure that resembled a tannoor oven are the adulterers and adulteresses.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

The punishment of zina in this world on the one who has committed the act (fornication or adultery) is as Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “The fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment” (Soorah al-Noor, 24:2)

It was narrated in a hadith from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has ordained a way for those (women). When an unmarried male commits adultery with an unmarried female, (they should receive) one hundred lashes and banishment for one year. And in the case of a married male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death.” (Narrated by Muslim)

However, if the one who has committed zina repents to Allah, truly and sincerely, then Allah will forgive him or her and overlook the sin. Allah says, after mentioning the warning to those who commit zina:  “Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then verily, he repents towards Allah with true repentance” (Soorah al-Furqan, 25:70-71)

Further, Allah also says in the Qur’an that He will forgive whatever He pleases, except for shirk: “Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.” (Soorah An-Nisa’a, 4:48)

Abu Dharr narrated from the Apostle (صلى الله عليه و سلم) that he observed: “Gabriel came to me and gave me the tidings: Verily he who died amongst your Ummah without associating anything with Allah would enter Paradise. I (the narrator) said: Even if he committed adultery and theft. He (the Holy Prophet) said: (Yes), even if he committed adultery and theft.” (Muslim)

It was narrated that Anas ibn Malik said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) say: ‘Allah says: “O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky, and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you, and I would not mind. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.”’” (al-Tirmidhi; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’)

Al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “The door of repentance will remain open until the sun rises from the west, so whoever repents sincerely to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) fulfilling all of the conditions of repentance, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgives him. But sincere repentance has the following conditions:

  • You must refrain from the sin;
  • You must feel remorse for having perpetrated that sin;
  • You must make a firm decision never to return to that sin, fearing Allah’s punishment, seeking His forgiveness, and glorifying His mightiness.

Remember that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says: “O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance” (Soorah at-Tahrim, 66:8)

He also said: “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful” (Soorah An-Noor 24:31)

And, “Say: O my servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Soorah Az-Zumar, 39:53)

The scholars agree that this verse was revealed for the penitent, those who wish to make repentance…” (Fatawa Islamiyah)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam