Zina (sexual promiscuity) is a grave sin with its severe consequences in this life and the Hereafter. Allah (SWT) in many instances in the Qur’an warns sternly against Zina acts. In Surah Al-Isra, Q. 17:32, Allah (SWT) states, ‘And come not near to illegal sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a Fahishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin) and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him). Allah (SWT) speaks elaborately against this evil in Surah An-Nur, Q. 24:2-3.
Believers must beware of Zina because it leads to spiritual destruction. It is a fabric of the society. Fornication is a sin that brings about divine wrath, corrupts the heart, and leads to eternal punishment. It is a betrayal of trust and a violation of sacred boundaries. The Prophet (SAW) in his many Hadiths endeared the believers to lower their gaze and guard their modesty, because chastity is a part of faith. He likened a chaste believer to a fragrant flower, and likened a promiscuous one to a foul odor. He discouraged the believers from being in seclusion with anyone of the opposite sex, because it is a recipe for disaster which leads to temptation, sin and social chaos.
Infidelity from the Qur’anic view point may be considered on a number of premises. Adultery is a form or infidelity that involves extramarital sexual relationship. Fornication is concerned with pre-marital sex relationship. These unholy practices are actually recognized as Zina. However, Khalwah (being in seclusion or privacy with someone of the opposite sex, which may potentially leads to Zina), Liwat (homosexuality, which is out rightly prohibited in Islam) and Musahaqah-Lesbianism which is treated in equal manner as Liwat are also considered and condemned in same token. Islam emphasizes the importance of chastity, modesty and commitment, providing guidance on avoiding infidelity in order to promote moral value in our society. Of course, intercourse is good and ordained by Allah (SWT) as long as it is Halal (i.e. lawful), but Zina is forbidden (Haram). Sexually desire is beautiful, natural and very normal, unless it is left to its own devices. If it is not carefully nourished, care for, protected and controlled, sexual desire can enslave and consume us. It can destroy our health, our relationships, our families, and most importantly our relationship with Allah (SWT), who gave us this precious treasure in the first place.
Allah (SWT) has taught us in the Message that unlawful sexual intercourse is punishable heavily in its different dimension. These measures of punishment seem extreme, until one takes a serious understanding and deeper perusal of the conditions therein stated and discover how difficult it is to bring charges against the sinning individuals involved. Even more important, Allah (SWT) in His infinite compassion has promised to accept and forgive the repentant. Allah (SWT) indicates in Surah An-Nisa, ‘And the two persons (man and woman) among you who commit illegal sexual intercourse, hurt them both. And if they repent (promise Allah that they will never repeat, i.e. commit illegal sexual intercourse and other similar sins) and do righteous good deeds, leave them alone. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Forgiving (the One Who forgives and accepts repentance), (and He is) Most Merciful.’ Q. 4:16.
Allah’s (SWT) mercy is total and infinite – for those who sincerely repent. Even good people with the best of intentions sometimes fall into error, but those who love Allah will quickly see their mistake and sincerely regret it. For these individuals Allah’s Mercy and pardon is ready. However, believers must never plan to sin, commit Zina, in this instance while saying, ‘It will be okay because Allah will forgive us.’ In doing this one must have demonstrated a profound lack of sincerity in one’s deen. It is as simple as saying in advance that one feels no shame for his sin. If you have committed Zina, repent immediately and completely. This means being determined, asking the help of Allah (SWT) of course, that you will not repeat the foul act anymore again. Qur’an 4:18 categorically states that, ‘And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: ‘Now I repent;’ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.’
Muslims should not be oblivious of the truth in the Message that Allah’s (SWT) rulings against Zina are never the cruel, heartless injunctions that many others who may not understand, out of mischief wrongly make things look, the rulings are pure demonstration of the profound tenderness and generosity of Allah (SWT), and so we must say Alhamdulillah for the wonder and beauty of sexuality just as we say Alhamdulillah that we have been given the means to protect and nurture it!
Adultery and fornication are a combination of all evil qualities; it weakness faith, uproots piety and protectiveness. It corrupts morality and wipes out virtue. Zina makes the face of the committers dark and gloomy to anyone who looks at it. The committers become shameless; their hearts become darkened, making the heart lose its light. Others evils that are associated with Zina are chilling and revealing. Zina makes the committers to suffer from continuous poverty, as Allah (SWT) says in the Hadith Qudsi: ‘ I will destroy tyrants and afflict adulterers and fornicators with poverty.’ Committers of Zina in any form become insignificant in the sight of Allah (SWT), and making them lose respect and value from mankind. People who relate with a Zina committer do that in doubt and mistrust.
Committers of adultery and fornication are prone to continual depression. Misfortunes become their lots as they are frequently confronted with failure in their positive endeavours, causing them to become depressed perpetually. They seem to get the opposite of good fortunes they would seek for. If only fornicators and adulterers knew the enjoyment that comes from remaining chaste, they would realize that what they missed out on is far more that the frivolous and temporal enjoyment they had in committing the acts of Zina. Sadly, fornicators and adulterers lose the heavenly chance in the Paradise to keep the company of angelic females that ate kept in promise by Allah (SWT) for the Muslims who did not slide into the sins of Zina while here on earth when the day of Qiyahomah, the day of Judgment and Recompense.