As Muslims, we believe in the Quran as the revealed word of God and that He gave it to us through Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
It’s important to understand what God says about important topics that affect our lives, so let’s explore what the Quran says about Zina (illicit sexual relationships). This is an excerpt from the online Quran Academy, where you can learn more about Quranic verses and their meanings in a clear and concise way.
What is Zina?
According to Islamic Law, adultery is prohibited and punished. It is defined as any sexual intercourse between a man and a woman that occurs outside of marriage. A hadith in Sahih Bukhari states that if there are four witnesses to an act of Zina, then only one punishment needs to be applied.
If there is any doubt about an act of adultery, four eyewitnesses are needed for guilt to be established (although many jurists believe two or more witnesses alone can establish guilt).
The punishment for adultery is stoning to death if both participants are married; otherwise, it is one hundred lashes and exile for a year. However, some modern Muslim scholars argue that stoning should not be used because it was never mentioned by Muhammad.
Is Fornication Forbidden In Islam?
Yes. Fornication, meaning sexual relations between people who are not married, is forbidden in Islam. The Qur’an refers to it as an abomination (Qur’an 7:80-81), and sex outside of marriage is considered a sin by Allah.
Whether or not a Muslim confesses that they have committed zinā is irrelevant; they will be held accountable in front of Allah when they die if they have had any sexual relations outside of marriage.
However, what you do with your life on earth after you realize that zinā is haram is dependent on how serious you are about your faith and how good your intentions towards repenting for your sin are.
Why Must We Avoid Adultery in Islam?
Islam forbids us from committing any sin, not just sexual sins. In fact, a great many of our sins are related to what we do with our private parts. Adultery is specifically forbidden by God in His final revelation to mankind, Do not approach adultery. Indeed, it is an indecency and an evil way. (Quran 17:32) For those who have committed such a sin or have thought about doing so, it is important to realize that there is no crime or sin greater than adultery in Islam.
How Do We Avoid Adultery in Islam?
There is no way to avoid adultery except by avoiding any physical relationship that could be considered as a source of temptation. Both spouses should avoid disobeying Allah and seek His help in controlling themselves so that they can remain steadfast. It is true that men are prone to sexual appetite more than women, but it is also true that women are prone to emotional attraction more than men.
So, we have to stand against those temptations and make lots of dua’ for guidance from Allah. This will help us to find ways in which we can control ourselves if our spouses cannot control themselves or don’t want to control themselves. We must remember that Islam teaches that marriage is not just about satisfying one’s desires; rather, it is about being with someone who you love and who loves you back.
If there is no love between two people, then what kind of marriage do they have? They may end up committing adultery with others because there isn’t enough love between them to keep them together. Love keeps marriages together; without love, marriages fall apart. But how do we know when our spouse truly loves us? By their actions!
Why Must We Practice Ihsaan in Our Worship of Allah?
Allah has commanded us to practice Ihsaan in our worship of Him. What is it, and how can we fulfill it? How does it help us connect with Allah? What are some examples of Ihsaan? We will discuss these questions and more as we explore what exactly Ihsaan is, why it’s important, and how we can make sure that practicing Ihsaan becomes a part of our daily lives.
How Can We Increase our Ihsaan in Worshiping Allah?
Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you can’t see Him, then surely He sees you. (Bukhari) He who does not show mercy to our young ones nor honor our old ones is not one of us.
(Prophet Muhammad SAWS) The most beloved actions to Allah are those which are continuous, even if they are small. And what is the right action? Worshiping Allah as if you see Him, and if you can’t see Him, then surely He sees you. (Muslim)
Conclusion
As you can see, you’ve learned that to be good Muslims, we must always live our lives according to Allah’s will. For those of us who are married, our wives or husbands should be respected and treasured above all else. And we shouldn’t commit adultery (Zina) because it’s one of Allah’s greatest sins.
The main lesson is to respect everyone for who they are and what they believe in, no matter their beliefs and desires. As fellow human beings on planet Earth, we’re all supposed to coexist peacefully with one another; any action that disrupts that equilibrium is an injustice against humanity as a whole and should never take place.
