Committing Zina and Seeking Repentance Afterwards
Fatwa No: 84637

Question

Some people commit Zina knowing that it's a sin, but they plan to ask for repentance from Allah later on. Some other people don't do it knowing that it's a major sin and they know that they shouldn't be doing it. 1) Will the people who were committing Zina and asked for repentance from Allah be treated the same? 2) What if I commit Zina knowing that one day I will ask for repentance from Allah and will become a "good" Muslim, would Allah accept my repentance?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Zina (fornication or adultery) is among the greatest sins. Allah Says (what means):

• {And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.} [Quran 17: 32]

• {And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 25: 68-70]

The enormity of a sin increases when a person insists on doing it as mentioned in the question.

So, a Muslim should fear Allah, abstain from this evil, and remember the Punishment and Anger of Allah in the Hereafter. Also one should fear disgrace in this life and serious diseases such as AIDS, which may afflict him.

A Muslim should not take easy the matter of disobedience and insist on committing sins with the intention of repenting afterwards since he does not know if Allah will forgive him, and whether or not he will be blessed with repentance. He might intend to repent but he will not be enabled to do so because of the hardness of his heart or for being far from Allah. It is very possible that he may die while still committing this grave sin.

Therefore, a Muslim should avoid all sins, minor and major ones. However, if it happens that one commits a sin, he should hasten to repent sincerely; Allah accepts the repentance of a person if he is sincere in his repentance.

Know that Zina includes being disobedient to Allah and violating other people's rights that are related to this sin.

The people's rights have great importance in Islam. Therefore, one should ask their pardon before his death otherwise, his good deeds would be taken and paid to the person he wronged, or some of their bad deeds will be loaded on him.

Allah knows best.

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