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Question

Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said a man's Iman will go out of him when he commits Zina or in the state of intoxication by alcohol and it will return to him when he stops that act. Does this statement of losing Iman (becoming an unbeliever) imply to Zina of the eyes (seeing some women with bad intention) and also to Zina of mouth, ears and heart? Please answer with reference to Qur’an and Sunnah.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Imams Al Bukhari and Muslim reported from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "When an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it, and when a drinker of an alcoholic liquor drinks it, then he is not a believer at the time of drinking it, and when a thief steals, then he is not a believer at the time of stealing, and when a robber robs, and the people look at him, then he is not a believer at the time of doing robbery."

Abu Dawud and al Tirmizi reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "If one commits illegal sexual intercourse his faith goes out of him and remains as a cloud above him, and when he separates from that the faith returns to him."

The Hadith means by Zina sexual intercourse; it does not mean the minor acts of Zina such as looking at alien women, and the other related matters of the other organs of a person.

The word of Zina is used for illegal acts of eyes, hands, legs, etc. as a figurative expression, otherwise the real meaning of Zina is having sexual intercourse in which the private parts of a man and woman become engaged. (See, the explanation of the Hadith by Imam Al Nawawi).

Allah knows best.

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