Praise be to Allaah.

 

Zina is one of the worst of haraam actions and is one of the greatest of major sins. Allaah has issued a warning to the mushrikeen, those who kill unlawfully and those who commit zina of a double punishment on the Day of Resurrection and an eternity of punishment in which they will be humiliated because of the gravity of their crime and the abhorrence of their actions, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

 

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such person as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse ___ and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.

 

69. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace;

 

70. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism) …” [al-Furqaan 25:68-70]. 

 

The one who has fallen into any of these sins has to repent sincerely to Allaah and follow that with sincere faith and righteous deeds. Repentance is sincere when the penitent gives up the sin, regrets what he has done in the past and resolves firmly and sincerely not to go back to it, out of fear of Allaah and veneration of Him, and in hope of His reward and for fear of His punishment. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

 

“And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them (till his death)” [Ta-Ha 20:82]. 

 

What every Muslim man and woman must do is beware of this grave evil and the things that lead to it, and they must hasten to repent sincerely from anything of that that they have done in the past. Allaah accepts the repentance of those who repent sincerely and forgives them. End quote. 

 

By His mercy towards weak man, Allaah has opened the gate of repentance to him, and has commanded him to turn to Him, every time sin overwhelms him. Were it not for that, man would suffer a great deal of hardship and would not have the drive to draw closer to his Lord; he would lose all hope of His forgiveness and pardon. Repentance is something that is necessary as a result of man’s shortcomings and human failings. 

 

Allaah has enjoined repentance on all kinds of people in this ummah: those who are foremost in good deeds, those who follow a middle course, and those who wrong their own selves by doing haraam things (cf. Faatir 35:32). 

 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

 

“And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful” [al-Noor 24:31] 

 

“O you who believe! Turn to Allaah with sincere repentance!” [al-Tahreem 66:8] 

 

And the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O people, repent to Allaah and seek His forgiveness, for I repent one hundred times a day.” Narrated by Muslim, 2702 from the hadeeth of al-Agharr al-Muzani (may Allaah be pleased with him). 

 

Allaah has bestowed His mercy and encompassed His slaves with his kindness. He is Forbearing and does not punish us or destroy us straightaway, rather He gives us respite, and He commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to proclaim His generosity: 

 

“Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Zumar 39:53 – interpretation of the meaning]. 

 

And He says, out of kindness towards His slaves (interpretation of the meaning): 

 

“Will they not turn with repentance to Allaah and ask His forgiveness? For Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Maa'idah 5:74] 

 

“And those who, when they have committed Faahishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allaah and ask forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allaah — and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:135] 

 

“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allaah’s forgiveness, he will find Allaah Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Nisa’ 4:110] 

 

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