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Allah Almighty declares in The Holy Qur’aan “And do not approach adultery. Indeed it is an immoral (shameful) deed and an evil way. (Ch 17 : v 32)
Firm stance against adultery
Islam has taken a firm and decisive stance against adultery. In the above verse we see that The Almighty commands in explicit and unequivocal words.
Thus, not only is the act of adultery prohibited, but also all the avenues and means leading to it.
This is achieved by prohibiting every step and means leading to stimulating desires, opening ways for illicit sexual relations between men and women, and promoting indecency and obscenity.
This means that not only is illegal sex prohibited, but also anything that leads to it is also illegal – this would include free mixing of the sexes, provocative dress, nudity and pornography.
Adultery is a crime, not against one person but against the whole of society. It is a violation of the sacred marital contract. A great proportion of all first time marriages result in divorce within the first few years and the main reason for divorce is the adultery / unfaithfulness of one of the partners.
In every upright society, adultery is regarded as one of the most immoral and heinous of sins.
In Islam it’s enormity can be gauged from the fact that it’s mention has often been made in the Holy Qur’aan with the gravest of all sins: associating partners with The Almighty (The One and Only Deity worthy of worship).
Magnitude of the sin
The enormity of this sin is no small measure due to its dire consequences affecting individuals, families, and societies. Among these are that it entails infidelity and erodes the trust and tranquillity that are the foundations of a fulfilling family life; it dissipates one’s energies; it causes mental strain; it undermines peace at home; it corrodes the purity of one’s soul and hence destroys one’s faith; and indeed it exposes the person to the wrath of Allah, thus resulting in eternal damnation.
Adultery comprises all evil characteristics including defiance of religious zeal, lack of piety, and lack of one’s sense of honour. It is impossible to find an adulterer or fornicator who at the same time can be pious, as good as his word, truthful, keeps good company or has a sense of honour, as he never protects his female relatives from committing this abhorrent act themselves.
Adultery is always committed with other kinds of sins that precede it, accompany it and follow it. For, indeed, it is an open gateway to evil.
Those who commit adultery have the audacity to server the blood relationship, to be ungrateful and unkind to their parents and family members, to earn that which is prohibited, to consume intoxicants, to be unjust to people, to lose their spouse and children.
They might also have the audacity to kill and perhaps resort to practices of witchcraft and magic and/or commit extremely abominable acts, wittingly or unwittingly.
It is no wonder then that The Almighty and His Messengers (peace be upon them all) have sounded dire warnings against adultery in so many ways. Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) has often said that adultery is one of the major sins.
Some stern warnings
The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) has said:
“No one commits adultery while still remaining a believer, for faith is more precious unto Allah than such an evil act!”
“When adultery becomes rampant in a nation, Allah will expose them to His punishment.”
“When promiscuous behaviour becomes rampant in a nation, Allah will send upon them such (strange) diseases that their own ancestors never heard of.”
“O mankind! Beware of fornication/adultery for it entails six dire consequences: three of them relating to this world and three to the next world.
As for the three that are related to this world: it removes the glow of one’s face; brings poverty (constant debt); and reduces the life-span. As for its dire consequences in the next world: it brings on the wrath of Allah upon the person; subjects him to terrible reckoning, and finally becomes the cause of him being cast into the hell-fire”
Positive preaching
Besides giving stern reminders for those who transgress the limits and boundaries of The Almighty, the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) also used positive preaching methods to encourage one and all to uphold sound morals and conduct. He said, “Whoever guarantees me that he will guard his chastity, I will guarantee him Paradise”.
For further information on Islam please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
- O. Box W 93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 0242-614078 / 614004, Fax : 0242-614003
e-mail: [email protected].
