SHA185 Report

ZINA IN THE QUR’AN
by Norhanah L. Ampuan
The Concept of Zina in the Qur’an
In the Qur’an, Zina is defined as “illicit or unlawful sexual intercourse, or a sexual

intercourse of man and a woman outside marriage.”
Allah says in the Qur’an,
‫َو اَل َتْقَرُبوا الِّزَنا ِإَّنُه َك اَن َفاِح َش ًة َو َس اَء َس ِبياًل‬
“And come not near to unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and
is evil as a way.” [Qur’an, 17:32]
Imam al-Qurtubi said: “The scholars said that the phrase ‘And come not near to unlawful
sexual intercourse’ is more eloquent than merely saying ‘Do not commit Zina’, because the meaning is,
“Do not even come close to Zina”. This means not doing any deed that may get close to Zina or lead to it,
such as being alone with a member of apposite sex, touching, looking, going to evil places, speaking in a
haram manner to a woman to whom one is not related, thinking about, and planning immoral acts, so
on.”
Allah also says in the Qur’an,
‫ُقل ِللُم ؤِم نيَن َيُغّض وا ِم ن َأبصاِر ِهم َو َيحَفظوا ُفروَج ُهم ذِلَك َأزكى َلُهم ِإَّن َهَّللا َخ بيٌر بما َيصَنعوَن‬
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty;
that will make for greater purity for them; indeed, Allah is aware of their deeds.” [Qur’an,
24:30]
Scholars, including Ibn Qayyim and Imam al-Gazali, said that what makes some forms
of gazing, talking, and touching forbidden acts is that they bring you near Zina. These are
forbidden because they eventually might lead to sexual intercourse, and they are forbidden as a
preventive issue.
Ibn Kathir said in his Tafsir (Exegesis), “Zina is not only a legal aspect but also holds
profound moral and societal implications.”
The Repentance in Zina
‫ِإَّنَم ا الَّتوَبُة َع َلى ِهَّللا ِلَّلذيَن َيعَم لوَن الّس وَء ِبَج هاَلٍة ُثَّم َيتوبوَن ِم ن َقريٍب َفُأولِئَك َيتوُب ُهَّللا َع َليِهم َو كاَن ُهَّللا َعليًم ا َح كيًم ا‬
“The repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who do wrong in ignorance [or
carelessness] and then repent soon after. It is those to whom Allah will turn in forgiveness, and
Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.” [Qur’an, 4:17]
ISLAMIC CRIMINAL LAW (SHA185) | Prof. Mohammad Hadi M. Macarampat

If you have sinned, repent immediately and completely— this means being determined,
asking the help of Allah of course, that you will not repeat the sin.
As Allah says in the Qur’an,
‫َو َليَسِت الَّتوَبُة ِلَّلذيَن َيعَم لوَن الَّسِّيَئاِت َح ّتى ِإذا َح َض َر َأَح َدُهُم الَم وُت قاَل ِإّني ُتبُت اآلَن َو اَل اَّلذيَن َيموتوَن َو ُهم ُك ّفاٌر‬
‫ُأولِئَك َأعَتدنا َلُهم َعذاًبا َأليًم ا‬
“But repentance is not [accepted] of those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death
comes to one of them, he says, ‘Indeed, I have repented now,’ or of those who die while they are
disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.” [Quran, 4:18]
The Marriage in Zina
‫الَّزاِني اَل َينِكُح ِإاَّل َزاِنَيًة َأْو ُم ْش ِرَك ًة َو الَّزاِنَيُة اَل َينِكُح َها ِإاَّل َزاٍن َأْو ُم ْش ِرٌك َو ُح ِّر َم َٰذ ِلَك َع َلى اْلُم ْؤ ِمِنيَن‬
“The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her
except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers. [Qur’an,
24:3]
Majority of the Muslims scholars including scholars in Tafsir (Exegesis) said: “The verse
does not mean that the fornicator or adulterer cannot marry anybody but a fornicatress or an adulteress,
or that the fornicatress or adulteress cannot marry anybody but a fornicator or an adulterer. Rather, what
the verse means is that it is haram for a man or woman who has committed Zina to marry one who is
chaste, unless they repent.”
References:
Al-Hasi, S. (2019). What Is The Real Meaning of Zina. About Islam.
Al-Munajjid, S. M. S. (2022). Marriage in Zina. Islam Question & Answer.
Hassan, M. (2023). What is Zina and What Does the Quran Teach Us About It. The Quran
Academy.
Islamic Foundation UK. (n.d). Towards Understanding the Quran. Islamic Studies
Information.
Soumaya, B. (2015). The Islamic Ruling Concerning the Criminal Act of Zina. Linkedin.Com.
ISLAMIC CRIMINAL LAW (SHA185) | Prof. Mohammad Hadi M. Macarampat

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ZINA IN THE QUR’AN

The Concept of Zina in the Qur’an

In the Qur’an, Zina is defined as “illicit or unlawful sexual intercourse, or a sexual

Allah says in the Qur’an,

‫َو اَل َتْقَرُبوا الِّزَنا ِإَّنُه َك اَن َفاِح َش ًة َو َس اَء َس ِبياًل‬

Allah also says in the Qur’an,

The Repentance in Zina

Allah says in the Qur’an,

ISLAMIC CRIMINAL LAW (SHA185) | Prof. Mohammad Hadi M. Macarampat

As Allah says in the Qur’an,

The Marriage in Zina

Allah says in the Qur’an,

ISLAMIC CRIMINAL LAW (SHA185) | Prof. Mohammad Hadi M. Macarampat

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