The disgrace that lives long

Since 2012-11-26

{And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fâhishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allâh forgives him).} [Surat Al-Isrâ’ 17:32]

All praise and thanks be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the last and seal of the Prophets.

 
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and His Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, have forbidden adultery and shown its ugliness and dissolution. In addition, they have warned the slaves against committing it as it is appalling. Allah Almighty has not just forbidden committing it; He has forbidden getting near to it. Allah, Glory be to Him, says, {And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fâhishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allâh forgives him).} [Surat Al-Isrâ’ 17:32]
 
{وَلَا تَقْرَ‌بُوا الزِّنَىٰ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا} الإسراء: 32
 
Transliteration: Wala taqraboo alzzina innahu kana fahishatan wasaa sabeelan (32)
 
Adultery is one of the major sins, after polytheism and killing. It is an abomination, a destroying immorality, and a grave crime. The sound natural dispositions feel repulsion against it. It is a corruption and its crimes do not have a limit. Moreover, its consequences and effects are endless. It is a matter of going astray from religion and it is dissolution of morals. It is defiling the sanctities and honors, being heedless towards honor and virility. In addition, it is a reason for hatred and enmity.
 
One of those who knows Allah well said, “Adultery is a shameful act which demolishes the dignified homes, lowers the high heads, and blackens the white-skinned faces. In addition, it shuts the rhetoric tongues, brings down the people who have the tallest necks, who have the highest ranks and who have the most superior esteem. It brings them down to an abyss of humility, disdain, and lowness that does not have any bottom.
 
It is one kind of disgrace, which is the most able to take off the cloth of glory even if it is very flowing. It is a black spot; whenever it befalls a family, it covers all its white records to the extent that the eyes will not see anything from them except total blackness. It is the shame, which lives long. May Allah fight such sin and may He fight its doers!”
 
Another one said, “The one who commits adultery lowers himself from the highest levels of virtue to the lowest levels of vice. He becomes deserving the wrath of Allah and His hatred. In addition, he becomes hated in the sight of the creation. In his life, he is humiliated, deprived of honor and devoid of integrity. The noble people who have chivalry, honor, and dignity turn away from him for fear that he may affect them or defile them by his ghastly acts. His narration [of Hadith] is not accepted and his testimony is not listened to. Moreover, no one likes to be near him or to befriend with him.”
 
 
The evil of adultery
 
Adultery contains corruption for both the male adulterer and the female one. As for the female, her life becomes corrupt by this act and she loses her honor and the honor of her family. In addition, she blemishes her reputation and that of her family. Moreover, she spoils the right of her husband if she is married; she may have children who are the result of her adultery. By doing this, she is cheating her husband who will support them financially all his lifetime, not to mention that they will inherit him after his death. In addition, they will be named after him while they are not his biological children. This, in addition to many other things spoiled by the woman as a result of committing such shameful act. If the female adulterer is unmarried, she will be wasted by such act. In addition, she will lose her life; lose her honor and the honor of her family. She will defame her reputation and that of her family. By committing such disgraceful act, she has turned away men who wish to marry her. No one among those who know her acts will propose marriage for her even if he was a criminal who played with her and ruined her honor and dignity. That is because he disdains her and does not accept her as a wife for what he knows about her and her unfaithfulness. After committing the crime of adultery, the woman will lead a life of humility and shame without having a husband who protects her [from illicit acts]. In addition, she will not find someone who supplies her with sustenance. Therefore, she becomes disdained and humiliated by her family and relatives, not to mention the ruin she causes to the reputation of her sisters. This may affect their future and turn away those who wish to marry them and all this is due to her sin. As for the male, adultery increases his lust and he becomes obsessed by it. It turns him into a mad dog being lustily attached to women. He may become a reason for afflicting one of his Mahârim (unmarriageable kin with whom sexual intercourse is prohibited) to commit such immoral act. This will be a punishment by Allah that his honor is disgraced as he disgraced the honor of other people. Moreover, his matter will be exposed, he will be disdained by people, and their respect to him will diminish.
 
 
The harmful effects of adultery
 
Adultery has many harmful effects. Among them;
 
1- The loss of pedigree, and transgressing it. If just the male and the female who commit adultery knew the consequences of their crime which ends immediately, if they comprehended its consequences of the misdeeds, the false statements and the Wrath of Allah, it would have been easier for them to die and leave the world of existence instead of committing such abominable crime.
 
2- Adultery causes the mixing of lineage and the corruption of morals. In addition, it leads to the total ruin of the nation and causes dissension and immorality. Moreover, it causes the spread of the incurable diseases that did not exist before as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, mentioned this. He said, “Immorality never appears among people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them.” [Reported by ibn Mâjah]
 
«لم تظهر الفاحشة في قوم حتى يعلنوا بها إلا فشا فيهم الطاعون والأوجاع التي لم تكن مضت في أسلافهم الذين مضوا» رواه ابن ماجه
 
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has been right in saying this as this age witnessed a spread of many serious diseases because of the increase of adultery. This is a punishment from Allah Almighty for the people of this immorality.
 
3- Adultery blinds the heart, hides its light, disgraces the soul, and suppresses it. In addition, it destroys the dignity of the human in the view of Allah and of His creation. Moreover, it robs the blessing of the lifetime and weakens the feeling of glorifying Allah and fearing Him in the heart.
 
 
The proofs of forbidding adultery
 
Allah Almighty says, {And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fâhishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allâh forgives him).} [Surat Al-Isrâ’ 17: 32]
 
{وَلَا تَقْرَ‌بُوا الزِّنَىٰ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا} الإسراء: 32
 
Transliteration: Wala taqraboo alzzina innahu kana fahishatan wasaa sabeelan (32)
 
Allah Almighty says, {And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. [68]. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace;} [Surat Al-Furqân 25:68- 69]
 
{وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهاً آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً (68) يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً} الفرقان: 68-69
 
Transliteration: Waallatheena la yadAAoona maAAa Allahi ilahan akhara wala yaqtuloona alnnafsa allatee harrama Allahu illa bialhaqqi wala yaznoona waman yafAAal thalika yalqa athaman (68) YudaAAaf lahu alAAathabu yawma alqiyamati wayakhlud feehi muhanan (69)
 
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The adulterer does not commit adultery while he is a believer at the time of the act.” [Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 
«لا يزني الزاني حين يزني وهو مؤمن» متفق عليه
 
He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has also said, “The blood of a Muslim may not be legally spilt other than in one of three [instances] - and he mentioned- the married person who commits adultery.” [Agreed upon]
 
«لا يحل دم امرئ مسلم يشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأني رسول الله إلا بإحدى ثلاث - وذكر منها - الثيب الزاني» متفق عليه
 
 
The punishment for committing adultery
 
A mass punishment: the harm of adultery is not limited to the adulterers only. Instead, it befalls others. The wrath of Allah descends upon the people among whom adultery is spread. In addition, death spreads among them, as well. Ibn ‘Abbâs, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When usury and adultery spread out in a place, the residents of that place are (actually) bartering their doings for Allah’s punishment.” [Reported by Al-Hâkim and classed as authentic by its transmitted chain]
 
«إذا ظهر الزنا والربا في قوم فقد أحلوا بأنفسهم عذاب الله» رواه الحاكم وقال: صحيح الإسناد
 
That is why all Muslims should fight adultery. They should keep away from its causes such as the wanton display of women [of ornament], the removal of the veil, intermixing between males and females, singing, dissolute magazines, mean films and television series which call for every immorality and vice.
 
The individual punishment: it is to implement the major penalty over the male adulterer and the female one. If they are [previously] married (to other spouses than those they committed adultery with), they will be killed by throwing stones at them till they die. This is in order to feel the pain in every part of their bodies as they felt the lustrous pleasure by them. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, said, “The child belongs to the bed, and the adulterer should be stoned.”  [Reported By Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 
«الولد للفراش وللعاهر الحجر»رواه البخاري ومسلم
 
If they are unmarried, they should be lashed with a hundred lashes by the severest means of lashing to hold them back from getting pleasure by what is forbidden. In addition, this will disclose their sins in front of people not to mention defaming them.
 
However, if the adulterers escaped from the punishment of this worldly life and did not repent, they will have a painful punishment in the Hereafter. Al-Bukhâri reported that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Last night, two persons (angels) came to me and said to me, ‘Proceed!’ So we proceeded and came across a pit, something like a Tannûr (a kind of baking oven, a pit usually clay-lined for baking bread). It has a narrow top and a wide bottom, and the fire was kindling underneath that hole. Whenever the fire-flame went up, the people were lifted up to such an extent that they were about to get out of it, and whenever the fire got quieter, the people went down into it, and there were naked men and women in it. I asked, ‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘Those naked men and women are the adulterers and the adulteresses.”
 
«إنه أتاني الليلة آتيان، وإنهما ابتعثاني، وإنهما قالا لي انطلق، وإني انطلقت معهما...(إلى أن قال) فأتينا على مثل التنور - قال: وأحسب أنه كان يقول -فإذا فيه لغط وأصوات، قال: فاطلعنا فيه، فإذا فيه رجال ونساء عراة،... (إلى أن قال) قلت لهما: ما هؤلاء؟...(إلى أن قالا) فإنهم الزناة والزواني» صحيح البخاري
 
This is only the torture of the grave, however, as for the Hereafter, their torment will be severe as they will be tortured in a valley [in Hellfire] called ‘Athâma. It is one of the major valleys in Hellfire; we seek refuge in Allah from it. Allah says, {And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. [68]. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace} [Surat Al-Furqân 25:68- 69]
 
{وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهاً آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً (68) يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً} الفرقان:68-69
 
Transliteration: Waallatheena la yadAAoona maAAa Allahi ilahan akhara wala yaqtuloona alnnafsa allatee harrama Allahu illa bialhaqqi wala yaznoona waman yafAAal thalika yalqa athaman (68) YudaAAaf lahu alAAathabu yawma alqiyamati wayakhlud feehi muhanan (69)
 
The adulterer shares the polytheist and the killer in the same kind of torture, may Allah forbid us! So, is it reasonable for a sane man- after knowing all this- to make himself subject to such torture for the sake of a temporary lust? The enjoyment of such a lust goes quickly and the torture caused by it lasts forever!
 
O you who betrayed the honors of women, O you who transgressed it and sought corruption on earth, you should know that the sense of honor is among the traits of men. It is from the morals of the nobles, the branches of faith and among the requisites of “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” So, where is the sense of honor for the one who transgresses the honors of people? How many times have you spoiled the relationship between a woman and her husband! How many times have you caused a girl to be imprisoned behind the walls of her home after you have slaughtered her chastity and wasted her honor and the honor of her family! By this, she has harmed her reputation and the reputation of her family. O how far you are from the sense of honor in guarding your unmarriageable female kin! The one who abuses the honors of the unmarriageable female kin of people does not have a sense of honor towards his kin. However, his kin may be afflicted by someone who abuses them as a punishment for him. It is said, “As you do, it will be done with you.”
 
I ask you, by Allah, do you approve adultery for your mother? Or that anyone speaks with her and manipulates her feelings? If you do not like it for your mother, people do not like it for their mothers, as well. If you do not like it for you sister, your daughter, your parental or maternal aunts, people do not like it for their sisters, daughters, parental or maternal aunts, too. Is your honor forbidden for people while theirs is lawful for you? Do you not wish to save your mother and sisters from being afflicted with what you have done with the unmarriageable relatives of other people? Do you not want to save your daughter and your wife to be dealt with the same as you have done with the daughters of people?
 
O you who cut the ways of men and break the ties of love!
May you live a dishonorable life!
The one who commits adultery in exchange for two thousand dirhams,
Someone will commit adultery with his family without even paying a dirham.
Adultery is like a debt which whenever you borrow,
It will be paid back by one of your family, so know this well.
If you were a freeman from a glorious lineage,
You would not violate the sanctity of a Muslim.
 
O you woman! O you who violated your honor and the honor of your husband and that of your family by committing adultery! You have put your honor in the mud and brought it down to the lowest levels. You spoiled your life and the life of your family. You harmed your reputation and the reputation of your family for the sake of a temporary lust or a perishing pleasure of life. Have you no fear of Allah? How did your soul obey you to do such an abominable vice?
 
Where is your bashfulness?
 
Where has your brain gone?
 
Have you thought of the torment of Allah?
 
Have you thought of the consequence of this act in this worldly life and in the Hereafter?
 
Have you thought of the slander in this life, not to mention the Hereafter?
 
Have you thought of the situation of your family, husband, and sons and their scandal among people if your matter is revealed?
 
Have you thought of the disgrace that will hit them? Have you thought what will be their conditions after that?
 
How will they face people while you have blackened their face by such crime?
 
Your death or your killing will be much easier for them than you committing such a vice. So, fear Allah, return unto Him in repentance, and keep away from such shameful act before your matter is revealed or before you die on a state of determination on committing such a monstrous immorality.
 
 
Finally,
 
O you who are afflicted with adultery whether males or females! Know that Allah sees you, so; beware not to consider Him the easiest One seeing you or knowing your matters. Do not let such animal lust and such transient pleasure make you forget the Greatness of your Lord and that He sees you. You cannot do such abominable immorality in front of any human even if he is a very young child. Unfortunately, you commit it before the Most High, the Grand, the One who has the Supreme Power over the heavens and the earth. Where is the glorification of Allah in your hearts? Where is the truthfulness of your faith? Where is your response for the Compassionate? Have you not felt the Greatness of the Supreme Power? Do you not fear the wrath of the Irresistible?
 
Have you forgotten death and its intoxication, the grave and its darkness and the call to account and its severity? Have you forgotten Hellfire, and what it contains of torment? There are great terrors before you which no one knows its greatness except Allah. You will have no power against them and you will not be able to bear them. Accordingly, do not allow this transient lust to make you forget all these terrors that are waiting for you. Do not allow it to make you forget the Greatness of your Lord or make you forget your final destiny. By Allah, you are too weak to bear just a little bit of the torment of Allah, so; do not go on disobeying Him. By Allah, all the pleasures of this worldly life do not equal one squeeze of those of the grave. Then, what about the torment that follows it? By Allah, there is no good in a desire that leads to Hellfire and destruction. So, return to Allah in repentance before you are not able to repent and before you regret at a time when no regret will benefit you.
 
May Allah guide you and us to what He likes and what He is satisfied with and may He make all of us among those who listen to speech and follow the best of it!
 
Allah knows best. Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.