adminUmari Stambuli Holy Qur’aan Speaks
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 includes unrestricted free mixing of the sexes, nudity, pornography, and so forth.
Adultery is in essence 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 resulting in divorce within the first few years and the main reason for divorce is the adultery or unfaithfulness of one of the partners.
In every upright society, adultery is regarded as one of the most immoral and heinous of sins and its’ enormity cannot be overlooked.
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 the following: 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 The Almighty, 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 may develop the audacity to server the blood relationships, become ungrateful and unkind to their parents and family members, earn that which is prohibited, consume intoxicants, be unjust to people, even lose their spouse and children, etc. They may even go to the extent of resorting to practices of witchcraft and magic, murder and or commit extremely abominable acts, knowingly or unknowingly.
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 a 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”.
A very interesting incident is that of a young man who went to the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). This man asked for permission to fornicate because he could not control himself. The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) dealt with him with reasoning and asked him if he would approve of someone else having illegal sex with his mother, sister, daughter, or wife. Each time the man said ‘no’. Then the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) replied that, “The woman (with whom you plan to have sex) is also somebody’s mother, sister, daughter, or wife”.
This jolted the man and the point was driven home – he understood and repented sincerely.
Allah Almighty instructs the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty, that will make for greater purity, and God is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze, and guard their modesty.”(Ch 24 : v 30-31)
The need to realise
In the Islamic context adultery includes both pre-marital and extra-marital sex, hence both are totally prohibited. Unfortunately, both have become the epidemic in modern society, with people giving them all sorts of different names in order to justify their lustful, uncontrolled passions and desires.
Little do they realise that The Almighty declares, “Say, ‘Verily, my Lord has prohibited the shameful deeds, be it open or secret, as well as sins and trespasses against the truth and reason.”’ (Ch 7 : v 33).
True enjoyment and happiness can never be achieved by indulging in that which The Almighty has made forbidden, the pleasure and bounty of The Almighty can only be attained by being obedient to Him.
The transient pleasures of this world are indeed of no significance in comparison to the ever-lasting bounties bestowed by The Almighty to the Faithful who remain steadfast at all times.
Allah says in The Holy Qur’aan, “Allah would never change the grace He has bestowed upon a people until they change their own condition. And verily, Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.” (Ch 8 : v 53),
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003
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