The term “zina,” which is understood as adultery and fornication, is used in Islam in two different but interrelated meanings. Firstly, it is used as a concept conveying the general meaning of this phenomenon. Secondly, it is a legal term defining a criminal act that provides for punishment. This sin is among mortals.
What does zina mean in Islam
In its broad sense, this term refers to any haraam (forbidden actions), regardless of whether it was sexual intercourse or a look, conversation, touch or desire that is connected or could lead to illegal sexual relations.
All these actions are prohibited, because ultimately they can lead to sexual intercourse.
According to Muslim scholars, some forms of views, conversations and touches relate to prohibited actions, as they bring the faithful Muslim closer to committing sin.
Legal value
If we consider what Zina is in Islam according to Sharia, then it should be said that as a legal term it has a more specific meaning. According to scientists, in its legal meaning, this is seen as voluntary sexual intercourse committed out of wedlock.
Thus, any sexual relationship that meets this definition, from the point of view of jurisprudence, is called zina and deserves the application of serious legal punishment.
The severity of sin in Islam
Adultery in both meanings is a forbidden act (haram). However, the commission of this sin (in the legal sense) leads to serious punishment, while the commission of something that brings a person closer to sin is considered a bad deed for which he is accountable to Allah and, as a rule, cannot be subjected to any specific physical punishments set out in Islamic law.
Adultery is considered one of the main sins of Islam. The main goal of Sharia (Islamic law) is to serve the interests of the people. One of these interests is the preservation of the family. First of all, this is to ensure the recognition of a legitimate family branch, due to which not only the clan itself, but also the society maintain their stability. It also prevents the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in society.
In Islam, family and kinship are preserved in two ways:
- through legal marriage and recognition of children from this marriage;
- eliminating the causes of violations by prohibiting and imposing penalties for zina.
Definition and types
In a narrow sense, zina is adultery, which implies a man has sexual intercourse with a woman with whom he was not married by law. The fact of adultery does not depend on the marital status of the parties involved.
The sin of adultery takes many forms:
- Zina's hands. It implies a situation where someone touches a representative of the opposite sex who is not halal (authorized) for him or her.
- Zina's eye. In this case, the forbidden situation is when someone looks at what is not allowed (open parts of the body, forbidden images, for example, pornographic content).
- Zina tongue. Refers to the intentional utterance of forbidden words, for example, a person flirts with a representative of the opposite sex.
- Zina's ears. In this case, the culprit deliberately listens to the forbidden.
But the main meaning is directly related to the genitals and sexual intercourse. In particular, there is no doubt whether oral zing should be considered Islam. If this act is not committed between a husband and wife, it will be considered an act of adultery.
The severity of sin
Every illegal sexual act is called in Islam zin. The consequences and punishments for him depend on the status of the person who committed adultery. In particular, whether the perpetrator was young or old, married or single, married or single. At the same time, one who has never been married will be considered lonely here. Divorced or widowed single are no longer considered.
According to these differences, those who are guilty of this sin have a different responsibility. Adultery with a married woman is considered more serious than with free. Having sex with a close relative exacerbates the situation. The sin of a woman who has already been married is heavier than the sin of a virgin. Adultery in adulthood is a more serious sin than for a young man.
Punishment
Despite the fact that zina in Islam is considered a mortal sin, the person who committed it will be forgiven in case of repentance. This is an obstacle to legal marriage until the sinner is punished and pleads guilty.
The punishments for Islam in Zina are very severe. A bachelor who commits adultery receives 100 stick hits. After that, he must be expelled from the country for at least one year. A married man or a married woman, as well as those who are divorced or widowed, are sentenced to stoning to death.
The main causes of sin
There are several situations and reasons that can easily drag someone into adultery. This may not depend on marital status or level of religiosity. The more people associate themselves with these factors, the easier it is to fall into the zine trap.
Any activity, situation or interaction that provokes sexual desires can lead to this. If the other person is not a legal spouse, preventive measures must be taken in such situations. Or try to avoid such circumstances altogether.
For example, delaying marriage can lead to such a situation. In addition, the danger lies in the fact that a person is largely attracted to representatives of the opposite sex. In this case, it is necessary to minimize their interactions with them, avoiding contacts unnecessarily. Any communication with the opposite sex should be open or take place in a professional setting. You should try to ensure the presence of a third party, but not be alone in a secluded place.
What does the sin of adultery lead
Zina in Islam is a grave sin, entailing serious consequences. Quite often, infidelity leads to the destruction of families and causes divorce. After committing sin, children may appear who are doomed to live in single-parent families or in boarding schools. Unplanned pregnancies force women to resort to abortion, which, in essence, is a murder in Islam. Excessiveness and intemperance of sexual relations leads to the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Adultery is often accompanied by excessive expenses, which are considered as squandering (israf).
Psychological consequences
In the psychological aspect, consequences can arise, such as anxiety caused by zina, constant guilt.
The first psychological danger is anxiety. A Muslim can then experience negative feelings, because he performed an act forbidden by God.
In addition, this often happens in humiliating conditions: in the rear seats, in the backyard, in elevators, under stairs and under trees.
If the first sexual experience was associated with zina, this can leave a negative imprint on sex life and relationships in a subsequent marriage.
Constant anxiety can subsequently turn into guilt.
What is considered adultery
The sin of zin in Islam is possible only between members of the opposite sex. Self-satisfaction, according to some scholars, is such a sin, while others consider it permissible in some situations. For example, if the husband is far from his wife and is afraid to commit adultery with another woman. Sexual relations between members of the same sex do not belong to zina, but are considered an even more serious sin.
Conviction
Because of the severity of the punishment for zina in Islam, it is not so easy to condemn people. In order for a man or woman to be convicted of this sin, four reliable Muslims are required who have witnessed sexual intercourse, or those involved in adultery are recognized, or an unmarried woman became pregnant.
Without observing these conditions, there can be no conviction for zina. Such a measure prevents the possibility of slander and baseless accusations.
What to avoid
It is unacceptable for a Muslim to perform actions that can lead to zina, for example, kissing, being alone, touching or looking at something unlawful, because all this is haraam, which leads to greater evil, to the sin of adultery.
According to the Qur'an, believing men and women must look down and defend their chastity. Free staring, or zina eyes in Islam, can cause immoral actions, while lowering your gaze is one way to protect yourself from this.
A Muslim should publicly avoid what Allah forbade: to be alone with a member of the opposite sex, to watch, shake hands, kiss and perform other prohibited acts that lead to an immoral act of adultery.
One way to protect yourself from entering into an illegal relationship is to marry.
You can also prevent sin by fasting, which helps limit your desires. The period of its observance depends on the desire and capabilities of the person.
A sinner should not be deceived into thinking that he will not commit a zine and that he will stop at these actions and the haram will not go so far. In Islam, there is no punishment for such prohibited acts as kisses, etc. Thus, the punishment (hadd) is intended only for sexual intercourse (zina), but the judge can apply tazir, an instructive punishment, to restrain him and others like him, from committing sin.