How does one who has committed zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) and then wishes to repent atone for his sin?

The questioner:
The questioner says: One of the brothers is distressed because he committed the crime of zina with one of the women. He asks: Does he have a path to repentance? What is his worldly punishment? And what do you advise the wife of his father, whom he contacted?

The Shaykh:
It is obligatory for a Muslim who falls into some of these sins to repent to Allah the Exalted and Majestic with a sincere repentance, a repentance of complete turning back, and not to disclose what happened to him. He should rely on the covering of Allah the Glorious and Exalted, and not disclose what he did, nor with whom he did it. But he should repent to Allah and cease. Sincere, complete repentance consists of three things: first, regret for the past; second, ceasing from the evil and abandoning it out of reverence for Allah and exaltation of Allah; and third, resolving not to return. He must resolve not to return to the disobedience. If he abandons the disobedience, regrets what has passed, and resolves sincerely not to return, Allah will accept his repentance, even from disbelief, even from disbelief in Allah the Exalted and Majestic. As for disclosing this, that is open sinning (mujaharah), and it is not permissible to disclose it. It is obligatory to seek a ruling from a scholar out of gratitude to Allah, and not to disclose what happened to him, but rather to repent to Allah the Exalted and Majestic. However, if it reaches the ruler, or he comes to the judge, or to the trustworthy authority, the hudud (fixed Qur'anic punishments) must be carried out against him. If it was zina or liwat (sodomy), his hudud must be carried out. If he is a virgin, zina is punished by flogging and exile for one year. And if he is married, he is stoned with stones until he dies.

The presenter:
There is no power except in Allah.

The Shaykh:
As for liwat, whether he is a virgin or not, whoever commits liwat and has reached puberty is killed absolutely, even if he is a slave. The hadith says: "If you find one doing the deed of the people of Yusuf, kill the active partner and the passive partner."

The presenter:
By Allah the High.

Another questioner:
If it is regarding the passive partner, the active partner is killed.

The Shaykh:
Yes, if he was coerced, that is a circumstance that prevents the punishment. But if they were mutually consenting, both are killed. Yes.

The presenter:
Recite the hadith.

The Shaykh:
"If you find one doing the deed of the people of Yusuf, kill the active partner and the passive partner." And in the hadith: Yusuf.

The presenter:
By the way, Shaykh, what did you do, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh:
So it is obligatory for one who falls into sins to repent to Allah, and to be covered by the covering of Allah, and not to announce his evil. Rather, he should repent to Allah with a repentance between him and Allah. If he is sincere, Allah will accept his repentance. We thank Allah for safety and blessing.