Does sincere repentance expiate sins (even if the zina was committed by a married person)?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. I have one fiqh question.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : Since we are within the framework of fiqh, even the chapter of jihad is part of fiqh, if Allah wills. The question is as follows, O my Shaykh: A questioner asks, "Does sincere repentance expiate a major sin, specifically when a married man commits zina? We know that the hadd for a married man who commits zina is stoning to death."
The Shaykh : And that is correct.
The questioner : And now that the rulings are suspended, does sincere repentance expiate this major sin now, or how should one proceed?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that sincere repentance expiates [the sin]. Perhaps you remember with me the words of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, in describing the servants of the Most Merciful:[Al-Furqan 25:63-70] So, if repentance erases the sin, whatever it may be. And as you know from some authentic hadiths, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6871 Then He said: [Al-Furqan 25:70] So, if the mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), who has committed the greatest of the major sins, repents, Allah accepts his repentance. And zina comes after that: [Al-Furqan 25:68] So, zina comes in the third position in the Quranic order. So those are [Al-Furqan 25:68-70] from what? They repented from shirk, from killing the soul without right, and from zina. So there is absolutely no doubt that repentance—and peace be upon you—erases the sin, meaning the guilt, the guilt of the sin. This is the answer to what you asked, and I hope it has become clear to you, if Allah wills.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh, it is not clear, if you please.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : We know that the ruling for the mushrik is the second ruling, meaning the ruling is applied to him, meaning the ruling of killing or flogging or something of that sort. Whereas zina has a hadd, and we said that he committed zina.
The Shaykh : The answer is one, may Allah bless you. Is the mushrik not killed?
The questioner : He is killed, yes.
The Shaykh : And the one who commits zina?
The questioner : The married man is killed as well.
The Shaykh : He is killed. So they are the same. This is the mushrik who, if he does not submit to Islam, is killed. Then he was not killed because the Sharia rulings are not in place. Then he repented to Allah and turned back. Is his repentance not accepted?
The questioner : His repentance is accepted.
The Shaykh : And why did the matter become difficult for you?
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : Since we are within the framework of fiqh, even the chapter of jihad is part of fiqh, if Allah wills. The question is as follows, O my Shaykh: A questioner asks, "Does sincere repentance expiate a major sin, specifically when a married man commits zina? We know that the hadd for a married man who commits zina is stoning to death."
The Shaykh : And that is correct.
The questioner : And now that the rulings are suspended, does sincere repentance expiate this major sin now, or how should one proceed?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that sincere repentance expiates [the sin]. Perhaps you remember with me the words of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, in describing the servants of the Most Merciful:
(63) And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace, (64) And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer] (65) And those who say, "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; (66) Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence." (67) And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate (68) And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (70) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
و عباد الرّحمان الذين يمشون على الأرض هونا و إذا خاطبهم الجاهلون قالوا سلاما و الّذين يبيتون لربّهم سجّدا و قياما و الّذين يقولون ربّنا اصرف عنّا عذاب جهنّم إنّ عذابها كان غراما إنّها ساءت مستقرّا و مقاما و الّذين إذا أنفقوا لم يسرفوا و لم يقتروا و كان بين ذلك قواما و الذين لا يدعون مع الله إلاها آخر و لا يقتلون النّفس الّتي حرّم الله إلاّ بالحقّ و لا يزنون و من يفعل ذلك يلق آثاما يضاعف له العذاب يوم القيامة و يخلد فيه مهانا إلاّ من تاب و آمن و عمل عملا صالحا فأولئك يبدّل الله سيّئاتهم حسنات و كان الله غفورا رحيماThe biggest of Al-Ka`ba'ir (the great sins) are (1) to join others as partners in worship with Allah
أكبر الكبائر الإشراك باللهExcept for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good
إلاّ من تاب و آمن و عمل عملا صالحا فأولئك يبدّل الله سيّئاتهم حسناتdo not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse
لا يدعون مع الله إلها لآخر و لا يقتلون النّفس الّتي حرّم الله إلاّ بالحقّ و لا يزنونwill meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (70) Except for those who repent
يلقون آثاما يضاعف له العذاب يوم القيامة و يخلد فيه مهانا إلاّ من تابThe questioner : No, O Shaykh, it is not clear, if you please.
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The questioner : We know that the ruling for the mushrik is the second ruling, meaning the ruling is applied to him, meaning the ruling of killing or flogging or something of that sort. Whereas zina has a hadd, and we said that he committed zina.
The Shaykh : The answer is one, may Allah bless you. Is the mushrik not killed?
The questioner : He is killed, yes.
The Shaykh : And the one who commits zina?
The questioner : The married man is killed as well.
The Shaykh : He is killed. So they are the same. This is the mushrik who, if he does not submit to Islam, is killed. Then he was not killed because the Sharia rulings are not in place. Then he repented to Allah and turned back. Is his repentance not accepted?
The questioner : His repentance is accepted.
The Shaykh : And why did the matter become difficult for you?
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.