The Crime of Zina and Deliverance from Its Consequences

Q: What is obligatory for one who has committed the crime of zina to be delivered from the consequences of that act?
A: Zina is among the greatest of what is forbidden and the greatest of the major sins. Allah has threatened the polytheists, those who kill without right, and those who commit zina with a doubled punishment on the Day of Resurrection and eternal abode therein, in a state of humiliation and disgrace, because of the magnitude of their crime and the ugliness of their action, as Allah, the Exalted, said: His punishment will be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in humiliationexcept for one who repents, believes, and does righteous deeds[Al-Furqan: 68-70] So whoever falls into any of that must repent to Allahwith sincere repentance, and follow that with sincere faith and righteous deeds. Repentance is sincere when the repentant person abandons the sin, regrets what has passed of it, and resolves with a sincere determination not to return to it; out of fear of Allah, the Exalted, and exalting Him, hoping for His reward, and fearing His punishment. Allah, the Exalted, said:[Ta-Ha: 82] It is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to guard against this great sin and its means with the utmost caution, and to hasten with sincere repentance for what has passed of it. And Allah accepts the repentance of the sincere repenters and forgives them.