At which point is it considered Zina?
Question
I have a question on zina. At what point does something become zina? Is it when looking at the opposite gender for the 2nd time, or talking to them or touching them?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakā
When butter is placed before fire, it will melt. It will be senseless to ask at which point the butter melts. The nafs melts faster than butter.Hence, the issue is not about at which point it is Zina. The issue is to avoid that point.
Allah says:
Translation:
‘And do not go close to zina’
[Surah: Al Israa Verse: 32]
It is precisely for this reason, Shariah instructs us to even lower our gazes. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
Translation:
Tell the believing men that they should lower their gazes
.[surah: Al Noor, vesrse: 30]
Translation:
Tell the believing women that they should lower their gazes
.[surah: Al Noor, vesrse: 31]
In conclusion, whatever may lead to Zina, whether it is one’s sight, touch, reading or thoughts, all are prohibited.1
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Jibran Kadarkhan
Student Darul Iftaa
Mauritius
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1]
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِم
وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ
فقال اى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم لعلى ،يا على لا تتبع النظرة النظرة، من باب الافعال اى تعقبها اياها ولا تجعل اخرى بعد الاولى اى النظرة الاولى اذا كانت من غير قصد لانها باختيارك فتكون عليك (بذل المجهود،8/86,دار البشائر الاسلامية)
تحفة الامعى (,6/542)
- Answered by
- Jibran Kadarkhan
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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