Condemnation of Adultery and Dancing in Islam
In Islamic teachings, everything that leads a person to evil, indecency, and sin is strictly prohibited. Both adultery and dancing are actions that cause social and moral corruption. There are severe warnings about them in the Quran and Hadith, aimed at purifying society from evils and inclining the individual towards piety and righteousness.
Condemnation of Adultery in the Light of the Quran
1.1 Do Not Even Approach Adultery
Allah Almighty says:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةًۭ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًۭا
“And do not approach adultery; indeed, it is an immorality and an evil way.”
This verse commands not only to avoid adultery but also all its causes (such as immodesty, obscene speech, mixed gatherings, and obscene films). The best way in Islam to avoid evil is to close off the paths that lead to it.
1.2 Severe Punishment for Adulterers
Allah Almighty says:
ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجْلِدُوا۟ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا مِا۟ئَةَ جَلْدَةٍۢ
“The adulterous woman and the adulterous man—each of them, flog each one of them with a hundred lashes.”
This verse clarifies the severe punishment for adultery so that this evil may be eradicated from society and people may understand the gravity of this sin.
1.3 Believers do not commit adultery
Allah Almighty says:
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًۭا
“And they do not invoke with Allah any other deity, nor kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except by right, nor commit adultery; and whoever does this will receive a severe punishment.”
Condemnation of adultery in Hadith
2.1 Adultery is a major sin
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked:
“What is the greatest sin?”
He ﷺ said: “To associate partners with Allah.”
Then it was asked: “Then what?”
He ﷺ said: “To kill a soul which Allah has forbidden except by right.”
Then it was asked: “Then what?”
He ﷺ said: “To commit adultery with the wife of your neighbor.”
2.2 The bad consequences of adultery
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“When adultery and immorality become widespread in a nation, diseases and plagues spread among them that were not present in the previous nations.”
Condemnation of Dancing and Singing in the Light of the Quran
3.1 Command to Avoid Idle Talk
Allah Almighty says:
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
“And those who avoid vain talk.”
Condemnation of Dancing and Singing in the Ahadith
4.1 Music Declared Forbidden
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“There will be people among my Ummah who will make adultery, silk, wine, and musical instruments lawful.”
4.2 Music Creates Hypocrisy in the Heart
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) said:
“Music creates hypocrisy in the heart, just as water causes crops to grow.”
Ways to Avoid Adultery and Dancing/Singing
◈ Developing fear of Allah: Recitation of the Quran and remembering the punishment of Allah.
◈ Protecting the gaze: Avoiding looking at non-mahram, as this is the first step towards fornication.
◈ Adopting pure companionship: Staying with good friends who invite towards righteousness.
◈ Avoiding media and obscene content: Staying away from songs, dramas, and un-Islamic content on social media.
◈ Making marriage easy: The Prophet ﷺ declared marriage as a means to protect from fornication.
◈ Observing fasts: If marriage is not possible, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting.
Result
In the Quran and Hadith, dancing, singing, and fornication are declared the gravest sins because they destroy a person’s faith and cause severe punishment in the Hereafter. To avoid them, it is necessary to follow Allah’s commands, protect the gaze, and adopt righteous deeds.
May Allah protect us from fornication and immorality and grant us the ability to choose lawful paths. Ameen!
