Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 32

(Ayah 32) ➊ { وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰۤى …:’’فَاحِشَةً ‘‘} Such a statement and action that is extremely vile. In the previous verse, the killing of children was forbidden, which leads to the extinction of the human race, and in this verse, approaching adultery is forbidden, because this is an excessive evil that corrupts the system of lineage. As a result, a husband will neither trust his wife nor be certain that the children are his own; out of jealousy, he may even kill his wife and children, as is often reported in the news. If this evil custom becomes widespread, the entire system of kinship, which is a mercy from Allah Almighty, will be destroyed—there will be no knowledge of the father, no uncle or grandfather, no knowledge of their offspring, no connection or relationship, and the distinction between human and animal will be erased. The punishment for this vile act is currently being suffered by Western nations, and they are extremely envious of the Muslims’ system of lineage, which is why they use every tactic to spread immorality and adultery among them as well.

➋ Allah Almighty has forbidden even approaching adultery and some other acts, and has forbidden the commission of certain acts. By reflecting on the verses, it becomes clear that for those acts towards which a person has a natural inclination, even approaching them is forbidden, such as adultery, for the sexual urge is the strongest urge in a person. Thus, He said: «وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰۤى » [ بنی إسرائیل : ۳۲ ] and He said: «وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوْهُنَّ حَتّٰى يَطْهُرْنَ » [ البقرۃ : ۲۲۲ ] “And do not approach them until they are purified.” Similarly, approaching the wealth of the orphan is forbidden except in the best manner, because greed for wealth is a natural urge. Thus, He said: «وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوْا مَالَ الْيَتِيْمِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ» [ بنی إسرائیل : ۳۴ ] However, the commission of murder is forbidden; He said: «وَ لَا تَقْتُلُوْۤا اَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ اِمْلَاقٍ» [ بنی إسرائیل : ۳۱ ] and He said: «وَ لَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِيْ حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ» [ بنی إسرائیل : ۳۳ ] because killing someone is not a natural urge in a human being.

➌ Allah Almighty has also closed all the paths leading to adultery, some of which are mentioned here: (1) Seclusion with a non-mahram woman has been declared forbidden, and likewise, men have been forbidden from freely mixing with women. Thus, Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لاَ تُسَافِرِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلاَّ مَعَ ذِيْ مَحْرَمٍ وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا رَجُلٌ إِلاَّ وَ مَعَهَا مَحْرَمٌ ] [ بخاری، جزاء الصید، باب حج النساء : ۱۸۶۲ ] “No woman should travel except with a mahram, and no man should go to her except when she has a mahram present.” In the same narration in Muslim: [ لاَ يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ ] [ مسلم، الحج، باب سفر المرأۃ مع محرم إلی حج وغیرہ : ۱۳۴۱ ] “No man should be alone with a woman.” Likewise, Uqbah bin Amir narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالدُّخُوْلَ عَلَی النِّسَاءِ، فقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ ! أَفَرَأَيْتَ الْحَمْوَ؟ قَالَ اَلْحَمْوُ الْمَوْتُ ] [ بخاری، النکاح، باب لا یخلون رجل بامرأۃ… : ۵۲۳۲۔ مسلم : ۲۱۷۲ ] “Beware of entering upon women.” An Ansari man asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what about {’’حَمْوٌ‘‘} (the husband’s close relatives, such as his brother or paternal cousin, etc.)?” He said: “The ‘hamw’ is death.” (2) Both men and women have been commanded to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. For details, see Surah An-Nur (30, 31), because the eyes and ears are the gateways to the heart. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَتَبَ عَلَي ابْنِ آدَمَ حَظَّهُ مِنَ الزِّنَا، أَدْرَكَ ذٰلِكَ لاَ مَحَالَةَ، فَزِنَا الْعَيْنِ النَّظَرُ، وَ زِنَا اللِّسَانِ المَنْطِقُ، وَالنَّفْسُ تَتَمَنَّي وَتَشْتَهِيْ، وَالْفَرْجُ يُصَدِّقُ ذِٰلكَ كُلَّهُ وَ يُكَذِّبُهُ ] [ بخاری، الاستئذان، باب زنا الجوارح دون الفرج : ۶۲۴۳۔ مسلم: ۲۶۵۷ ] “Allah has written for the son of Adam his share of adultery, which he will inevitably get. The adultery of the eyes is looking, the adultery of the ears is listening, the adultery of the tongue is speaking, and the soul desires and wishes, and the private part either confirms it or denies it.” (3) Women have been commanded to observe hijab and strictly forbidden from displaying their adornment. See Surah An-Nur (31) and Surah Al-Ahzab (33). Along with this, men and women have been strongly encouraged to marry, and marriage has been made very easy; if means are not available, utmost effort to remain chaste has been commanded. See Surah An-Nur (32, 33). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ، وَ أَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ، وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ] [ بخاری، الصوم، باب الصوم لمن خاف علی نفسہ العزبۃ : ۱۹۰۵۔ مسلم : ۱۴۰۰ ] “Whoever among you is able to marry, let him marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts, and whoever is not able, let him fast, for it is a means of subduing his desire.” (4) For those who commit adultery, whether men or women, the establishment of proof with utmost caution and the implementation of the prescribed punishment with full severity has been commanded. For the unmarried man and woman, the punishment is one hundred lashes and one year of exile, which is much less than stoning, and for the married man and woman, the punishment is one hundred lashes and stoning, which is an extremely severe punishment. Its clear ahadith are well-known in Sahihain and others. There is no doubt that if Allah’s prescribed punishment is implemented, society will be completely purified from this filth.

➍ { اِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً:’’ كَانَ ‘‘} is for the meaning of permanence. Tantawi (may Allah have mercy on him) has taken {’’ كَانَ ‘‘} here to mean { ’’مَا زَالَ‘‘} (from always), and the tanween in {’’ فَاحِشَةً ‘‘} is for emphasis, so it has been translated as “Indeed, it is always a great immorality and an evil way.” It is clear that adultery is an act of extreme indecency that destroys families, generations, and societies, and causes dreadful physical and spiritual diseases.

➎ { وَ سَآءَ سَبِيْلًا :} is an evil way because if it becomes open, people will reach your own home by following it, and then no one’s mother, daughter, wife, or sister’s honor will remain safe. This is exactly what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained to the young man who asked for permission to commit adultery. Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: “A young man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked for permission to commit adultery. The people turned to him, rebuked him, and told him to be quiet, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اُدْنُهْ ] (Come) near (to me).” He came near and when he sat down, the Prophet said: [ أَتُحِبُّهُ لِأُمِّكَ؟ ] “Would you like this for your mother?” He said: “No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah! May Allah make me your ransom (never).” The Prophet said: [ وَلَا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّوْنَهُ لِأُمَّهَاتِهِمْ ] “People also do not like this for their mothers.” Then he said: [ أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِابْنَتِكَ؟ ] “Would you like it for your daughter?” He said: “No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah! May Allah make me your ransom (never).” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَلَا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّوْنَهُ لِبَنَاتِهِمْ ] “People also do not like this for their daughters.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ أَ فَتُحِبُّهُ لِأُخْتِكَ؟ ] “Would you like it for your sister?” He said: “No, by Allah! May Allah make me your ransom.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَلَا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّوْنَهُ لِأَخَوَاتِهِمْ ] “People also do not like this for their sisters.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: [ أَ فَتُحِبُّهُ لِعَمَّتِكَ ] “Would you like it for your paternal aunt?” He said: “No, by Allah! May Allah make me your ransom.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَلَا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّوْنَهُ لِعَمَّاتِهِمْ ] “People also do not like this for their paternal aunts.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: [ أَ فَتُحِبُّهُ لِخَالَتِكَ؟ ] “Would you like it for your maternal aunt?” He said: “No, by Allah! May Allah make me your ransom (never).” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ وَلَا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّوْنَهُ لِخَالَاتِهِمْ ] “People also do not like this for their maternal aunts.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) placed his hand on him and prayed: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبَهُ، وَ طَهِّرْ قَلْبَهُ وَ حَصِّنْ فَرْجَهُ ] “O Allah! Forgive his sin, purify his heart, and guard his chastity.” After that, the young man never even looked towards such a thing.” [ مسند أحمد : 256/5، ۲۵۷، ح : ۲۲۲۷۴ ]

32. 1. Since adultery is a very grave crime in Islam, so grave that if a married man or woman commits it, they do not even have the right to live in an Islamic society. Then, it is not enough to kill them with a single strike of the sword, but the command is that their life should be ended by stoning so that they become a lesson for the society. That is why it is stated here: do not go near adultery, meaning stay away even from its causes and means, for example, looking at a non-mahram woman, mixing with them, creating opportunities for conversation, similarly, women going out of their homes without hijab and adorned, etc. It is necessary to avoid all these matters so that one can be saved from this indecency.

And do not even go near adultery [37], for it is an indecency and an evil way.

[37]
The Prohibition of the Ways of Adultery and Approaching Them:

Allah Almighty did not say "Do not commit adultery," but rather said, "Do not even go near adultery," meaning all those ways and methods that can become a cause of adultery. Abstain from all of them. A detailed explanation of such ways will come in Surah An-Nur and Surah Al-Ahzab. In brief, anything that can become a cause for the arousal of a person's lust is a way to adultery, for example: free mixing with women, women going out in the markets without hijab, conversation between non-mahram men and women, especially when they are alone, flirtatious glances, nude pictures, films, obscene literature, filthy language, obscene stories and dramas on TV and radio, and immodest conversation between men and women—all these are things that arouse lust, and these are the ways to adultery. And when Allah Almighty called adultery an "evil way," its evils are as follows:
1. In the case of adultery, the lineage of the child born remains doubtful.
2. Disputes over inheritance arise for such a child born of adultery.
3. If the adulteress is a married woman, the expenses of the child unjustly fall upon her husband; similarly, he is unjustly considered a sharer in the inheritance.
4. An unmarried woman who has relations with several men causes rivalry and enmity among those men, to the extent that sometimes it even leads to murder.
5. In the case of marriage, both husband and wife are sympathetic and compassionate towards each other. Their mutual love helps in the upbringing of children, which forms the family system, and this system is the most basic and important unit of any society. In the case of adultery, not only does this system fail to remain intact, but its very foundation is shaken, as is the situation in European countries nowadays. Due to these and many other evils, Allah Almighty has said not to even go near adultery, and has placed restrictions on all the ways that lead to adultery.