Definition & Ruling

**A. Definition:** **Linguistically:** Zina refers to intercourse with a woman without a legal contract, and also to intimate contact with a non-mahram woman. **Legally:** A man's intercourse with a woman in the vagina without ownership (marriage) or semblance of ownership. Or: Committing the indecent act in the vagina or anus. --- **B. Ruling:** Zina is **forbidden** and is among the **major sins**. **Evidence from Quran:** Allah says: "And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way" [Al-Isra: 32]. **Evidence from Sunnah:** Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'Which sin is greatest?' He said: 'That you set up a rival to Allah while He created you.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'That you kill your child fearing that he will eat with you.' I said: 'Then what?' He said: 'That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife'" [Bukhari & Muslim]. **Consensus:** The scholars have unanimously agreed on its prohibition. --- **C. Dangers and Harms:** Zina is among the gravest crimes and most heinous, and most dangerous to individuals and societies because: 1. **Mixing of lineages** - leading to loss of rights in inheritance 2. **Loss of recognition and mutual support** for truth 3. **Family breakdown** and loss of children 4. **Poor upbringing** and corruption of morals 5. **Deceiving the husband** - a pregnancy from zina may result in the husband raising someone else's child 6. **Many other harms** affecting individuals and societies: loss, dissolution, and breakdown For this reason, Islam warned against it most severely and prescribed the harshest punishment for it.