Verses Prohibiting Adultery
In this section, we will outline several verses that explicitly or implicitly prohibit adultery:
- (And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way).
- (And they who are to their private parts guardians * Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed * But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors).
- (And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty * Multiplication will be for him the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated).
- (Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter; and Allah knows, while you do not know).
- (The male fornicator and the female fornicator, flog each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not let pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment * The fornicator does not marry except a female fornicator or polytheist, and the female fornicator none marries her except a fornicator or polytheist. And it has been made unlawful to the believers).
- (And for whoever among you who does not have the means to marry free, believing women, then he may marry from those whom your right hands possess of believing young women. And Allah knows your faith; you are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their people and give them their due compensation in kindness, as chastely married women, not taking [them] as secret lovers. And whoever among them should commit unlawful sexual intercourse, then the punishment is half of that for the free, chaste women. This is for whoever should fear hardship among you. And that you be patient is better for you. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful).
- (O Prophet, when believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a fabricated charge that they have invented between their arms and legs, nor will they disobey you in what is right, then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful).
Hadith Prohibiting Adultery
Here are some hadiths that declare the prohibition of adultery for Muslims:
- (The fornicator does not commit adultery while he is a believer; nor does he drink wine while he is a believer; nor does he steal while he is a believer; nor does he take a plunder that people give him their gaze toward while he is a believer).
- (Three individuals whom Allah will not speak to on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful punishment: an old man who commits adultery, a lying king, and a proud beggar).
- (Which sin is the greatest before Allah? He said: To associate a partner with Allah while He created you. I said: Then what? He said: To kill your child for fear that he may eat with you. I said: Then what? He said: To commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife).
- (When a man commits adultery, faith leaves him like a shadow that detaches. When he stops, faith returns to him).
- (When adultery and usury appear in a village, they have indeed brought upon themselves the punishment of Allah).
A Hadith on How to Address Adultery
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) addressed the issue of adultery with a young man, as narrated by Abu Umamah Al-Bahili. The young man approached the Prophet and said: “O Messenger of Allah, permit me to commit adultery.” The people present rebuked him, saying: “Stop! Stop!” The Prophet then said: “Come closer,” and the young man sat down nearby. The Prophet asked him: “Would you like this for your mother?” The young man replied: “No, by Allah, may Allah protect me for your sake.” The Prophet said: “And people do not love it for their mothers either.”
The Prophet continued to ask whether he would want it for his daughter, sister, aunt, or maternal aunt, each time the young man replied negatively, affirming that others would not want it for their relatives either. Finally, the Prophet placed his hand upon him and said: “O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart, and protect his private parts.” From that moment on, the young man did not turn to anything else.