ON ADULTERY

Allâh says: “Who guard their private parts.” [76] In other words, they guard their private parts from immoral acts and all that is not lawful to them. Allâh says in another verse: “do not approach shameful deeds – what is apparent thereof and what is concealed.” [77] In other words, what is major, i.e. adultery, and what is minor, i.e. kissing, touching, looking.

The Messenger of Allâh said: “The hands commit adultery, the feet commit adultery and the eyes commit adultery.”

Allâh says: “Say to the believers to lower their gazes and to safeguard their private parts. In this there is much purity for them.” [78]

Allâh commands the men and women to lower their gazes from the unlawful and to safeguard their private parts from the unlawful. Allâh made adultery unlawful through many verses.

Allâh says: “And they do not commit adultery. Whoever does that has fallen into sin.” [79] Another meaning of the word “sin” in this context is punishment in the Hell-fire. It is said that it also refers to a valley in Hell. It is said that it also refers to a pit in Hell. When it is opened, the inmates of Hell scream out because of its terrible smell.

One of the Companions y said: “Beware of adultery for it entails six things, three in this world and three in the hereafter. As for the three in this world, they are: (1) decrease in sustenance, (2) curtailment of one’s lifespan, (3) darkness of the face. As for the three in the hereafter, they are: (1) the wrath of Allâh , (2) a very strict reckoning, (3) entry into Hell.”

It is related that Mûsâ asked: “O my Sustainer! What is the punishment for the person who commits adultery?” Allâh replied: “I will make him wear an armour of fire. If this armour were to be placed on a lofty mountain, it will be reduced to ashes.”

It is related that an immoral woman is more beloved to Satan than a thousand immoral men. It is stated in al-Masâbîh that the Messenger of Allâh said: “When a person commits adultery, his îmân leaves him and remains above his head like a cloud. When he leaves that act, îmân returns to him.”

The book, al-Iqnâ‘, states that the Prophet said: “There is no sin that is more serious in the sight of Allâh than a sperm which a person places in the womb of someone who is unlawful to him.”

Homosexuality is more severe than adultery. Anas ibn Mâlik narrates that the Prophet said: “The person who commits homosexuality will not get the fragrance of Paradise although its fragrance is experienced from the distance of a journey of 500 years.”

Qâdî Imâm rahimahullâh said: “I heard a shaykh saying: ‘There is one Satan with every woman, while there are 18 Satans with every young boy.’” It is related that the person who kisses a young boy with desire, Allâh shall punish him in the Hell-fire for 500 years. The person who kisses a woman with desire is like one who committed adultery with 70 virgins. The person who commits adultery with a virgin is as though he committed adultery with 70 000 non-virgins.

It is stated in Raunaq at-Tafâsîr that al-Kalbî said: The first person to commit homosexuality was Satan, may Allâh curse him. He appeared before the people in the form of a young, handsome boy and then invited them to himself. So they married him and this became their habit with every stranger. Allâh sent Lût to them. He prohibited them from this act and invited them towards the worship of Allâh . He warned them that if they persisted in their sin, the punishment of Allâh will descend upon them. They replied: “Bring the punishment of Allâh upon us if you are really truthful.” Lût then asked Allâh to help him against them. He said: “O my Sustainer! Help me against these corrupt people.” Allâh ordered the skies to rain down stones upon them. Each stone was imprinted with the name of the person who was to be pelted with it. This is the meaning of the words: “Marked by your Sustainer.” [80] In other words, they had marks (or signs) in the treasures of Allâh or in His orders.

It is related that a businessman from Lût’s people was in Makkah [at the time of the punishment that was inflicted on the people]. So a stone came to strike him in the sanctuary of Makkah. The angels said to this stone: “Return from where you have come because this person is in the sanctuary of Allâh .” The stone returned and remained waiting between the heavens and earth outside the sanctuary of Makkah for 40 days. When the man completed his business and left, the stone struck him outside the sanctuary and destroyed him.

When Lût left the town his wife also followed him. He had prohibited all those who followed him from turning around [and looking at the punishment that was befalling the people]. They all obeyed except for his wife. When she heard the punishment descending, she turned around and said: “O my people!” A stone came and struck her head, thereby killing her.

Mujâhid rahimahullâh says: “When the people woke up in the morning, Jibra’îl went to the town and uprooted it from its pillars. He then inserted his wings from beneath and carried the entire town on the edges of his wings. He then climbed up with it towards the sky to such an extent that the inhabitants of the sky heard the quacking of their ducks and the barking of their dogs. He then turned the town upside down. The first to fall down was their canopies. No nation was punished in this way. Allâh then blotted out their eyesight. Their town was then turned upside down. This town comprised of five districts, the biggest of which was Sodom. It is said that it had a population of 400 000.