How Can One Repent from Fornication?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
I have influenced some girls/women into acts of Zina even after knowing the punishment, so now when I try to repent sincerely, a thought comes to my mind what about the girls whom you put into Zina?
How can you try to become righteous when they are still in Zina? Now they are your responsibility and their sins too!
And one more thought how you could wish for a righteous wife when you corrupted other girls whether you repent or not; you don’t deserve a virtuous wife!
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Fornication is a major sin and is a despicable act. Allah Most High says, “Do not go near adultery. It is truly a shameful deed and an evil way.” [Quran, 17:32]
Despite how egregious the fornication is, the door of repentance is always open for the remorseful sinner.
Do Not Despair in this Regard
Allah Most High says, “Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:53]
Accountable for the Sins of Others
If it were by encouraging and enticing the girls into fornication, you would be accountable for your part in that sin. You are not responsible for any further sin they fell into.
Your repentance, therefore, will suffice your sin and their fornication.
Conditions of a Sound Repentance
However, for the repentance to be sincere and sound, one must meet the following conditions:
- Genuine remorse over the sin
- Immediately abandoning the sin
- Having a firm resolve never to repeat the sin [Nawawi; Riyadh al-Salihin]
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The one who repents from sin has no sin.” [Ibn Maja; Bayhaqi]
Moving On in Life
One of the most excellent ranks in Islam is the rank of the penitent. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “All of the children of Adam are prone to error (or sin), and the best of those who err (or sin) are those who constantly repent.” [Tirmidhi]
After establishing the rank of the one who turns aside from sin and turns to Allah Most High – one should not be despondent about not deserving a good wife. Allah’s Messenger declared the penitent person of the best of people. Thus they deserve the best of wives.
Allah Most High says, “… And virtuous women are for virtuous men, and virtuous men are for virtuous women…” [Quran, 24:26]
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
