Committed Zina, Wants to Repent and Marry Muslim Girl

27-10-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the position of Shari'a about a man who has done (Zina) and wants to return to God for Tawba (repent) and get married to a Muslim young woman?

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Muslim should know that Zina (fornication or adultery) is a grave major sin. Yet, Allah Almighty can forgive this heinous act if the person who committed it sincerely repents to his Lord.

For more benefit on the conditions of repentance, please refer to Fatwa 86527.

It is your duty to look for a good Muslim woman, who will help you to guard your religion and help you remain steadfast on the right path. Look for her carefully without haste. You should know that a Muslim woman must possess the following characteristics: she must wear proper Hijab when she leaves the house, she must pray obligatory prayers, fast month of Ramadan, give Zakaah, and perform Hajj. She must be pious and pure with good morals.

So, when you find a woman with these characteristics, before you ask for her hand (to marry her), you should pray the Istikhaarah prayer (a prayer after which a person supplicates Allah to guide him to choose what is best for himself).

For more benefit on Istikhaarah prayer, please refer to Fataawa 173969, 172573, and 81434.

Then, if Allah Almighty delights your heart for that Muslim woman, then go on and ask her guardian to marry her.

Your marriage relations and social activities with your wife must be based on kindness and benevolence, as Allah Almighty (what means): {And live with them honorably.} [Quran 4:19]

Allah knows best.