Which Zina Is Unforgivable

In Islam, zina (fornication and adultery) is a major sin, but does any form of it remain unforgivable? Discover the depth of Allah’s mercy and the power of sincere repentance through the lens of authentic Islamic teachings. At Sabil Al-Quran, we provide clear, compassionate, and scholarly guidance to help you understand the severity of sin, and the hope of forgiveness.

Is Zina An Unforgivable Sin In Islam?

No, zina (fornication or adultery) is not an unforgivable sin in Islam, as long as the person sincerely repents to Allah. Islam teaches that Allah’s mercy is vast and that all sins can be forgiven, including major sins such as zina, if repentance is genuine.

Conditions of True Repentance (Tawbah¹):

According to Islamic teachings, for repentance to be accepted, it must fulfill the following conditions:

• Stop committing the sin immediately.
• Feel deep remorse and regret for having committed it.
• Make a firm intention not to return to the sin again.

If the sin involves the rights of others (like slander or theft), those rights must be restored.

Qur’anic Evidence (Verses about Forgiveness):

1. Surah Az-Zumar (39:53)

Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”

This verse explicitly confirms that no sin is beyond Allah’s forgiveness, including zina, if one repents sincerely.

2. Surah Al-Furqan (25:68–70)

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. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated.

Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

This passage confirms that even the gravest sins like zina can be completely forgiven and even transformed into good deeds if followed by sincere repentance.

Hadith Evidence:

1. Sahih Al-Bukhari & Muslim

The Prophet ﷺ said: “A servant committed a sin and said: ‘O Allah, forgive me my sin,’ and Allah said: ‘My servant has committed a sin, but he knew that he has a Lord who forgives sins… I have forgiven My servant.’”

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: “أذنب عبدٌ ذنبًا فقال: اللهم اغفر لي ذنبي، فقال الله: أذنب عبدي ذنبًا فعلم أن له ربًّا يغفر الذنب ويأخذ به، قد غفرت لعبدي…”

Bukhari & Muslim

Can A Muslim Man Marry/Nikah A Woman That He Has Committed Zina With? Can They Have A Future Together?

Yes, a Muslim man can marry a woman he committed zina (fornication) with, but there are important Islamic rulings, conditions, and spiritual considerations that must be understood before doing so.

Can a Muslim Man Marry a Woman He Committed Zina With?

Yes, marriage is allowed, but with conditions.

According to most scholars, a man may marry the woman with whom he committed zina if:

1. They have repented sincerely from the sin of zina before marriage.

2. She is not pregnant, or if she is, the marriage should be delayed until:
   • The child is born, and the lineage of the child is clear.
     
3. They enter the marriage contract as a new beginning, not as a cover for ongoing sin.

Evidence from the Qur’an

Surah An-Nur (24:3)

“The fornicator does not marry except a female fornicator or polytheist, and the female fornicator does not marry except a fornicator or polytheist. And that (marriage) has been forbidden to the believers.”

This verse discourages believers from marrying someone who is known to be actively committing zina or has not repented. However, if both parties repent, this prohibition no longer applies.

Scholarly Opinions:

1. Majority of Scholars (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali)

• Marriage is valid after repentance.
• Repentance wipes away the sin, and they start a new life.
  

2. Maliki Opinion (More Cautious)

• Some Maliki scholars recommend that the woman should undergo a waiting period (‘iddah) if she’s pregnant.
• They caution against normalizing zina by immediately turning it into marriage.
  

If Pregnancy Occurred from Zina:

There is scholarly disagreement:

a) Some scholars (Hanbali view):

• The child cannot be attributed to the man since he is not a legitimate husband at the time of conception.
• Marriage should wait until birth to avoid confusion over lineage.
  

b) Other scholars:

• If marriage occurs before the birth, and the man acknowledges the child, some allow attributing the child to him.
  

What If Only One Person Repents?

• Marriage is not advisable unless both have repented.
• If one party is still engaged in sinful behavior, the other should not proceed with marriage.
• Islam encourages starting a life of purity and obedience to Allah.
  

What Is The Kaffara Of Zina?

In Islam, zina (unlawful sexual intercourse outside of marriage) is considered a major sin. However, there is no specific ritual kaffara (like fasting or feeding the poor) mentioned in the Qur’an or Hadith for zina, unlike other sins (e.g., breaking a fast or an oath).

Instead, the path to forgiveness lies in true and sincere repentance (Tawbah).

The Only Kaffara for Zina: Sincere Repentance (Tawbah)

To be forgiven for zina, one must sincerely repent with the following conditions:

1. Stop committing the sin immediately.
2. Feel genuine regret and remorse.
3. Firmly intend never to return to it again.
4. Ask Allah for forgiveness from the heart.
   

“Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good one – it will wipe it out. And behave with good character toward people.”

“اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنتَ، وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ”
Hadith (Tirmidhi, Hasan)

What About the Legal Punishment (Hadd) for Zina?

In a true Islamic court (under Sharia law), if zina is proven either by:

• Four adult male witnesses to the actual act, or
• A voluntary confession (which can be withdrawn),
  

then:

• An unmarried person may be punished with 100 lashes
• A married person may face stoning to death (based on authentic hadith)
  

“The woman and the man guilty of fornication, flog each one of them with a hundred lashes. And let not pity for them prevent you from executing the law of Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.”

Surah An-Nur (24:2)

No matter how deep the sin or how heavy the guilt, Allah’s door is never closed, even for the one who has fallen into zina. Islam teaches that no sin is truly unforgivable, as long as the heart turns back to Allah with sincere repentance.

But don’t wait, Every moment spent far from Allah is a moment lost. Let Sabil Al-Quran be your guide back to the path of purity, healing, and divine forgiveness. Our programs help you reconnect with the Qur’an, understand its mercy, and transform your life through knowledge and taqwa.

FAQS

1. https://www.dar-alifta.org/ar/fatwa/details/11450 ↩︎