What are the consequences of a married person developing feelings for a Ghair-Mahram?

Published as Consequences of Illicit Relationships

· 9 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1446 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

What are the consequences of a married person developing feelings for a Ghair-Mahram?

Answer

It is totally prohibited for a man and woman have to illicit relations outside of wedlock. Islam has given the allowance through Nikaah for a man and woman to come together in marriage. Islam has totally prohibited men and women from being in contact with a non-Mahram. Being in contact with a non-Mahram can lead towards Zina, which is a major sin, which is only forgiven through Taubah.

The following are some of the Ahaadith regarding the punishment for committing Zina:

Ibn Hujayrah Rahimahullah says that he heard Abu Hurayrah Radiallahu Anhu saying that Nabi Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Allah Ta’ala removes the Imaan of that person who drinks wine or engages in adultery like how one of you removes his shirt from his head.”

Amongst the various punishments that Nabi Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam was shown, one punishment was of those who engage in Zina. The narration mentions that those who engage in Zina will be most bloated, have the foulest smelling odour and appear the worst in sight.

Therefore, a person should withhold his/her feelings towards a non-Mahram in order to save themselves from falling into Zina.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

عَنِ ابْنِ حُجَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ زَنَى وَشَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ نَزَعَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ الْإِيمَانَ كَمَا يَخْلَعُ الْإِنْسَانُ الْقَمِيصَ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ (المستدرك للحاكم #57)

عَنْ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ الْكَلَاعِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو أُمَامَةَ الْبَاهِلِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: ” بَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ، إِذْ أَتَانِي رَجُلَانِ، فَأَخَذَا بِضَبْعِي، فَأَتَيَا بِي جَبَلًا وَعْرًا، فَقَالَا لِي: اصْعَدْ. فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي لَا أُطِيقُ. فَقَالَا: إِنَّا سَنُسَهِّلُهُ لَكَ، فَصَعِدْتُ حَتَّى كُنْتُ فِي سَوَاءِ الْجَبَلِ، إِذَا أَنَا بِأَصْوَاتٍ شَدِيدَةٍ، قُلْتُ: مَا هَذِهِ الْأَصْوَاتُ؟ قَالُوا: هَذَا هُوَ عُوَاءُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي، فَإِذَا بِقَوْمٍ مُعَلَّقِينَ بِعَرَاقِيبِهِمْ، مُشَقَّقَةً أَشْدَاقُهُمْ، تَسِيلُ أَشْدَاقُهُمْ دَمًا، فَقُلْتُ: مَا هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ يُفْطِرُونَ قَبْلَ تَحِلَّةِ صَوْمِهِمْ، ثُمَّ انْطَلِقَا بِي، فَإِذَا بِقَوْمٍ أَشَدِّ شَيْءٍ انْتِفَاخًا، وَأَنْتَنِهِ رِيحًا، وَأَسْوَئِهِ مَنْظَرًا، فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ الزَّانُونَ وَالزَّوَانِي، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي، فَإِذَا أَنَا بِنِسَاءٍ تَنْهَشُ ثَدْيَهُنَّ الْحَيَّاتُ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا بَالُ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ فَقَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ اللَّوَاتِي يَمْنَعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ أَلْبَانَهُنَّ، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ بِي فَإِذَا بِغِلْمَانٍ يَلْعَبُونَ بَيْنَ نَهْرَيْنِ، فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ ذَرَارِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، ثُمَّ شَرَفَ لِي شَرَفٌ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِثَلَاثَةِ نَفَرٍ يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْ خَمْرٍ لَهُمْ، قُلْتُ: مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَزَيْدُ بْنُ حَارِثَةَ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ، ثُمَّ شَرَفَ لِي شَرَفٌ آخَرُ، فَإِذَا أَنَا بِثَلَاثَةِ نَفَرٍ، قُلْتُ: مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قَالَ: إِبْرَاهِيمُ، وَمُوسَى، وَعِيسَى عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ (المستدرك للحاكم #2837)

Answered by
Mufti Muhammad Isa Ali
Checked & approved by
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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