What actions would constitute zina?
Zina, which refers to unlawful sexual relations, is defined primarily as the act of engaging in sexual intercourse outside of a legitimate marriage contract. The Qur'an emphasizes the severity of zina, advising believers to avoid it entirely. For instance, it states, And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.
17:32. This verse implies that not only the act of zina itself but also the actions that lead up to it should be avoided.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains that zina includes not only the act of intercourse but also approaching the means that could lead to such acts. This encompasses behaviors that may tempt individuals or create situations conducive to committing the sin. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ illustrated this point by advising a young man contemplating zina. He asked the young man if he would like such an act to be done to his mother or sisters, highlighting the moral implications of the act by relating it to family ties and respect (Tafsir Ibn Kathir — Surah Al-Israa).
Furthermore, Majma al-Bayan elaborates that zina is specifically classified as any penetration of a woman's private parts without any legitimate marriage contract. It also specifies that certain acts, like intercourse during menstruation, are forbidden but do not fall under the category of zina. This distinction is important because it highlights that not every sexual act outside of marriage is classified as zina depending on the context.
In summary, actions that constitute zina include any sexual intercourse outside a legal marriage, as well as engaging in behaviors that lead to such acts, and any form of sexual penetration without the legitimate context of marriage.
Sources
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17:32 · Al-Israa
17:32 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةًۭ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًۭا
And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.
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Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 17:32
Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 17:32
Allah Almighty instructs His servants to avoid committing zina (adultery or fornication) and even to refrain from approaching it, meaning to stay away from the means and reasons that lead to it. The verse forbids coming near zina, emphasizing that it is a grievous sin and a shameful act, described as an evil and detestable path. Imam Ahmad narrated from Abu Umama a hadith illustrating this teaching: A young man once approached the Prophet ﷺ asking permission to commit zina. The people around him dissuaded him, but the Prophet instructed him to come closer and sit. Then he asked the youth if he would love this sin if it were done to his own mother; the youth replied, “No, by Allah, may Allah bless you.” The Prophet continued, asking if he would love it done to his daughters, sisters, paternal aunts, or maternal aunts. Each time the youth answered in the negative. The Prophet then prayed for him, saying, "O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart, and guard his chastity." After that, the young man never again looked toward that sinful act. This account demonstrates how deeply immoral zina is by putting the sin in terms the young man could relate to family members he loves and respects. Additionally, Ibn Abi Dunya narrated from the Prophet ﷺ that no sin after shirk (associating partners with Allah) is greater in Allah's sight than the sperm a man deposits into a womb forbidden to him. This highlights the severity with which the Sharia views unlawful sexual relations, underscoring the grave responsibility and consequences involved.
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