How to Stop Zina Step by Step? Find Out Here!
Hi, dear readers! Are you looking for an explanation on "How to stop Zina step by step?" If your answer is “Yes,” congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because that is exactly what I will explain here. As Muslims, it is essential for us to understand this topic, which is why I wrote this article. So, be sure to read it to the end!
In this article, I will discuss some important things about "How to stop Zina step by step?". Here are the key things I will cover:
Why Should You Stop Zina?
The first important thing about "How to stop Zina step by step?" that I will address now is "Why should you stop Zina?". It’s important to grasp this, as it is a vital aspect of repenting for Zina. Additionally, understanding the urgency of this discussion is essential.
As we know, "Zina" is an Arabic word written as الزِّنَا. In Arabic, the term has several meanings, but it commonly refers to engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage, which is prohibited in Islam. This typically involves men and women who are not married to each other.
In Islam, Zina is considered one of the most heinous sins. For this reason, Muslims are strictly prohibited from engaging in any behavior that may lead to Zina. This prohibition is supported by the following Quran:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰىٓ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً ۗوَسَاۤءَ سَبِيْلًا
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way. (Al-Isra [17]: 32).
This is one of the primary reasons why Muslims are strictly forbidden from committing Zina.
Now, for those of you who frequently engage in Zina, it’s crucial to understand the consequences of this sin in Islam. You need to be aware of the severe repercussions that can result from committing Zina. I will explain these consequences in the next few paragraphs.
Consequences of Zina in Islam
There are many consequences of Zina in Islam. Muslims who commit Zina will face punishment both in this world and in the hereafter. This is another reason why Zina is strictly prohibited in Islam.
One consequence of Zina is that the faith of Muslims who commit it will diminish. We can find this explanation in the following hadith:
إِذَا زَنَى الرَّجُلُ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ الإِيمَانُ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ كَالظُّلَّةِ فَإِذَا انْقَطَعَ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ الإِيمَانُ
If a person commits Zina, then his faith decreases (the light of his faith is lost) as if he is being covered by a cloud (above his head). If he is free from Zina, then that faith will return to him.
In Islam, if an increasing number of people commit Zina, it signifies that the Day of Judgment is approaching; Zina is one of the signs of the Day of Judgment. We find this explanation in the following hadith:
إِنَّ مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَثْبُتَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيُشْرَبَ الْخَمْرُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا
Indeed, among the signs of the coming of the Last Day are the lifting of knowledge, the increase of ignorance, the widespread drinking of khamr, and the open commission of Zina.
General Consequences of Zina
As one of the major sins, Zina has severe consequences in both this world and the hereafter. I will not elaborate extensively on the consequences in the hereafter, as it is clear that those who commit Zina will face severe punishment in Hell.
If a Muslim commits Zina before marriage, they must be lashed one hundred times and exiled (please note: this was Islamic law at the time of Prophet Muhammad and for some time thereafter). This is explained in the following verses of the Quran and hadith:
اَلزَّانِيَةُ وَالزَّانِيْ فَاجْلِدُوْا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِائَةَ جَلْدَةٍ ۖوَّلَا تَأْخُذْكُمْ بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِيْ دِيْنِ اللّٰهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِۚ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَاۤىِٕفَةٌ مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ
The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment. (An-Nur 24:2).
وَقَدْ رَوَى الْبُخَارِيُّ مِنْ حَدِيْثِ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَضَى فِيْمَنْ زَنَى وَلَمْ يُحْصَنْ بِنَفْيِ عَامٍ وَبِإِقَامَةِ الْحَدِّ
Al-Bukhari has narrated a hadith from Abu Hurairah, stating that the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made a legal decision for those who had committed Zina before marriage by exiling them and imposing a punishment.
If a Muslim commits Zina after marriage, they must be punished by death (please note: this was Islamic law at the time of Prophet Muhammad and for some time thereafter). This is illustrated in the following hadith:
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : أَتَى رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَنَادَاهُ فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، إِنِّي زَنَيْتُ ، فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ ، فَتَنَحَّى تِلْقَاءَ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، إِنِّي زَنَيْتُ ، فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ ، حَتَّى ثَنَّى ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ ، فَلَمَّا شَهِدَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَرْبَعَ شَهَادَاتٍ دَعَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ : أَبِكَ جُنُونٌ ؟ قَالَ : لَا ، قَالَ : فَهَلْ أَحْصَنْتَ ؟ قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : اذْهَبُوا بِهِ فَارْجُمُوهُ . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ
"From Abu Hurairah, he said, 'A Muslim came to the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam while he was in the mosque. The Muslim called out, 'O Messenger of Allah, I have committed Zina.' The Prophet turned away from him. The man repeated this four times. When the man had testified against himself four times, the Prophet asked him, 'Are you crazy?' He replied, 'No.' The Prophet then asked, 'Are you married?' The man said, 'Yes.' The Prophet then commanded, 'Take him away and stone him.'" This hadith is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Consequences of Zina During Ramadan
Now, I will explain the consequences of Zina during Ramadan. In general, there are two main consequences for committing Zina during this holy month:
- Muslims who commit Zina during Ramadan will face formal punishment as outlined in Islamic law.
- A Muslim who commits Zina during Ramadan will lose all their good deeds and will be cursed by Allah and the angels for one year. This is explained in the following hadith:
قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ أُمَّتِيْ لَمْ يَخِزُّوْا مَا أَقَامُوْا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ . قِيْلَ يَا رَسُوْلَ الله وَمَا خَزِيُهُمْ فِي إِضَاعَةِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ؟ قَالَ : اِنْتِهَاكُ الْمَحَارِمِ فِيْهِ مِنْ زِنَا فِيْهِ أَوْ شَرِبَ فِيْهِ خَمْرًا لَعَنَهُ اللهُ وَمَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ إِلَى مِثْلِهِ مِنَ الْحَوْلِ فَإِنْ مَاتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ رَمَضَانُ لَمْ تَبْقَى لَهُ عِنْدَ اللهِ حَسَنَةٌ يَتَّقِي بِهَا النَّارَ فَاتَّقُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ تُضَاعَفُ فِيْهِ مَا لَا تُضَاعَفُ فِيْمَا سِوَاهُ وَكَذَلِكَ السَّيِّئَاتُ
Allah's Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "Indeed, my ummah will not be insulted as long as they establish the month of Ramadan." The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what is their form of humiliation in wasting the month of Ramadan?" He replied, "Violations of things that are forbidden in the month of Ramadan, such as zina or drinking khamr. Allah and the angels cursed him until the following year. If he dies before the next month of Ramadan, then he has nothing good with Allah that can save him from Hell. Therefore, be careful of the month of Ramadan, because the reward of good as well as evil will be multiplied."
How to Stop Zina Step by Step?
The important thing about "How to Stop Zina Step by Step?" is that I will explain the process of stopping Zina in detail. I want you to understand this because it is the main topic of this article.
The discussion about "How to stop Zina step by step?" revolves around the concept of repenting for Zina. To fully grasp this, you must understand how to genuinely repent for Zina.
In general, there are six steps you can take to stop Zina:
- Always remember that Zina is a major sin.
- Feel genuine remorse for having committed Zina.
- Make a sincere vow never to commit Zina again.
- Perform the prayer of repentance, specifically designed for this purpose.
- Recite as much Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) as possible.
- Read Salawat (blessings upon the Prophet) as much as you can.
One of the virtues of reciting Salawat is that it helps to remove sins. Therefore, I highly recommend reading Salawat as one of the best steps to repent from Zina. Try to recite it as much as possible, especially on Fridays.
Why Fridays? Reading Salawat on Fridays carries great virtues, particularly for repentance. We can find this explained in several hadiths:
عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيَّ نُوْرٌ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ , مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ ثَمَانِيْنَ مَرَّةٍ غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ ذُنُوْبَ ثَمَانِيْنَ سَنَةٍ
From Abu Hurairah radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, 'Reciting Salawat to me is a light on the Sirat (bridge to Heaven). Whoever recites Salawat to me on Friday eighty times, Allah will forgive all his sins from the past eighty years.'"
قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَلْفَ مَرَّةٍ لَمْ يَمُتْ حَتَّى يَرَى مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "Whoever recites Salawat to me on Friday a thousand times will not die until he sees his place in Heaven."
عَنْ أَبِيْ ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ غُفِرَتْ لَهُ ذُنُوْبُ مِائَتَى عَامٍ
From Abu Dharr radliyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, 'Whoever recites Salawat to me on Friday, all his sins committed over two hundred years will be forgiven.'"
Conclusion
In conclusion, stopping Zina requires a sincere commitment to repentance and a deep understanding of its consequences. As highlighted, Zina in Islam is a major sin with severe repercussions both in this life and the hereafter. Recognizing the urgency of this matter is the first step toward change. The outlined six-step process emphasizes the importance of feeling genuine remorse, making a firm vow to abstain, and engaging in acts of worship such as prayer and reciting Salawat. These steps are vital not only for seeking forgiveness but also for strengthening one's faith. By embracing these practices, individuals can reclaim their spiritual path and contribute positively to their communities. Remember, the journey toward repentance is not just about avoiding sin, but also about fostering a closer relationship with Allah. I encourage everyone to take these steps seriously and strive for a life aligned with Islamic principles. May Allah guide us all. Ameen.
I believe that's enough for this article. I hope it is useful. Ameen.
See you again in the next article!
Thank you very much to Akhmad Syafiuddin who has written this article.