Forbidding Fornication (Zina) in Islam

The worst sin that comes after shirk is fornication (zina). In Islam it means to have ill-legal relations with a person without being actually married to them. Fornication and adultery are loathed by Allah (SWT) and there are clear instructions in Quran to stay away from the revolting act.

  

"And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse (zina) and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; except those who repent and believe and do righteous deeds, for those Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran Al-Furqaan: ayat #68-70)

"And come not near to unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a faahishah (a great sin) and an evil way." (Quran Al-Israa: ayah # 32)

The phrase “And come not near to unlawful sexual intercourse” is more expressive than merely saying ‘Do not commit zina’, because the meaning is, ‘Do not even come close to zina’ that is not doing any deed that may get close to zina or lead to it, such as being alone with a member of the opposite sex, touching, looking at someone with lustful eyes, going to evil places, speaking in a haraam manner to a woman to whom one is not related, thinking about and planning immoral acts, and so on.

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from Zina illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or those whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." (Quran Al-Israa, ayat #30 and 31).