Quran Verses about Adultery and fornication (zina)
The Quran forbids coming near zina, calling it a shameful deed and an evil way. Its verses set out the punishment for those who commit it, warn those who accuse chaste women of it without four witnesses, and command lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity, including for those not yet able to marry.
Do not come near zina
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآيِٕ ذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَيَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَٱلۡبَغۡيِۚ يَعِظُكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ ٩٠
Innallāha yaʾmuru bil-ʿadli wal-iḥsāni wa ītāʾi dhil-qurbā wa yanhā ʿanil-faḥshāʾi wal-munkari wal-baghy, yaʿiẓukum laʿallakum tadhakkarūn.
Indeed, Allāh orders justice and good conduct and giving [help] to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةٗ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلٗا ٣٢
Wa lā taqrabuz-zinā, innahū kāna fāḥishataw wa sāʾa sabīlā.
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse.1 Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., avoid all situations that might possibly lead to it.
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِي حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَزۡنُونَۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ يَلۡقَ أَثَامٗا ٦٨
Wal-ladhīna lā yadʿūna maʿallāhi ilāhan ākhara wa lā yaqtulūnan-nafsal-latī ḥarramallāhu illā bil-ḥaqqi wa lā yaznūn, wa may yafʿal dhālika yalqa athāmā.
And those who do not invoke1 with Allāh another deity or kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.
Footnotes (1)
- Or "worship."
يُضَٰعَفۡ لَهُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَيَخۡلُدۡ فِيهِۦ مُهَانًا ٦٩
Yuḍāʿaf lahul-ʿadhābu yawmal-qiyāmati wa yakhlud fīhī muhānā.
Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلٗا صَٰلِحٗا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ حَسَنَٰتٖۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا ٧٠
Illā man tāba wa āmana wa ʿamila ʿamalan ṣāliḥan fa ulāʾika yubaddilullāhu sayyiʾātihim ḥasanāt, wa kānallāhu ghafūrar raḥīmā.
Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allāh will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعۡنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشۡرِكۡنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يَسۡرِقۡنَ وَلَا يَزۡنِينَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأۡتِينَ بِبُهۡتَٰنٖ يَفۡتَرِينَهُۥ بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِنَّ وَأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعۡصِينَكَ فِي مَعۡرُوفٖ فَبَايِعۡهُنَّ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ١٢
Yāʾayyuhan-nabiyyu idhā jāʾakal-muʾminātu yubāyiʿnaka ʿalā al lā yushrikna billāhi shayʾaw wa lā yasriqna wa lā yaznīna wa lā yaqtulna awlādahunna wa lā yaʾtīna bibuhtāniy yaftarīnahū bayna aydīhinna wa arjulihinna wa lā yaʿṣīnaka fī maʿrūfin fabāyiʿhunna wastaghfir lahunnallāh, innallāha ghafūrur raḥīm.
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allāh, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs,1 nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Footnotes (1)
- This is an allusion to pregnancy and childbirth, i.e., to falsely attribute a child (whether adopted or born of adultery) to a woman's husband.
The punishment for zina
وَٱلَّٰتِي يَأۡتِينَ ٱلۡفَٰحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمۡ فَٱسۡتَشۡهِدُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ أَرۡبَعَةٗ مِّنكُمۡۖ فَإِن شَهِدُواْ فَأَمۡسِكُوهُنَّ فِي ٱلۡبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّىٰهُنَّ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ أَوۡ يَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلٗا ١٥
Wal-lātī yaʾtīnal-fāḥishata min nisāʾikum fastashhidū ʿalayhinna arbaʿatam minkum, fa in shahidū fa amsikūhunna fil-buyūti ḥattā yatawaffāhunnal-mawtu aw yajʿalallāhu lahunna sabīlā.
Those who commit immorality [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify,1 confine them [i.e., the guilty women] to houses until death takes them or Allāh ordains for them [another] way.2
Footnotes (2)
- The witnesses must swear to actually having seen the act taking place.
- The "other way" (i.e., penalty) was later revealed in 24:2, canceling the ruling in this verse.
وَٱلَّذَانِ يَأۡتِيَٰنِهَا مِنكُمۡ فَـَٔاذُوهُمَاۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصۡلَحَا فَأَعۡرِضُواْ عَنۡهُمَآۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابٗا رَّحِيمًا ١٦
Wal-ladhāni yaʾtiyānihā minkum fa ādhūhumā, fa in tābā wa aṣlaḥā fa aʿriḍū ʿanhumā, innallāha kāna tawwābar raḥīmā.
And the two1 who commit it [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] among you - punish [i.e., dishonor] them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allāh is ever Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
Footnotes (1)
- Scholars differ over whether "the two" refers to two of the same sex (i.e., homosexuals) or those of opposite sexes. In either case, later rulings outlined in the sunnah have replaced this one.
ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِي فَٱجۡلِدُواْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدٖ مِّنۡهُمَا مِاْئَةَ جَلۡدَةٖۖ وَلَا تَأۡخُذۡكُم بِهِمَا رَأۡفَةٞ فِي دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۖ وَلۡيَشۡهَدۡ عَذَابَهُمَا طَآئِفَةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٢
Az-zāniyatu waz-zānī fajlidū kulla wāḥidim minhumā miʾata jaldah, wa lā taʾkhudhkum bihimā raʾfatun fī dīnillāhi in kuntum tuʾminūna billāhi wal-yawmil-ākhir, walyashhad ʿadhābahumā ṭāʾifatum minal-muʾminīn.
The [unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse1 - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes,2 and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e., law] of Allāh,3 if you should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment.
Footnotes (3)
- Either by voluntary confession of the offender or the testimony of four male witnesses to having actually seen the act take place. Otherwise, there can be no conviction.
- The ruling in this verse is applicable to unmarried fornicators. Execution by stoning is confirmed in the sunnah for convicted adulterers.
- i.e., Do not let sympathy for a guilty person move you to alter anything ordained by Allāh, for in His law is protection of society as a whole.
ٱلزَّانِي لَا يَنكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوۡ مُشۡرِكَةٗ وَٱلزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنكِحُهَآ إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوۡ مُشۡرِكٞۚ وَحُرِّمَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٣
Az-zānī lā yankiḥu illā zāniyatan aw mushrikataw waz-zāniyatu lā yankiḥuhā illā zānin aw mushrik, wa ḥurrima dhālika ʿalal-muʾminīn.
The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator1 or a polytheist, and that [i.e., marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers.
Footnotes (1)
- Included in this ruling is the adulterer as well. Such persons cannot be married to believers unless they have repented and reformed.
Accusing others of zina without witnesses
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ ٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَأۡتُواْ بِأَرۡبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَٱجۡلِدُوهُمۡ ثَمَٰنِينَ جَلۡدَةٗ وَلَا تَقۡبَلُواْ لَهُمۡ شَهَٰدَةً أَبَدٗاۚ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَٰسِقُونَ ٤
Wal-ladhīna yarmūnal-muḥṣanāti thumma lam yaʾtū biʾarbaʿati shuhadāʾa fajlidūhum thamānīna jaldataw wa lā taqbalū lahum shahādatan abadā, wa ulāʾika humul-fāsiqūn.
And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient,
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ٥
Illal-ladhīna tābū mim baʿdi dhālika wa aṣlaḥū fa innallāha ghafūrur raḥīm.
Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ أَزۡوَٰجَهُمۡ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُمۡ شُهَدَآءُ إِلَّآ أَنفُسُهُمۡ فَشَهَٰدَةُ أَحَدِهِمۡ أَرۡبَعُ شَهَٰدَٰتِۭ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ ٦
Wal-ladhīna yarmūna azwājahum wa lam yakul lahum shuhadāʾu illā anfusuhum fashahādatu aḥadihim arbaʿu shahādātim billāhi innahū laminaṣ-ṣādiqīn.
And those who accuse their wives [of adultery] and have no witnesses except themselves - then the witness of one of them1 [shall be] four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the truthful.
Footnotes (1)
- The husbands who have been betrayed.
وَٱلۡخَٰمِسَةُ أَنَّ لَعۡنَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡهِ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ ٧
Wal-khāmisatu anna laʿnatallāhi ʿalayhi in kāna minal-kādhibīn.
And the fifth [oath will be] that the curse of Allāh be upon him if he should be of the liars.
وَيَدۡرَؤُاْ عَنۡهَا ٱلۡعَذَابَ أَن تَشۡهَدَ أَرۡبَعَ شَهَٰدَٰتِۭ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ ٨
Wa yadraʾu ʿanhal-ʿadhāba an tashhada arbaʿa shahādātim billāhi innahū laminal-kādhibīn.
But it will prevent punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allāh that indeed, he is of the liars.
وَٱلۡخَٰمِسَةَ أَنَّ غَضَبَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡهَآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ ٩
Wal-khāmisata anna ghaḍaballāhi ʿalayhā in kāna minaṣ-ṣādiqīn.
And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allāh be upon her if he was of the truthful.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرۡمُونَ ٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتِ ٱلۡغَٰفِلَٰتِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ لُعِنُواْ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٞ ٢٣
Innal-ladhīna yarmūnal-muḥṣanātil-ghāfilātil-muʾmināti luʿinū fid-dunyā wal-ākhirati wa lahum ʿadhābun ʿaẓīm.
Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment
Lowering the gaze and guarding chastity
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَٰفِظُونَ ٥
Wal-ladhīna hum lifurūjihim ḥāfiẓūn.
And they who guard their private parts
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٰجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُمۡ فَإِنَّهُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ ٦
Illā ʿalā azwājihim aw mā malakat aymānuhum fa innahum ghayru malūmīn.
Except from their wives or those their right hands possess,1 for indeed, they will not be blamed -
Footnotes (1)
- Female slaves or captives under their ownership.
فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ ٧
Famanibtaghā warāʾa dhālika fa ulāʾika humul-ʿādūn.
But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ أَبۡصَٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزۡكَىٰ لَهُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَعُونَ ٣٠
Qul lil-muʾminīna yaghuḍḍū min abṣārihim wa yaḥfaẓū furūjahum, dhālika azkā lahum, innallāha khabīrum bimā yaṣnaʿūn.
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision1 and guard their private parts.2 That is purer for them. Indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of what they do.
Footnotes (2)
- Looking only at what is lawful and averting their eyes from what is unlawful.
- From being seen and from unlawful acts.
وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَاۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ إِخۡوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِيٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِي ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ٣١
Wa qul lil-muʾmināti yaghḍuḍna min abṣārihinna wa yaḥfaẓna furūjahunna wa lā yubdīna zīnatahunna illā mā ẓahara minhā, walyaḍribna bikhumurihinna ʿalā juyūbihinn, wa lā yubdīna zīnatahunna illā libuʿūlatihinna aw ābāʾihinna aw ābāʾi buʿūlatihinna aw abnāʾihinna aw abnāʾi buʿūlatihinna aw ikhwānihinna aw banī ikhwānihinna aw banī akhawātihinna aw nisāʾihinna aw mā malakat aymānuhunna awit-tābiʿīna ghayri ulil-irbati minar-rijāli awiṭ-ṭiflil-ladhīna lam yaẓharū ʿalā ʿawrātin-nisāʾ, wa lā yaḍribna biʾarjulihinna liyuʿlama mā yukhfīna min zīnatihinn, wa tūbū ilallāhi jamīʿan ayyuhal-muʾminūna laʿallakum tufliḥūn.
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision1 and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment2 except that which [necessarily] appears thereof3 and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire,4 or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
Footnotes (4)
- Looking only at what is lawful and averting their eyes from what is unlawful.
- Both natural beauty, such as hair or body shape, and that with which a woman beautifies herself of clothing, jewelry, etc.
- i.e., the outer garments or whatever might appear out of necessity, such as a part of the face or the hands.
- Referring to an abnormal condition in which a man is devoid of sexual feeling.
وَلۡيَسۡتَعۡفِفِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغۡنِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡتَغُونَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡ فَكَاتِبُوهُمۡ إِنۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ فِيهِمۡ خَيۡرٗاۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ ءَاتَىٰكُمۡۚ وَلَا تُكۡرِهُواْ فَتَيَٰتِكُمۡ عَلَى ٱلۡبِغَآءِ إِنۡ أَرَدۡنَ تَحَصُّنٗا لِّتَبۡتَغُواْ عَرَضَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ وَمَن يُكۡرِههُّنَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِكۡرَٰهِهِنَّ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ٣٣
Walyastaʿfifil-ladhīna lā yajidūna nikāḥan ḥattā yughniyahumullāhu min faḍlih, wal-ladhīna yabtaghūnal-kitāba mimmā malakat aymānukum fakātibūhum in ʿalimtum fīhim khayrā, wa ātūhum mim mālillāhil-ladhī ātākum, wa lā tukrihū fatayātikum ʿalal-bighāʾi in aradna taḥaṣṣunal litabtaghū ʿaraḍal-ḥayātid-dunyā, wa may yukrihhunna fa innallāha mim baʿdi ikrāhihinna ghafūrur raḥīm.
But let them who find not [the means for] marriage abstain [from sexual relations] until Allāh enriches them from His bounty. And those who seek a contract [for eventual emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess1 - then make a contract with them if you know there is within them goodness and give them from the wealth of Allāh which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire chastity, to seek [thereby] the temporary interests of worldly life. And if someone should compel them, then indeed, Allāh is [to them], after their compulsion, Forgiving and Merciful.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., those slaves who desire to purchase their freedom from their owners for a price agreed upon by both.