Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we address a grave sin that Islam has strictly forbidden: zina (adultery and fornication). Allah commands: "And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is an immoral act and an evil way." (Al-Isra, 17:32)
Notice that Allah does not merely say "do not commit" but says "do not approach" – meaning we must avoid all pathways that lead to this sin: inappropriate relationships, provocative content, being alone with the opposite gender, and weakening our spiritual defenses.
Protecting Self and Lineage
Zina destroys the individual's spiritual purity, damages family structures, confuses lineages, spreads diseases, and corrupts society. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O young people, whoever among you can afford to marry, let him do so, for it lowers the gaze and guards the chastity." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Islam provides the remedy: marriage. Let us make marriage easy, remove unnecessary obstacles, and support young couples. Let us lower our gazes, guard our modesty, and strengthen our faith through prayer and fasting. May Allah protect us and our families from all forms of immorality. Amin.