Fatwa: 391

Category: fatwas about fasting

The ruling regarding the one getting pleasure from an unrelated woman without intercourse

The question:

There is a man in his prime youth who is guided by Allah to the straight path. He asks how he can expiate some of his past sins, especially concerning the fasting.

He says that he had a girl friend. One day in Ramadan, he was alone with her and did some acts with her, but he did not have intercourse with her (being aware that what he perpetrated is forbidden). He asks about the religious rulings that result from his acts.

May Allah bless you, and peace be upon you.

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

It is known that the sacredness of the month of Ramadan is major, and transgressing it incurs major sin due to the paramount importance it has.

Among the aspects of the sacredness of this month, the fact that one should avoid lewdness, lying speech and other bad things. In addition, committing these acts – concerning their effects – can be manifested in two things:

The first: the sin that the perpetrator should repent of at once, and the good actions he should perform abundantly, as Allah عزَّ وجلَّ says:

﴿إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ﴾ [هود: 114].

The meaning of the verse:

That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice)﴿ [Hûd: 114].

Allah عزَّ وجلَّ also says:

﴿إِلاَّ مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا﴾ [الفرقان: 70].

The meaning of the verse:

Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful﴿ [Al-Furqân (The Criterion): 70]. And he who is sincere in his repentance and renounces his sin, he should find Allah Merciful and Forgiving.

The second: his fasting should be invalid by committing sexual intercourse, whether the latter is licit or illicit. So, he should compensate that day and follow it with fasting two consecutive months which are an expiation.

As for he who had not committed the forbidden sexual intercourse, by not penetrating a sex, which is innately desired and religiously forbidden, it is to be said that, according the soundest opinion of the scholars, sins do not annul fasting, but they reduce its perfection.

However, if being alone with that unrelated woman and embracing her was a cause to get discharge, the person do not make up for that day, according to one of the two opinions of the scholars, and he will not be asked to perform expiation.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Safar 7th, 1427
Corresponding to: March 8th, 2006

 

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