Advanced search
Visit
8858
Last Updated: 2009/10/22
Summary of question
What is the way to become free from fornication and how is one supposed to repent from it?
question
What is the way to become free from fornication and how is one supposed to repent from it?
Concise answer

The best way to be freed of sin is to get rid of ignorance and unawareness. If we continuously remember the greatness and magnanimousness of Allah (swt) and the never-ending blessings He has bestowed upon us and His other servants, we will try to show our gratitude and somewhat return Him the favor instead of disobeying and working against Him. Also, if we take into consideration His knowledge and wisdom when it comes to legislating Islamic law, we will be sure that whatever He has prohibited us from is to our harm and whatever He has made mandatory is to our benefit. This way, we will never work against ourselves by committing haram acts or not performing wajib ones.

At the same time, if one looks at his high status in comparison to all other creatures and that sin is harmful to this status, he will never be willing to lose such a value just for a few seconds of transient pleasure.

Repentance or “tawbah” essentially means for one to regret what he has done which calls for him to make a strong resolve not repeat it, and to make up for things that are capable of being made up for. The istighfar (saying astaghfirullah) reflects this meaning. Therefore, it can be said that the main elements of true repentance are five things: 1- To refrain from the sin 2- Regret and disappointment 3- Making a strong decision not to repeat it 4- Compensating for the past 5- Istighfar.[i]



[i] Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 24, pg. 290.

Detailed Answer

The most important factor that contributes to one sinning, is his unawareness and ignorance. If Shaytan ever succeeds in distracting one from his true rank, the greatness, knowledge, wisdom and grace of Allah (swt), His never-ending blessings, the harms and disadvantages of sin, etc., that person will be vulnerable to sin and disobedience. Also, not being aware of the existential values of man, of the great outcomes of modesty and chastity, of the bad outcomes and disadvantages of sin and just plainly not knowing what Allah (swt) has commanded us to do and what to refrain from all lead to one sinning. [1]

The best way to be saved from sin is to get rid of unawareness and ignorance. If we continuously remember the greatness and magnanimousness of Allah (swt) and the never-ending blessings He has bestowed upon us and His other servants, we will try to show our gratitude and somewhat return Him the favor instead of disobeying and working against Him. Also, if we take into consideration His knowledge and wisdom when it comes to legislating Islamic law, we will be sure that whatever He has prohibited us from is to our harm and whatever He has made mandatory is to our benefit. This way, we will never work against ourselves by committing haram acts or not performing wajib ones.

At the same time, if one looks at his high status in comparison to all other creatures and that sin is harmful to this status, he will never be willing to lose such a value just for a few seconds of transient pleasure.

A practical way to save those who suffer from sinning:

The first thing that must be clarified is to identify what stage one who sins is at, so that the right decision can be made regarding changing him. If he is in the first stages, reminding him of general things like what we said above in a decent and sweet method and substituting halal pleasures instead of haram ones can be beneficial. But if he is past the first stages and sin has become part of him and his life, taking over his mind, the only thing that can be done is for a skillful individual to first become friends with him and then make him doubtful regarding his mindset by questioning it through different arguments, and finally to replace his false beliefs with true ones, saving him from the ‘swamp’ of sin and helping him to the ‘garden’ of obedience.

The Quran tells us that there are numerous ways of one’s sins being overlooked and forgiven.

a) One of the most important ones is repentance; a repentance that is accompanied by regret and disappointment of what has been done in the past, a strong decision not to repeat it and finally, compensating for the bad things that have been done through good deeds. There are many verses that express this fact, but to keep it short, we will only mention one:

هُوَ الَّذِی یَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبادِهِ وَ یَعْفُوا عَنِ السَّیِّئاتِ [2] (It is He who accepts the repentance of His servants, and excuses their misdeeds).

Repentance or “tawbah” essentially means for one to regret what he has done which calls for him to make a strong resolve not repeat it, and to make up for things that are capable of being made up for. The istighfar (saying astaghfirullah)reflects this meaning. Therefore, it can be said that the main elements of true repentance are five things: 1- To refrain from the sin 2- Regret and disappointment 3- Making a strong decision not to repeat it 4- Compensating for the past 5- Istighfar. [3]

b) Exceptional good deeds also bring forgiveness, as the Quran says: “ إِنَّ الْحَسَناتِ یُذْهِبْنَ السَّیِّئاتِ [4] (Indeed good deeds efface misdeeds).

c) Refraining from the “great sins” causes our “small sins” to be forgiven: “إِنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا کَبائِرَ ما تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُکَفِّرْ عَنْکُمْ سَیِّئاتِکُمْ وَ نُدْخِلْکُمْ مُدْخَلاً کَریماً [5] (If you avoid the major sins that you are forbidden, We will absolve you of your misdeeds, and admit you to a noble abode). [6]

d) Displaying forbearance during hardship and tragedies in this world lightens the burden of sin that may rest on our shoulders. Also, the hardship one may experience during the barzakh and after death before the Day of Judgment will also help in purifying him. [7]

Please refer to the following for more information:

1- Question 6148 (website: 6350) (Repenting from sin).

2- Question 4649 (website: ) (Repentance during the final seconds).

3- Question 3704 (website: 3955) (Repentance and becoming beloved by Allah (swt)).



[1] Abdullah Javadi Amoli, Tasnim, vol. 3, pg. 397; Naser Makarem Shirazi, Payame Quran, vol. 1, pg. 88.

[2] Shura:25.

[3] Tafsir Nemouneh, vol. 24, pg. 290.

[4] Hud:114.

[5] Nisa:31.

[6] Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, Amuzeshe Aqa’ed, pg. 477.

[7] Amuzeshe Aqa’ed, pg. 481.

Question translations in other languages
Comments
Number of comments 0
Please enter the value
Example : Yourname@YourDomane.ext
Please enter the value
Please enter the value

Thematic Category

Random questions

  • What is the meaning of self-consciousness according to the Holy Quran?
    17982 Exegesis 2015/04/18
    According to the Quran, self-consciousness means realization of one's own self through nourishing or nurturing and reviving one's own inner and inborn talents and potentialities followed by a profound understanding of the realities of the universe and divine attributes. Self-consciousness has various degrees and it is of ...
  • Is there a problem in paying off one's debt in the evening or after dark?
    7251 Laws and Jurisprudence 2009/03/12
    Continue... ...
  • Will a husband and wife, after leaving this world, live together in paradise?
    14652 Traditional 2009/10/22
    The specific conditions and details of how we will live in the next world are not completely known to anyone except the infallibles (masoomeen). With this in mind the relationship between a husband and a wife is something that is related to this world and pious women are ...
  • What is the meaning of mutawatir and ma'roof traditions?
    10523 Contextual study 2014/10/01
    For information about the meaning of mutawatir traditions and its various types, see index "the criterion for verbal, spiritual and ambiguous mutawatir traditions", question 2412. Ma'ruf Hadith Different definitions have been presented for Ma'ruf tradition: 1. A ma'ruf tradition is one whose text and it is content ...
  • How can I repent from an illegitimate sexual relationship I had with one whom I planned to marry?
    9030 Laws and Jurisprudence 2010/11/22
    Zina or fornication (in Islamic terms, which is the subject of certain Islamic laws) means for a man’s penis to enter the vagina or anus of a woman until the glans is completely enveloped without the two being married or at least ‘similar to married’ (“similar to married” ...
  • Is it permissible to eat chips containing porcine enzymes?
    8238 Laws and Jurisprudence 2012/01/19
    The grand maraji’ responded to this inquiry like this:The office of the grand Ayatullah Khamenei:In the case of the question it isn't permissible.The office of the grand Ayatullah Makarem Shirazi:It isn’t permissible.The office of the grand Ayatullah Safi Golpaygani:If ...
  • Please let me how to get rid of masturbation?
    10527 Practical 2015/01/05
    Sin is like a foul-smelling swamp full of sewage; the more one sinks into it, the less he senses its smell, because he actually loses his sense of smell and can't tell that he is drowning anymore. At the same time, anytime one makes a strong decision ...
  • Is the story of the wedding of Hadrat Qasim in Karbala true or false?
    31431 تاريخ بزرگان 2012/10/01
    One of the concocted stories regarding the epic of Ashura is the story of the marriage of Qasim bin Al-Hasan (as), a story which has no basis and which has not been related by any authentic and reliable sources. In addition, such a thing is not rationally ...
  • Do my feet become najis when I walk on wet pavement that a dog has walked on?
    10868 Laws and Jurisprudence 2008/07/21
    If rainwater or any other water gathers in a ditch and is less than kur (there is a difference of opinion on what amount is exactly kur, and there are different ways of measuring it, according to Imam Khomeini, one way is that if ...
  • What is the Sunni opinion on Bilal al-Habashi?
    14612 تاريخ بزرگان 2008/07/02
    What Sunni references say about the great sahabi, Bilal, is that he was freed by Abu Bakr, a resistant believer against the tortures of the Kuffar, the Prophet's Mu'adhin, and one of the Mujahidin (soldiers) of Islam in different battles alongside the Prophet (pbuh). After the Prophet's demise, he ...

Popular