All praise is due to Allah. Peace and Salutations be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SalallahuAlaihiWasallam) and his family members and companions.
Fornication is categorized as one of the major sins. Allah has warned us of a deadly torment for fornication. He says in the Holy Qur’an:
“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such person as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse -- 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 (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [Al-Furqaan, 68-70]
There are many warnings like this in the Hadith too. Since this is a major sin, Thawba (repentance) is necessary. What is meant by repentance is to turn to Allaah, sincerely regretting the sin, hating it and making a firm resolve to completely give up the sinful deed and never to repeat it.
Al-Nawawi Rahimahullah said in his “Riyalus- Saliheen”, Chapter Repentance:
قال النووي رحمه الله تعالى فى باب التوبة من رياض الصالحين : " التوبة واجبة من كل ذنب ، فإن كانت المعصية بين العبد وبين الله تعالى لا تتعلق بحق آدمي فلها ثلاثة شروط: أحدها أن يُقلع عن المعصية ، والثاني أن يندم على فعلها ، والثالث أن يعزم على أن لا يعود إليها أبداً، فإن فقد أحدَ الثلاثة لم تصحّ توبته.
“Repentance is essential for every sin. If it is something between a person and Allaah and has nothing to do with the rights of another person, there are three conditions of repentance:
1- He should give up the sin.
2- He should regret having done it.
3- He should resolve never to go back to it.
If one of these three is missing, then his repentance is not sincere.”
Everyone who repents to Allaah, Allaah accepts his repentance. The caravan of those who have repented to Allaah will not be interrupted until the sun rises from the West.
With regard to the permissibility of a man marrying the daughter of a woman with whom he had previously committed Zina or fornication, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding such cases. Imaam Shaafi Rahimahullah and Imaam Maalik- Rahimahullah - according to the correct view of the two reports narrated from him – said that it is permissible, but Abu Haneefah, Ahmad Rahimahumallah said that such a marriage is haraam.
Imam Shafi Rahimahullah says:
قال الشافعي رحمه الله فى الام "فأما بالزنا فلا حكم للزنا يحرم حلالا فلو زنى رجل بامرأة لم تحرم عليه ولا على ابنه ولا على أبيه وكذلك لو زنى بأم امرأته أو بنت امرأته لم تحرم عليه امرأته" (كتاب النكاح)
If a person commits Zina with a woman, the woman does not become haraam for him or his son or his father to marry her. Similrly, if he commits Zina with his wife’s mother or with his wife’s daughter, his wife does not become haraam. (“Al-Ummu”, Kitabun Nikah)
Imaam Ibnu Hajar Rahimahullah in his “Fathul Bary” and Imaam Navavi Rahimahullah in his Rawlathut - Talibeen” have also written in this regard.
- قال ابن حجر رحمه الله فى فتح الباري: قال بن عبد البر وقد أجمع أهل الفتوى من الأمصار على أنه لا يحرم على الزاني تزوج من زنى بها فنكاح أمها وابنتها اجوز (باب ما يحل من النساء وما يحرم)
قال النووي رحمه الله فى روضة الطالبين : الزنا لا يثبت المصاهرة فللزاني نكاح أم المزني بها وبنتها (فى الباب السادس من كتاب النكاح)