i have committed sex/zina with my maternal aunt. and at that time i was not married. now i want to know what is the punishment of this sin according to islam. and the country in which i live in is not a muslim country so another question is can i have the punishment at my own.
Assalāmu `alaikum Warahmatullāhi Wabrakatuh,
The act of zina (fornication) is indeed an extremely repugnant act. Severe warnings have been mentioned regarding this despicable deed. The worldly punishment is also very grave. However, Allāh Ta’ālā is the Most Loving, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful and Most Kind. The ocean of Allāh Ta’ālā’s mercy has no shores. Allāh Ta’ālā mentions:
قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله إن الله يغفر الذنوب جميعا إنه هو الغفور الرحيم [الزمر: 53]
Say (O Muhammad (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) on My behalf), O servants of Mine who have acted recklessly against their own selves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Surely, Allah forgives all sins. Surely, He is the One who is the Most-Forgiving, the Very-Merciful. [39:53]
Consider the mercy of Allāh Ta’ālā in the very tone of this verse. Generally, if a child does something wrong the one parent will tell the other: sought out your child. Due to his wrong they will not attribute the child to themselves. Allāh Ta’ālā says: even if you did wrong you still are MY slaves, O My beloved slaves.
Sayyidunā Anas (Radiyallahu Ta’ālā `anhu) relates that I heard Nabi (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) saying that Allāh said: O son of Adam, if you call on me and hope for my mercy I will forgive all your wrong and this does not bother me. O son of Adam, if your sins are reach the clouds of the sky then you seek My forgiveness I will forgive you and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if you come to me with an earth filled of sin whist you do not ascribe partners with me I will come to you with an earth filled of forgiveness.
سنن الترمذي – (5 / 548)
3540 – حدثنا عبد الله بن إسحق الجوهري البصري حدثنا أبوعاصم حدثنا كثير بن فائد حدثنا سعيد بن عبيد قال سمعت بكر بن عبدالله المزني يقول حدثنا أنس بن مالك قال : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول قال الله يا ابن آدم إنك ما دعوتني ورجوتني غفرت لك على ما كان فيك ولا أبالي يا ابن آدم لو بلغت ذنوبك عنان السماء ثم استغفرتني غفرت لك ولا أبالي يا ابن آدم إنك لو أتيتني بقراب الأرض خطايا ثم لقيتني لا تشرك بي شيئا لأتيك بقرابها مغفرة
قال أبو عيسى هذا حديث غريب لا نعرفه إلا من هذا الوجه
Sayyidunā Anas (Radiyallahu Ta’ālā `anhu) narrates that Nabi (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) mentioned:
سنن ابن ماجه – (2 / 1420)
4251 – حدثنا أحمد بن منيع . حدثنا وزيد بن الحباب .. حدثنا علي بن مسعد عن قتادة عن أنس قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم ( كل بني آدم خطاء . وخير الخطائين التوابون )
All the children of Adam are sinful and the best of the sinners are those you repent. (Ibn Mājah)
You have realized your wrong. Turn in sincere repentance to Allāh Ta’ālā. The month of Ramadhān is the ideal time to fix the broken link with Allāh Ta’ālā. Allah Ta’ālā is waiting for us to return to Him.
It will be extremely beneficial to link yourself with the Tablighi Jamat and also with some Shaykh in your area.
The enactment of any punishment will have to be carried out by the Islamic Shariah court. A person cannot carry out the punishment on his own. The sin will remain for which you have to turn to our Most Forgiving Allāh in repentance.
الفتاوى الهندية – (2 / 143)
وركنه إقامة الإمام أو نائبه في الإقامة
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Ishaaq E. Moosa
Benoni.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net