Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I kissed a baby on the lips purposely around 8-12 times, does this make me a child molester?
I feel so ashamed of myself. As I grew older, I committed zina more than ten times with different escorts.
I knew it was wrong each time but could not control myself. I feel so ashamed, can’t sleep at night, and hate myself. People in my family view me as a good individual but have no clue what an idiot and terrible person I am.
Can someone please help me?
Answer
Thank you for your follow-up question. In my previous answer to you, I addressed the issue of fornication, and not the kissing of the baby.
Intention
First of all, just kissing a baby on the lips, in and of itself, is not a sin. Many do it naturally. What was your intention when you kissed the baby on the lips? Deriving pleasure from it would be impermissible.
Caution
I would not label you as a child molester, but because you have fornicated, I urge you to stop kissing babies. Only you know your intention from that time, and you know if you should repent. If your intention was wrong, repent sincerely, and Allah will forgive you and change you, and you will never desire it again, by His grace. Always keep far away from the limits that Allah has placed, especially if you fear that you will sin.
Nothing Is Difficult for Allah
Think of how many people have changed in the course of history, notably the companion, Umar ibn al-Khattab, who was on his way to kill the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and who was said about him by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) after he became Muslim, “If there was to be a Prophet after me, it would have been Umar bin Al-Khattab.” [Tirmidhi]
He says, Most High, “Have you not seen that Allah created the heavens and the earth for a reason? If He wills, He can eliminate you and produce a new creation. And that is not difficult for Allah ˹at all˺.” [Quran, 14:19-20]
and, He said,
“Allah Most High says: “Say: My servants who have wronged yourselves, never despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:53]
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani