Surah 17

Surah 17:32

"Do not go near adultery. Surely it is an immoral act and evil as a way."
The Command to avoid Zina (Unlawful Sex) and Everything that leads to it Verses 17:32
Show Full Scripture Context (17:32) — 1 Verse
Verse 32

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةٗ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلٗا

Do not go near adultery. Surely it is an immoral act and evil as a way.

32. And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is Fahishah (immoral sin) and an evil way.

The Command to avoid Zina (Unlawful Sex) and Everything that leads to it

Allah says, forbidding His servants to commit Zina or to approach it or to do anything that may lead to it:

And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fahishah (immoral sin) meaning a major sin,

and an evil way. meaning, a terrible way to behave.

Imam Ahmad recorded Abu Umamah saying that a young man came to the Prophet and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Give me permission to commit Zina (unlawful sex)." The people surrounded him and rebuked him, saying, "Stop! Stop!" But the Prophet said,

"Come closer." The young man came to him, and he said,

"Sit down." so he sat down. The Prophet said,

"Would you like it (unlawful sex) for your mother?" He said, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you." The Prophet said,

"Neither do the people like it for their mothers." The Prophet said,

"Would you like it for your daughter?" He said, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you." The Prophet said,

"Neither do the people like it for their daughters." The Prophet said,

"Would you like it for your sister?" He said, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you." The Prophet said,

"Neither do the people like it for their sisters." The Prophet said,

"Would you like it for your paternal aunt?" He said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Messenger! may I be ransomed for you." The Prophet said,

"Neither do the people like it for their paternal aunts." The Prophet said,

"Would you like it for your maternal aunt?" He said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Messenger! may I be ransomed for you." The Prophet said,

"Neither do the people like it for their maternal aunts." Then the Prophet put his hand on him and said,

"O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity." After that the young man never paid attention to anything of that nature."

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 5, Page 616)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.