One of the most tragic and consequential sins in which one engages is adultery or fornication. This heinous crime destroys families, lives and destroys within some people the hope of attaining Allah’s pleasure. But in Islam, the door of repentance is always open. A person who has engaged himself/herself in an illicit relationship must resolve to cease from the sinful sexual activity and return to Allah, seeking His forgiveness. Allah will surely turn unto him/her and shower him/her with His mercy.

This indicates that, a lady who committed this should never lose hope of gaining Allah’s mercy. she should repent very seriously and immediately. She should rush to Allah and beseech Him to forgive her.

Allah says in the Qur’an: “Say: ‘O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'” (Az-Zumar: 53) “Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy: For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (An-Nisa’: 17)

Sometimes Satan tries to trick the repentant by heaping doubts on them and trying to make them despair of Allah’s mercy. As a Muslim, never pay attention to these whispers and thoughts. What is gone is gone. You have made Tawbah and Allah welcomes those who return to Him. He never let down those who repent sincerely and seek His forgiveness.

Listen to the following Hadiths:

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west“. (Muslim).

Abu Hurairah  (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him“. (Muslim).

Anas ibn Malik Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated that Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)”. (Al-Bukhari)

You can surely expect Allah’s forgiveness if you are willing to take the necessary steps towards true and sincere repentance: Among these steps are: Feeling deep remorse for your sin, refraining from the sin as well as from all the leads and circumstances that led you to the same in the first place and resolving firmly in your mind never to do it again. Finally such a determination should be followed by whatever good works you can do to expiate for your sin.

Allah says, “Verily good deeds wipe out bad deeds.” (Hud: 114). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah does not wash out bad deeds through bad deeds; rather He washes bad deeds only through good deeds.” 

So repent sincerely and get yourself occupied with good works to the best of your ability. Once you have followed these steps your sin is blotted out. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A person who has repented (sincerely) is like one who has never sinned.”” (Ibn Maja’)

So, be keen on performing your prayers regularly, and always get yourself involved in Islamic work. You should focus on going to the Masjid (mosque), reading the Qur’an on a daily basis, attending Islamic classes, and try to be away from any company that does not remind you of Allah. Give Sadaqah (charity) to the poor and the needy with the intention to purify yourself and expiate your sins. Finally you should determine not to commit this sin again.

Thus, Allah has covered for you, don’t uncover the veil that Allah has placed over your sin. Ask forgiveness from Him and repent to Him sincerely, for He is, above all, all-Compassionate, All-Merciful, All-Forgiving.

Now we do advise you to:

1.     keep on seeking Allah’s forgiveness

2.     do as much as of good deed as good deeds wipe away sins

3.     encircle yourself with righteous and practicing Muslim sisters

4.     cover your fault and never tell anybody about it

5.     try to have a happy marital life and righteous family.

6.     make du`aa‘ to Allah to guide you to what is best in this world and the world to come.