Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

The Many Forms of Zina | The Other Side: Barzakh and Beyond Ep. 19

Debt follows you into the Barzakh. The soul remains suspended until its dues are settled, held back from its final destination.

Zina is a pathway to destruction. It starts with a glance, a conversation, a moment of indulgence, and before you know it, you’re trapped in an unrelenting fire. The Prophet ﷺ described the terrifying fate of those who let their desires consume them—a blazing oven in the Barzakh, where regret burns as fiercely as the flames themselves.

But the struggle against temptation isn’t without reward. Those who hold on to their faith and protect their chastity in a world filled with desires are promised the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment. Your restraint today could mean the difference between light and darkness, between a grave that feels like a garden or one that feels like an inferno.

NOTE: All depictions of Barzakh are purely conceptual and only vocals were used in the making of the soundtrack.

Download discussion guides for “The Other Side”: https://yqn.io/2e7585

Captioning provided by Muhsen.

References:

  1. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Last night two individuals came to me (in a dream), woke me up, and said to me, ‘Proceed!’ …   So we continued on until we came upon something like a tannūr (a large oven). Inside of it were men and women who were being tormented by flames rising from beneath them, and they had no clothes to cover them. Whenever the flames reached them, they screamed in agony. I asked, ‘Who are these people?’ … [They replied,] They are the adulterers, male and female, [being punished for zina].’” [Sahih al-Bukhari #7047]
  2. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Seven (types of people) will be shaded by Allah by His Shade on the Day of Resurrection when there will be no shade except His Shade.” Among them he mentioned: “A man who is tempted by a woman of beauty and status but responds, ‘I fear Allah.’” [Sahih al-Bukhari #6806; Sahih Muslim #1031]
  3. The Prophet ﷺ said, “A time will come upon the people when the one who remains steadfast upon his religion will be like one holding onto hot coal.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi #2260]
  4. Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The son of Adam has been allotted his share of zina, which he will inevitably commit. The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the ears is listening, the zina of the tongue is speaking, the zina of the hands is touching, the zina of the feet is walking (toward sin), and the heart desires and longs. Ultimately, the private parts will either confirm or deny it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari #6612; Sahih Muslim #2657] 
  5. Ibn al-Qayyim connects lowering the gaze to increasing light in the heart, face and body. He says, “Lowering the gaze brings light to the heart, just as allowing it to wander freely brings darkness. For this reason, Allah mentioned the verse of light right after the command to lower the gaze. He says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them.” [Surah An-Nur (24): 30] Then immediately after, He says: “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is like a niche within which is a lamp…”  [Surah An-Nur (24): 35]”. [Ibn al-Qayyim, Al-Jawab al-Kafi]
  6. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Last night two individuals came to me (in a dream), woke me up, and said to me, ‘Proceed!’ …   So we continued on until we came upon something like a tannūr (a large oven). Inside of it were men and women who were being tormented by flames rising from beneath them, and they had no clothes to cover them. Whenever the flames reached them, they screamed in agony. I asked, ‘Who are these people?’ … [They replied,] They are the adulterers, male and female, [being punished for zina].’” [Sahih al-Bukhari #7047]
  7. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Seven (types of people) will be shaded by Allah by His Shade on the Day of Resurrection when there will be no shade except His Shade.” Among them he mentioned: “A man who is tempted by a woman of beauty and status but responds, ‘I fear Allah.’” [Sahih al-Bukhari #6806; Sahih Muslim #1031]
  8. The Prophet ﷺ said, “A time will come upon the people when the one who remains steadfast upon his religion will be like one holding onto hot coal.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi #2260]
  9. Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The son of Adam has been allotted his share of zina, which he will inevitably commit. The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the ears is listening, the zina of the tongue is speaking, the zina of the hands is touching, the zina of the feet is walking (toward sin), and the heart desires and longs. Ultimately, the private parts will either confirm or deny it.” [Sahih al-Bukhari #6612; Sahih Muslim #2657] 
  10. Ibn al-Qayyim connects lowering the gaze to increasing light in the heart, face and body. He says, “Lowering the gaze brings light to the heart, just as allowing it to wander freely brings darkness. For this reason, Allah mentioned the verse of light right after the command to lower the gaze. He says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them.” [Surah An-Nur (24): 30] Then immediately after, He says: “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is like a niche within which is a lamp…”  [Surah An-Nur (24): 35]”. [Ibn al-Qayyim, Al-Jawab al-Kafi]
Dr. Omar Suleiman

Dr. Omar Suleiman

President | Imam Dr. Omar Suleiman is the Founder and President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, and an Adjunct Professor of Islamic Studies in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Southern Methodist University.