Fatwa ID: 03462

Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain​

Question

According to Islam, if I kiss a girl on her lips, would that be considered a sin or Zina?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Zina (adultery, fornication) does not refer only to penetration, rather there is the zina of the hand, which is touching that which is forbidden, and the zina of the eyes, which is looking at that which is forbidden, even though zina that is committed with the private parts. 

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle as saying: “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 hand is touching, and the zina of the foot is walking. The heart wishes and longs and the private part confirms that or denies it.”[2]

Imam Nawawi said, 'touching a stranger/ marriageable woman with the hand or kissing her is figurative zina.'[3]

It is not permissible for the Muslim to long for the things that lead to zina, such as kissing, being alone, touching and looking – for all these things are haraam and lead to the greater evil which is zina.

Allah says:  “And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Faahishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin, and an evil way that leads one to hell unless Allah Forgives him)” [Al-Isra: 32]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham