Adultery (Zina) in Islam is one of the gravest sins ever and had a very serious punishment indeed.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “O mankind! Beware of fornication/adultery for it entails six dire consequences: three of them relating to this world and three to the next world. As for the three that are related to this world, they are the following: it removes the glow of one’s face, brings poverty, and reduces the life-span. As for its dire consequences in the next world they are: it brings down the wrath of Allah upon the person, subjects him to terrible reckoning, and finally casts him in hell-fire” (Al-Bayhaqi).
Allah has blessed the institution of marriage greatly so much so that the Prophet (PBUH) has proclaimed that marriage completes half your faith so let Allah ask you about the remaining half. To slander the institution that completes the very basis of you being a Muslim is very serious indeed and brings upon the person the wrath of Allah. It is said in the Holy Quran that adultery is punishable by a hundred stripes to the adulterer.
Many people however are confused about the rights of the husband or the wife once adultery is committed. It must be known committing adultery does not in any way break the relationship between the husband and the wife. They do not ‘automatically get divorced, nor do they become unlawful for each other. They continue to remain husband and wife as per the Islamic law.
However, it is up to the husband or the wife to forgive their respective partners for cheating on their spouses. If the spouse sincerely repents for their adulterous actions and vows never to do it again, it is up to the spouse who has been cheated upon to decide whether to forgive him/her or to seek separation/divorce for their action. If they indeed get forgiveness for their sin, they can thereby continue to live with their spouse with the same rights as they had before the sin was committed.
Allah proclaims that the attribute of forgiveness is great! “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.” [Sûrah al-Zumar: 53]Allah also says: “And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with true repentance.” [Sûrah al-Furqân: 71]
Indeed, Allah knows what is best.
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