Title: Marriage of a Fornicator Question/Comments: I have the following questions: Of course acts of Zina is not advertised. How can one who has committed this crime proceed to severe his/her marriage or what is the fate of chaste partner especially a female? How can this criminal find an individual who is not chaste in case he/she wants to get married/remarried? If any person is trapped in such a situation in which such act becomes inevitable then what is the fate of the person who was trapped? This could lead to him/her in another attempt as he/she was not exposed to this phase of life before? As this is an act related to hormones and after a certain time that individual cannot control the impulses? abdul wajid Answer: First of all, it should remain clear that according to my understanding, severing of marriage of a fornicator or disallowing his/her marriage with a chaste individual is a part of the directive related to the fornicator's punishment. This really implies that just as the punishment of one-hundred lashes is to be implemented by the Muslim state, upon those who are proven, beyond any reasonable doubt, to have committed the heinous act, in the same manner, the severing of marriage or disallowing marriage with a chaste individual is also a part of the punishment, which is to be administered by the Muslim state. This punishment is not to be implemented by the individual upon himself or by unauthorized groups of individuals upon others. This clarification should by itself provide an answer to the stated questions. Nevertheless, for the purpsose of further clarification, my answers to your specific questions follow: An individual is not supposed to sever his/her relationship with his/her chaste spouse. Such would have been done, if the individual was apprehended, proven guilty and consequently punished by the state. If a person is punished for fornication by the state, the state would then disallow his/her marriage with any other individual, except one who has also been apprehended, found guilty and has been punished for the same crime. The first option, in this case would be to simply marry the individual with the person with whom he/she has committed this heinous crime. Till the time a person is apprehended, found guilty and punished for the crime by the state, he/she should sincerely repent and seek forgiveness for his/her involvement in the heinous act and thank God for keeping his grave sin hidden from others. Publicizing one's sins is not recommended by Islam. Such a person should try his/her best to correct his/her behavior and to try to live a normal life with his/her spouse. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad March 2, 2002