Ruling on Zina, sodomy and illegitimate children

A: The questions may be answered as follows: Zina is prohibited according to the Qur'an, the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) and Ijma` (consensus of scholars). The same ruling applies to sodomy. By prohibiting sodomy and Zina, Islam also prohibits all things that may lead to them, such as touching, kissing, a woman traveling without a Mahram (spouse or permanently unmarriageable relative), sitting alone with a member of the opposite sex who is not a Mahram, gazing at women, and listening (Part No. 22; Page No. 34) to songs and seductive voices which stimulate sexual desire. All of this aims at protecting a Muslim against committing these abominable sins (Zina and sodomy). In addition, these rulings apply to engaged and unengaged women. However, it is permissible for a man to look at his fiancée, but he must not touch her or sit alone with her, based on the evidence related in this regard.As for illegitimate children, they must be attributed to their mothers and they have the same ruling as other Muslims, if the mother is a Muslim. An illegitimate child should not be held accountable or blamed for their mother's sin or the sin of the man who committed Zina with her. Allah (Glorified be He) says: No one laden with burdens can bear another’s burden. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.