Siding with someone in sin

Question

One Ghulam Muhammad has run off with Zuhra Bi, the married wife of one Gul Hasan, and for four months has been committing zina with her. Gul Hasan is poor and weak; apart from the Shari‘a he cannot call on anyone else. Ghulam Muhammad says: “I will leave Islam, but I will not leave the woman.” Some people are backing Ghulam Muhammad. Now a decision on this is requested from Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband.

Answer

Committing zina is categorically haram: [ar]وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًا[/ar] “Do not come near fornication: it is indeed an indecency and an evil way” (Surah al-Isra’, 17:32). Whoever is caught up in this vile act is a grievous sinner, and it is a duty upon people to restrain him from it as far as they are able.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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