longs for this and desires it, and the private parts confirm or belie it.” Al-Bukhārī recorded it with the beginning of its chain of transmission omitted, through Tāwūs from Abū Hurayrah.

Muslim narrated it through Suhayl ibn Abī Sālih, from his father, from Abū Hurayrah, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said:

“The son of Adam’s share of fornication has been decreed for him, and he will inevitably commit it. The fornication of the eyes is looking; the fornication of the ears is listening; the fornication of the tongue is speaking; the fornication of the hands is grasping; and the fornication of the feet is walking. The heart desires and longs, and the private parts confirm or belie this.”

Al-Tirmidhī narrated a hadith from Ibn ‘Abbās concerning His words, “except for minor lapses,” and classified it as singular:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
‘If You forgive, O Allah, You forgive much;
And which servant of Yours has never lapsed?’”

Another lesson is that those who commit acts of sexual immorality, failing to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, are commanded to repent. They were commanded to do so only so that their repentance would be accepted. Thus, repentance is accepted from them and from all other sinners, as Allah Most High says:

“Do they not know that Allah is the One who accepts repentance from His servants and receives their charitable offerings?”

And Allah Most High says:

“He is the One who accepts repentance from His servants, pardons evil deeds, and knows what you do.”

This applies even when the acts of sexual immorality are aggravated by their severity and frequency—such as intercourse with women within the prohibited degrees of marriage, the practices of the people of Lot, or other such acts—and whether it is the active or the passive partner who repents. Whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. This is contrary to the attitude of some people: when they see someone who has committed any of these acts of sexual immorality, they make him despair of Allah’s mercy