What does « Fornication / Adultery » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Fornication / Adultery (زنا) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

زنا
Fornication / Adultery
Root: ز - ن
Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Fornication / Adultery

Az-zina: intimate relations with a woman without a legal contract.

The word can be written short or long.

When lengthened, it can be a masdar (verbal noun) of zana-yuzani or zana-yazni.

One says: zana bi-l-mar'a and zanaha.

The Almighty says: 'And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse' (Al-Isra 32), 'the fornicatress and the fornicator' (An-Nur 2).

Fornication / Adultery in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0
Surah Al-Isra : 32 Meccan
﴿وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةًۭ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًۭا
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.

Words from the same root as Fornication / Adultery

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