Question Summary:
Emotional consequences of zina

Question Detail:

My question is regarding Zina: although I have seen many answers with regards to Zina but none explaining the repercussions in full length. I am 19 and unmarried, a few days ago I fornicated with a woman outside of any relationship. As soon as that happened I felt terrible and I have been consumed by guilt for the past few days. I broke down in tears when I read the opening ayahs of Surat an Noor on the repercussions. Do I have to get lashed 100 times and am I only allowed to marry a adulteress or non-believer? If not then why as it this is stated in the Quran explicitly. How do I know if my repentance is accepted? Maybe it isn't... In future I wish to marry a good, pious muslim women. Must I tell her of this before any marital contract even if it will most likely jeopardise my chance of getting married? Apologies if you have answered this before but I have seen nothing specifically on the repercussions and punishment for this. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother in Islam,
The sin that was committed was truly an odious and an abhorrent sin. It is such an act that is poisonous to one’s ethics which ruins the moral behavior of a man. It has grave spiritual and emotional consequences as you have unfortunately come to experience. The realization and burden of sins you are experiencing is a sign of Iman. The feeling of guilt over one’s sins is the first step towards repentance and reformation. Allah Ta’ala loves those who repent and pardons their sins. Regardless of the type of sin, if one sincerely repents to Allah, He will surely forgive him. Allah states in the Holy Quran:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ  
Translation: Verily Allah forgives all sins. Undoubtedly, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. (39:53)
No matter how grave the sin may be, a person should never despair of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala. It is mentioned in the very same verse:
قلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ 
Translation: Say (on My behalf), ‘O servants of Mine who have wronged their souls (by committing sins) do not despair of Allah’s mercy.
You should make sincere tawbah (repentance) by performing two rak‘ahs of salah and then make sincere tawbah (repentance) with firm conviction that it will surely be accepted.
Furthermore, you do not have to disclose your sins of the past to your potential spouse in the future. When one commits a sin and makes sincere tawbah from such a sin, it does not need to be confessed to others.
The verse you are referring to is as follows:
الزَّانِي لَا يَنْكِحُ إِلَّا زَانِيَةً أَوْ مُشْرِكَةً وَالزَّانِيَةُ لَا يَنْكِحُهَا إِلَّا زَانٍ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ وَحُرِّمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Translation: A man who is a fornicator does not (like to) marry but a woman who is a fornicator or a polytheist. And a woman who is a fornicator does not (like to) marry but a man who is a fornicator or a polytheist. And this (i.e. preferring to marry such spouses) has been prohibited for the believers. (24:3)
In brief, the interpretation of the above verse refers to adultery and fornication as such acts that taints one’s character, people committing such vile acts are attracted to others with the same shameless characteristics. However, such is the case for those who do no repent to Allah Ta’ala and do not refine their lifestyle and habits. As for those who repent intending to live a pure life and wish to marry such a spouse who is noble, chaste and a practicing Muslim, then there is no restriction in such a matter. Such a person is not obliged to marry a spouse of the same nature.[1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Fahad Abdul Wahab
Student Darul Iftaa
USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai                                                                                                                                                                                                                
www.Daruliftaa.net