How can one deal with a married friend who insists on continuing an illicit relationship, which has negatively affected his family and social relations, and how can one intervene to rectify the situation, especially after the deterioration of the relationship with him?

The ideal solution is to advise this man and clarify that what he is doing constitutes major sins that incur Allah’s wrath. Adultery is forbidden in all religions due to the deadly diseases, hatred, crimes, confusion of lineages, and loss of chastity it brings. Allah has ordained severe punishments for it in this world and the Hereafter. Allah Almighty says: "And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden them to kill, except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever does that will meet a penalty. The punishment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated. Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their evil deeds into good ones. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Quran 25:68-70). His punishment in the Barzakh (definition) (interim period between death and resurrection) was seen in a furnace containing naked men and women, with flames coming at them from beneath. Allah warned against it by saying: "And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way." (Quran 17:32). The punishment for an unmarried fornicator is a hundred lashes and exile for one year, and for a married fornicator, it is stoning to death. Allah Almighty says: "The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not let compassion for them prevent you from [enforcing] the religion of Allah, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment." (Quran 24:2). He should be reminded of the rights of his children and wife; he is responsible for them and must be a good role model. For his wife, we advise patience and counsel, but if he does not reform, she has the right to seek a divorce. Suicide is not a cure; rather, it is one of the major sins.