Is the heart's inclination towards an unseen person and preoccupation with thoughts of them, along with scholarly correspondence containing allusions from them, considered a form of "zina of the heart" (adultery of the heart) and deserving of sin, especially since the person is married?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to correspond with foreign men online except out of necessity and with controls, because it may be a gateway to fitna (temptation) and an enticement by Satan. A woman's mere inclination towards a man is not problematic as long as it does not lead to something forbidden. A person is not held accountable for inner thoughts, but dwelling on thoughts is a gateway to fitna and corruption. It is obligatory to guard thoughts and not dwell on them, because they are the seeds of Satan and the self. It is permissible for a woman to offer herself in marriage to a righteous man, with controls and etiquette.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/103895
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 103895
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy