Will a person be rewarded for avoiding adultery after speaking with a non-mahram woman, and will Allah forgive him for speaking with her, and will anyone have a claim against him on the Day of Judgment?

We congratulate the questioner on Allah's salvation of him from falling into indecency with the woman, and we call upon him to thank Allah for this blessing by striving to follow the path of righteousness and avoiding the paths of deviation. We affirm that what transpired, in terms of speaking and looking at her, is a reprehensible act and a means to adultery. It is hoped that Allah has expiated it for him by his avoidance of adultery, as stated in the Noble Verse: "If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance." (An-Nisa 4:31). We point out that these minor sins may be expiated by good deeds that follow them or by other expiations. We advise the questioner not to worry about what has passed, and to strive for excellence in what is to come. As for betraying the woman's husband and her family, it is sufficient to supplicate for them abundantly with good, and not to seek their forgiveness directly, as that entails great harms.