Is kissing, touching, and embracing between a man and a woman without intercourse considered "zina" (fornication/adultery), and what is the expiation for this sin? Does committing it on Friday or at dawn increase its gravity? And how can one repent from it to ensure Allah's pleasure?

The aforementioned act is absolutely forbidden and is considered zina (fornication/adultery) that does not necessitate the prescribed hadd punishment. The zina that mandates hadd is actual sexual intercourse. Anything other than that, such as touching, embracing, kissing, or forbidden looking, is also called zina, and its perpetrator is sinful unless he repents. It is narrated in the Two Sahihs (Bukhari and Muslim) that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah has decreed for the son of Adam his share of zina, which he will inevitably attain. The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the tongue is speaking, the soul wishes and desires, and the private parts confirm all of that or deny it." Imam An-Nawawi said: "The son of Adam has been allotted his share of zina. Some of it is actual zina, by inserting the private part into the forbidden private part, and some of it is metaphorical zina, by looking at what is forbidden, or listening to zina and what pertains to its acquisition, or by touching with the hand, such as touching a non-mahram woman with his hand or kissing her, or by walking with the foot towards zina, or forbidden looking, touching, or conversation with a non-mahram woman, and so on, or by thinking with the heart. All of these are types of metaphorical zina." Whoever falls into any of these should hasten to sincere repentance, increase in seeking forgiveness and good deeds, and avoid every cause that leads to it. Sins are magnified during virtuous times, and there is no expiation for them except sincere repentance, regret, and seeking forgiveness, along with the firm resolve not to return to them. And whoever repents with sincere repentance, Allah accepts his repentance and overlooks his stumble.