Zina Becomes Common in End Times: How to Protect Yourself

It’s 11:34 PM.

You’re alone. Phone in hand. One click away from something you know you shouldn’t see. Your thumb hovers. You tell yourself it’s harmless. Just scrolling. Just looking. Nobody will know.

Except you will. And Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) already does.

This moment—this exact battle you’re fighting right now—was predicted 1,400 years ago. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) warned his companions that a time would come when zina wouldn’t just be common—it would be normalized, celebrated, and so widespread that people wouldn’t even hide it anymore.

Welcome to the end times he warned about.

What Even Is Zina?

Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about here. Zina, according to Islamic jurisprudence documented by scholars across all four major schools of thought, refers to any unlawful sexual relations between a man and woman outside the bounds of a valid Islamic marriage. This encompasses both adultery when one or both parties are married to someone else, and fornication when neither party is married.

But here’s what most people miss.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us in a hadith recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6612, and by Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2657, that zina isn’t just the physical act. He said: “Allah ﷻ has decreed for every son of Adam his share of zina which he will inevitably encounter. The zina of the eyes is looking, the zina of the tongue is speaking, the soul desires and wishes, and the private parts either confirm that or deny it.”

Read that again. Your eyes commit zina when they linger on what’s forbidden. Your tongue commits zina when it speaks words dripping with flirtation or desire to someone not lawful for you. Your heart commits zina when it fantasizes and entertains thoughts it has no business entertaining.

The physical act? That’s just the final confirmation of a chain of smaller violations you’ve already committed.

The Prophecy Nobody Wanted to Believe

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) didn’t just warn about zina becoming common—he gave us chilling specifics that sound like he was reading today’s headlines.

In a hadith preserved by Imam Ahmad in Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 9832, and authenticated by Islamic scholars as meeting the criteria of authenticity, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) told his companions: “Among the signs of the Hour will be the appearance of obscenity and immorality, the cutting off of family ties, and neighbors will no longer care for one another.”

Another narration documented by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7061, records the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: “There will come a time when people will consume riba (interest), and whoever does not consume it will be affected by its dust. And zina will become so common that if a man abstains from it and only performs it with his slave girl, he will be regarded among the people like the one who stands firm today.”

Think about what he’s saying. A time when the bare minimum—not committing adultery with random people—will be considered remarkable. That’s where we are.

Historical Islamic scholars including Imam Ibn Kathir (may Allah ﷻ have mercy on him) in his tafsir and Imam al-Qurtubi (may Allah ﷻ have mercy on him) in his Quranic commentary both noted that the widespread prevalence of sexual immorality is one of the major signs distinguishing the end times from earlier eras.

And look around. Hookup culture. Dating apps designed specifically for casual encounters. Movies and shows where infidelity is entertainment. Music that glorifies promiscuity. OnlyFans. Pornography more accessible than clean water in some places.

You don’t even have to go looking for it anymore. It finds you. Ads. Recommendations. Autoplay. Your explore page knows exactly what will tempt you.

Why It’s Everywhere Now

Here’s the thing nobody wants to admit: we’ve made it easy.

Technology didn’t create lust—humans have struggled with desires since Adam (peace be upon him) and Hawwa (may Allah ﷻ be pleased with her) walked the earth. But technology did something more dangerous: it removed every single barrier that used to exist between temptation and action.

You used to have to leave your house to commit zina. Now you don’t. You used to risk being seen, being caught, facing social consequences. Now you can do everything behind a locked bedroom door while your family sleeps down the hall.

Privacy became isolation. Freedom became enslavement. Choice became addiction.

And society? Society stopped calling it sin. They rebranded it. “Sexual liberation.” “Body positivity.” “Consenting adults.” “Sex work is real work.” Every term designed to strip away the guilt, the shame, the natural human recognition that something is deeply wrong.

But your fitrah—your innate nature that Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) created within you—still knows. That’s why you feel hollow afterward. That’s why the shame creeps in during quiet moments. That’s why no amount of “normalizing” it makes the emptiness go away.

Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) warns us directly in the Quran:

[Surah Al-Isra, 17:32]
“And do not approach zina. Indeed, it is an immorality and an evil way.”

Notice the wording. Not “don’t commit zina.” Don’t even approach it. Don’t take the first step. Don’t entertain the thought. Don’t create the opportunity. Because Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) knows how this works—one step leads to another, and before you know it, you’re somewhere you swore you’d never go.

The Destruction Nobody Talks About

You want to know why Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) is so strict about this? Why zina is considered one of the three worst sins after shirk and murder?

Because it destroys everything.

According to Islamic scholarly consensus documented by Imam al-Qurtubi (may Allah ﷻ have mercy on him) in his tafsir of Surah al-Isra, zina undermines the fundamental building blocks of society: the family unit, the lineage of children, the sanctity of marriage, and the moral fabric that holds communities together.

It destroys trust. A man who cheats on his wife has broken the most sacred promise he’ll ever make. A woman who betrays her husband has shattered the foundation of their family. Children born from zina grow up not knowing their fathers, denied their rightful inheritance and family lineage, carrying a societal stigma they didn’t choose.

It destroys your soul. Every time you commit zina—whether it’s the physical act or the zina of the eyes through pornography—you’re creating a barrier between you and Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). Your prayers start feeling empty. Quran doesn’t move you anymore. Guilt becomes your constant companion. Tawbah feels impossible because you keep going back.

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated a conversation documented by Imam al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6811, and Imam Muslim in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 86, where he asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him): “Which sin is greatest in the sight of Allah ﷻ?” The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “That you set up a rival to Allah ﷻ when He created you.” Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: “Then what?” The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “That you kill your child fearing he will eat with you.” Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: “Then what?” The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “That you commit zina with your neighbor’s wife.”

Your neighbor’s wife—the person whose husband trusts his community, whose family lives next to yours. The betrayal of trust makes it even worse. But all zina carries this weight of destruction.

The Path to Protection Starts Before Temptation

Look, I’m not going to give you generic advice like “lower your gaze” and pretend that solves everything. You already know that. What you need is a battle strategy because this is war and your nafs is working overtime to make you lose.

Build Your Fortress Before the Attack

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us something crucial in a hadith recorded by Imam at-Tirmidhi in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1466, where he said: “Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.”

Notice what he’s doing here. He’s not just saying “don’t sin.” He’s giving you positive actions to channel that energy. Marriage provides a halal outlet. Fasting weakens desire while strengthening self-control.

But what if you can’t get married right now? Then you fast. Not just Ramadan. Regular voluntary fasts. Mondays and Thursdays. Three days every lunar month. Create a pattern of self-discipline that trains your nafs to submit to Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) instead of your desires.

Cut Off the Supply Lines

Be brutally honest: what are your triggers? For most people, it’s the phone. That glowing rectangle of infinite temptation sitting on your nightstand.

Here’s what you do. Tonight. Before you sleep.

Delete the apps that lead you to sin. Not “I’ll use them less.” Delete them. Instagram if that’s where you scroll through fitna. TikTok if that’s your rabbit hole. Twitter if that’s where the provocative content lives. Whatever it is—gone.

Install website blockers. Set up parental controls on your own devices and give the password to someone you trust—your brother, your friend, someone who will hold you accountable. Make accessing haram content require enough steps that you have time to catch yourself.

Move your phone out of your bedroom at night. Charge it in the living room. Use an actual alarm clock if you need to wake up for Fajr. Because the most dangerous time is when you’re alone, tired, and your guard is down.

Strengthen What’s Weak

Your relationship with Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) is the core defense. When that’s strong, everything else becomes easier.

Wake up for Tahajjud. I know you’re tired. Do it anyway. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) said in a hadith recorded by Imam at-Tirmidhi in Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3549: “Hold fast to night prayer, for it was the practice of the righteous before you, a way of drawing closer to your Lord, an expiation for wrong deeds, and a shield from sin.”

A shield from sin. That’s exactly what you need.

Read Quran daily. Not just recitation for barakah—read the translation. Let the words of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) penetrate your heart. When you’re filling your mind with divine guidance, there’s less room for shaytan’s whispers.

Make specific dua. Don’t just say “Ya Allah ﷻ, forgive me.” Get specific. “Ya Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He), I am weak and my desires are overpowering me. I cannot fight this alone. Grant me the strength to guard my chastity. Make the haram unappealing to me. Replace my desires with love for what pleases You. Protect me from situations that lead to zina. Make me among those who guard their private parts as You commanded.”

Change Your Environment

You can’t expect to win this battle if you keep putting yourself in situations designed for you to lose.

That friend who’s always talking about his hookups? Limit your time with him. That coworker who flirts constantly? Keep it professional and create distance. That movie night where you know they’re watching content full of fahisha (immorality)? Skip it.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us in a hadith documented by Imam Abu Dawud in Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4833: “A man follows the religion of his close friend, so let each one of you look at who he takes as a close friend.”

Your environment shapes you. If everyone around you treats zina casually, you will too. Find brothers or sisters who are actually trying to please Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He). Join a halaqa. Volunteer at your masjid. Surround yourself with people whose presence reminds you of Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He).

When You’ve Already Fallen

Maybe you’re reading this and thinking it’s too late. You’ve already committed zina—maybe once, maybe a hundred times. The guilt is crushing you. You feel too dirty to make dua, too shameful to pray, too far gone for Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) to forgive.

That’s shaytan talking. Listen to Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) instead:

[Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53]
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah ﷻ. Indeed, Allah ﷻ forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'”

All sins. Not some. Not the small ones. All sins. Including zina. Including yours.

The companions asked about the person guilty of major sins, and Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) revealed in Surah Al-Furqan, 25:70:

“Except those who repent and believe and do righteous deeds, for those Allah ﷻ will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah ﷻ is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

He doesn’t just forgive—He transforms your sins into good deeds. How? Because the regret, the repentance, the struggle to change—all of that becomes worship when done sincerely for Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) sake.

Make tawbah right now. Not tomorrow. Not after “one last time.” Now.

Pray two rak’at. Pour your heart out in sujud. Cry if you need to. Promise Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) you’re done with that life. And mean it.

Cut off whatever relationship or situation led you to zina. Delete the number. Block them on everything. Move if you have to. Your akhirah is worth more than any temporary pleasure or convenience.

The Battle You Can Actually Win

Here’s the truth they don’t tell you: you’re not going to white-knuckle your way through this using willpower alone. Your nafs is stronger than you think. Your desires won’t just disappear because you want them to.

But you don’t have to fight alone.

Every single prophet (peace be upon them all) faced tests of desire and temptation. Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him)—a young man, locked in a room with a beautiful woman literally offering herself to him, with no witnesses and every worldly reason to give in—ran. He chose Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) over his desires.

And later, when recounting this event that’s preserved in Surah Yusuf, he said something that should humble every single one of us:

[Surah Yusuf, 12:53]
“And I do not hold my nafs innocent. Indeed, the nafs commands to evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”

A prophet—someone who speaks to Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He)—said he doesn’t trust his own nafs. He credited Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) mercy for his ability to resist, not his own strength.

That’s your strategy right there. Acknowledge your weakness. Beg Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) for His help. Then put in the effort—the fasting, the distancing from triggers, the Quran, the dua—knowing that ultimately, only Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) protection will save you.

Your Life Six Months From Now

Imagine waking up for Fajr without fighting your nafs about what you did the night before. Imagine making dua with a heart that feels light instead of crushed by guilt. Imagine lowering your gaze naturally because you’ve trained yourself to value Allah’s ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) pleasure over split seconds of forbidden looking.

Imagine getting married one day and being able to look your spouse in the eye, knowing you honored them before you even met them by guarding yourself.

That version of you exists. But it requires you to make a choice tonight. Not tomorrow. Not next Ramadan. Tonight.

The end times are here. Zina is everywhere. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings be upon him) predicted it all. But he also gave us the tools to protect ourselves, the path to repentance when we fall, and the promise that fighting this battle—even when you stumble—is itself an act of worship that Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) sees and values.

So delete the app. Make the dua. Take the first step. And watch how Allah ﷻ (Glorified and Exalted be He) opens doors you didn’t even know existed when you choose Him over your desires.

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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. Readers should consult qualified Islamic scholars for specific religious rulings and personal guidance. Verification of hadith authenticity is encouraged through recognized Islamic authorities and institutions.