The story of ‘Unuq

This woman lived in the era of Adam ‘alayhis salam. She is the first person to commit adultery and thereby disgrace herself. Allah punished her in this world by sending huge snakes as big as elephants, huge scorpions as big as camels, huge vultures as big as donkeys from the unseen. They all came and ate her up together.

Lesson: Look at the consequence of this evil deed. No one should think that it is not possible to be punished in this way anymore. Remember that it is only because of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that we are not punished so severely in this world. However, we will get all the punishments in the hereafter. When there is no doubt about the approach of the hereafter, how is it possible for us to be so neglectful? Furthermore, no one should be under the misconception that one is disgraced only because of adultery. In fact, Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is reported to have said that the eyes, the ears, the tongue, the hands, the feet and the heart also commit adultery. If a woman peeps at a strange man, the bride-groom or the marriage procession (in which there are men), this will be considered to be the sinning of the eyes. If, without any compelling reason, she freely converses with him, this will be considered to be sinning of the tongue. If she listens to a male’s voice in order to satisfy her nafs or listens to him singing songs, this will be the sinning of the ears. If she touches a person with whom she was supposed to be observing purdah, or places her hand on his shoulder or head, this will be the sinning of the hands. If she walks in order to go and meet such a person or she walks in front of him so that he may see her, this will be the sinning of the feet. If she thinks about him or tries to remember him all the time, this will be the sinning of the heart. The consequences and sin of adultery will therefore also apply in these cases. One should fear the power and anger of Allah and safeguard oneself from all these evils.