Do Not Approach Adultery — It Was an Indecency — Prohibition of Even Approaching
fiqh
Level: intermediate
hudud
fqh-041
وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَٰحِشَةٗ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلٗا
— الإسراء 32
Verse: "And do not approach adultery — indeed it was an indecency and an evil way." (17:32)
"Do not approach" not "do not do": Prohibition of even approaching — because approaching inevitably leads to the act. A lesson in blocking means and prohibiting what leads to the forbidden.
"Indecency" (fahisha): Adultery is extreme indecency because it corrupts lineages, families, and society.
Blocking means of adultery: Forbidden seclusion, forbidden glancing, touching with intent — all are steps that lead to it.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (10/253); Ibn Kathir (5/70); Ibn Qudama (9/34)
Question: Why does the Quran say "do not approach adultery" rather than "do not commit"?
Answer: Because approaching inevitably leads to the act — forbidden seclusion, glancing, and contact are all steps leading to it. Prohibition of the path before prohibition of the destination.