The Wife of the Adulterer is Not Divorced

Question :

Often, we hear about young men travelling abroad and marying and sabe of menty bread and commit the sin of adultery; are their wives divorced or not?

Answer:

A man's wife is not divorced merely by him committing adultery. But it is an obligation upon him to avoid the kind of travelling and mixing that will lead to that. And it is incumbent upon him to fear Allah and beware that Allah is observing him, and to preserve his private parts from what Allah has forbidden, in accordance with the Words of Allah, Most Glorified:
"And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fähishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).

And the Words of Him, the Almighty, the All-Powerful:
"And those who invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace,. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monothe ism)."

These two great Verses prove the prohibition of approaching adultery and the causes which lead to it. The second Verse indicates that the punishment is doubled for those who associate partners with Allah or kill someone without right or commit illegal sexual intercourse would abide in that state. This is a great threat, proving that illegal sexual intercourse is one of the major sins which results in punishment in the Hell-fire and remaining in it. But the abode in the Fire for the adulterer and the one who killed without right is not like the eternal punishment of the polytheist, because the punishment of one who associate partners with Allah does not end; rather it continues eternally.

As for the dwelling of the adulterer and the murderer - if they did not consider it lawful it is a period that will end, according to Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah.

It is correct that Allah's Messenger said:
"The adulterer does not commit adultery while he is a believer, and the thief does not steal while he is a believer, and the drinker does not drink Khamr (i.e. alcoholic beverages) while he is a believer." (Agreed upon)

This Hadith proves the absence of faith in the adulterer, the thief and the drinker of alcohol at the time they commit these evil deeds, and it refers to the complete faith which is required of him. But it is the absence of his complete faith and the absence of his complete fear of Allah, Most Glorified and his failure to call to mind the results of these evil deeds such as unwholesome consequences which leads him to commit them. And Allah is the Granter of success.