Repented from Zina and wants to get tested for HIV and STDs
Fatwa No: 192207

Question

As salam alaikum. I am aware that sex outside marriage and homosexual activities are very major sins. And that if somebody commits these actions they must repent to Allah. But if somebody did these things and Allah covered their sin(s), should such a person get tested for HIV/std's, or would this be considered a form of exposing what Allah has covered from the people. Any information you could provide regarding this would be much appreciated, insha'allah. Jazakallah khair.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

If a person has committed Zina (fornication or adultery) or engaged in homosexual activities and Allaah concealed his sin, then he should be grateful to Allaah for this bounty, because if Allaah had willed, He would have exposed his sins to the people. So the right of a bounty is that one should be grateful to Allaah for it; Allaah Says (what means): {And be grateful for the favor of Allaah, if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.} [Quran 16:114]

The scholars   said that one should give thanks for each bounty according to its nature. Hence, giving thanks for the bounty of having one’s sexual immorality concealed is (after repenting for it) to avoid anything that could lead to committing such an immorality again, and avoiding any means that could lead to it. For more benefit on the means that lead to Zina, please refer to Fatwa 82867.

Among being grateful to Allaah for this bounty is to also endeavor to conceal one’s own self and not inform anybody about it. Indeed, concealing one’s sins is Islamically required as we have already clarified in Fataawa 83573 and 84052.

Nevertheless, undergoing medical tests out of fear of such diseases does not contradict concealing one’s own self; especially since early disease detection has become very common in this time and age.

Allaah Knows best.

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