I am a married woman and I am having an affair with a man that does not go beyond phone calls. This man offers me financial aid without even seeing me. Is that money considered ill-gotten gains?

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.

You should end that affair with that non-Mahram man; for Muslim scholars were unanimous in considering that it is impermissible for Muslim women to soften their speech with non-Mahram men. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): {…do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech}[Quran 33:32]

As for the financial aid that you receive from that man, you are not allowed to accept it; since it is, indisputably, a means to attain what Allaah Almighty Rendered forbidden. No doubt, this is an intrigue of the devil; he might gradually lure and induce both of you, and things might get out of hand and, accordingly, you may commit what would incur the Anger of Allaah Almighty. There is no good in gaining money through a prohibited way; for he who lives off ill-gotten money would certainly incur the Punishment of Allaah Almighty and his supplications would be rejected as well. Notice, dear Muslim, that supplication is the essence of worshipping Allaah Exalted. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

Allaah, the Exalted, Is good and He only Accepts what is good. Allaah Commanded the believers with what He Had Commanded the Messengers. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): {O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, Am Knowing.}[Quran 23:51]  Allaah, the Exalted, also Says (what means): {O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We Have Provided for you and be grateful to Allaah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.}[Quran 2:172] Then, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned (the case of) a man who travels a long distance – unkempt and dusty – and who raises his hands towards heaven and supplicates, "O Lord! O Lord!" while his food is ill-gotten, his clothing is ill-gotten and he is fed with ill-gotten money; then the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "How could his supplications be answered?"

Furthermore, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Hell is worthier of consuming the flesh that is fed with ill-gotten money." [Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak and At-Tabaraani in Al-Mu‘jam Al-Awsat, as was cited in Mishkaat Al-Masaabeeh]

Ill-gotten here means every gain that was acquired illicitly, therefore, you should get rid of all such ill-gotten gains. It would be better if you offer such money to a charity commission that is concerned with helping orphans and the like. Moreover, you should do more good deeds, and we ask Allaah, the Exalted, to Accept your repentance and Help you to be virtuous and steadfast in doing what pleases Him.