Assalamu Alaikum Waramathulla wabarakathu. I Committed Zina with my neighbor's wife. Should I ask for forgiveness from the husband first or can I seek forgiveness from Allah and show remorse with sincere repentance. Which should I do please? I regret my actions.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is no doubt that you have committed a major sin that is double in ugliness and hideousness, because fornication itself is a major sin, and doing it with the neighbor’s wife is uglier and severer. As it is stated in the hadith, “It is less serious for a man to fornicate with ten women than for him to fornicate with his neighbor’s wife.” Al-Bukhari reported it in (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad) and Imam Ahmed in (Al-Musnad). Also, the Hadith of Ibn Ibn Masoud in Al-Bukhari and Muslim: “I asked the Messenger of Allah "Which sin is greatest?" He said: "That you set an equal to Allah while He alone created you." I said: "What is next?" He said: "That you kill your child lest he should share your food with you." I said: "What is next?" He said: "That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

And do not tell her husband about what you did to his wife, because telling him may result in great evil. The opinion we adopt in Islamweb is that the man who repents from committing fornication with a married woman is not required to tell her husband, and does not need to ask her husband for forgiveness, rather it is enough for him to regret and determine not to commit adultery again, and do not reveal yourself nor that woman. A Hadith reads: "Avoid these filthy practices which Allah, the Almighty has prohibited. He who commits any of these, should conceal with Allah's Most High Veil (i.e. should not speak about it), and should turn to Allah, the Almighty, in repentance, for if anyone who uncovers his hidden sins (to us), we shall inflict on him the punishment prescribed by Allah, the Al-Mighty." Reported by Al-Hakim. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Anyone who covers up the faults and sins of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his faults and sins in this world and in the Hereafter” [Muslim] We advise you to ask Allah for forgiveness more and more and strive to do the good deeds to be ready for the day when you will be judged before Allah, The Exalted. It was stated in a Hadith “The first two opponents on the Day of Resurrection will be two neighbors” [Ahmed and At-Tabarani].

Scholars said in explanation of this hadith: it means the first two opponents to be judged on the Day of Resurrection are two neighbors, one of them harmed the other. This emphasizes the right of the neighborhood, which the Sharee’ah urges to take care of.

Allah knows best.