1) Young Muslims - The Message

"Let no man guilty of fornication or adultery marry any but awoman similarly guilty, or an unbeliever: nor let any but such a manor an unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thingis forbidden." [Sura An Nur 24:3]Among the stories that show that it is forbidden to have girlfriendsor to marry them is the story of Marthad ibn Abi Marthad, whoused to smuggle Muslim prisoners-of-war from Makkah toMadeenah. There was a prostitute in Makkah, called 'Anaaq, whohad been a friend of Marthad's. Marthad had promised to take oneof the prisoners from Makkah to Madeenah. He said: "I came to theshade of one of the gardens of Makkah on a moonlit night, then'Anaaq came and saw my shadow by the garden. When she reachedme, she recognized me and said: 'Marthad?' I said, 'Marthad.' Shesaid: 'Welcome! Stay with us tonight.' I said, 'O 'Anaaq, Allah hasforbidden zinaa (unlawful sexual relations)' … I came to theMessenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) andasked him, 'O Messenger of Allah, should I marry 'Anaaq?' TheMessenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)remained silent and did not answer me at all, until the aayah 'Let noman guilty of adultery or fornication marry any but a womansimilarly guilty, or an Unbeliever; nor let any but such a man or anUnbeliever marry such a woman; to the Believers such a thing isforbidden' [Sura An Nur, 24:3 - Yusuf 'Ali's translation] was revealed.Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be uponhim) said: 'O Marthad, Let no man guilty of adultery or fornicationmarry any but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever; nor letany but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman, so donot marry her.'"(Reported by at-Tirmithi, 3101; he said: it is a hasan ghareebhadeeth).'Abd-Allah ibn Maghfal reported that there was a woman who hadbeen a prostitute during the days of ignorance (before Islam). Aman passed by her, or she passed by him, and he touched her. Shesaid: "Stop it! (Mah! A word connoting a rebuke or denunciation).Young Muslims, What they should know about Islam Page - 174