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718421/02/2001

Should a doctor inform the authorities about patients who have committed fornication?

Question: 10109

Some patients come to me who have drunk alcohol or taken drugs, under the influence of which they have committed crimes such as zinaa (fornication or adultery) or sodomy. Should I inform the authorities about them or not?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

You have to give them sincere advice (naseehah), advise them
and urge them to repent. Cover their sins and do not inform the authorities
about them or expose them. Help them to obey Allaah and His Messenger,
and tell them that Allaah accepts the repentance of the one who repents.
And warn them against going back to this sin, because Allaah says (interpretation
of the meanings): 

“The believers, men and women, are Awliyaa’ (helpers, supporters,
friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al
Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do),
and forbid (people) from Al Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of
all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden)” [al-Tawbah 9:71] 

“By Al ‘Asr (the time).

Verily, man is in loss,

Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous
good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another
to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al Ma‘roof) which Allaah
has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al
Munkar) which Allaah has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience”[al-‘Asr
103:1-3]

 And the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Religion is naseehah (sincere advice)…” 

And he (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever covers a Muslim’s (sins), Allaah will cover him (his sins)
in this world and in the Hereafter.” 

Both were narrated by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh. And Allaah
is the Source of strength. 

Source

Kitaab Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 9, p. 436

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