Answer
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu Dear Sister,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Please rest assured that any human being can earn forgiveness from Allah who turns back to Him in sincere repentance for the sins they have committed. But it is very important to understand what sincere repentance looks like, and some of the conditions around it so that we do not fool ourselves into thinking we are forgiven, or worse, to fall back into that sinful behavior.
First, it is very important to understand that anything you were forced to do is not considered a sin. If it is true that you were unaware of what it means to perform zina, then it is not likely that Allah will hold you accountable for that behavior.
Allah only holds us blameworthy to the level of our understanding. If you were too young to know what was happening, or were powerless to do anything about it, then the guilt of the sin lies with the one who knows right from wrong, yet chooses to commit sin nonetheless.
The following verse from the Quran, and others like it, establish the concept that, generally speaking, what is done under force or out of necessity to preserve life, is not considered a sin:
{He has forbidden to you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God’s has been invoked; but if one is driven [to it] by necessity – neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -verily, Allah is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.} (Surah an-Nahl 16:115)
Secondly, if you are blameworthy in any of this, and only you and Allah know the facts, then it is necessary that you feel regret for what has occurred. Regret is a sign that you understand now that a past deed was wrong and you now feel bad about having been involved in it.
Thirdly, it is important to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged so that we can rectify what has happened to them because of our actions. In your case, however, it would be the elder person who should probably seek your forgiveness. If you feel a crime has been committed against you, you may want to involve authorities in your community to take legal action so that it does not happen to another young lady or child.
Fourthly, if you had any control over what happened in the past, and you were not completely a victim of another person’s actions, you must make a firm decision that you will not involve yourself in this type of behavior again.
It is easy to slip back into sin once Satan starts to whisper into our hearts that, “It wasn’t that bad”, or “Everybody does it”, or other such tricks to get you to fall back into that behavior.
Lastly, and most importantly for you, and every one of us, is to seek forgiveness from the Only One who can forgive sins, Allah:
{And those who, when they have committed sins (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allah — and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know} (Surah Aal ‘Imraan 3:135)
{And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful} (Surah an-Nisa’ 4:110)
Allah wishes to protect us from others’ misdeeds, but also form harming ourselves. Unless you are involved in legal proceedings regarding this issue, it is best not to share this with others publicly. There is no good in voluntarily harming your reputation among others “by your own hand” so to speak.
So long as you dislike this behavior for yourself and for others, then there is no good in putting yourself down in the eyes of others for no reason. Do not expose what Allah himself has kept hidden.
We must always keep ourselves focused on obedience to Allah in all aspects of life. We are obedient so that we may find success in this life and in the next life. Allah is not in need of us, nor is He weakened by our sinfulness, or empowered by our obedience.
It is only out of His Mercy that He offers Guidance and provides for all of our needs even though we sin every day. We surely have done nothing to deserve anything that He has given us, so we should at least be thankful servants, following the example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in how to put Islam into practice on a daily basis.
I hope this has been beneficial to you. May Allah forgive us for our sins and guide us all to what pleases Him. Ameen.
Salam and please keep in touch.