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Islamic Rulings on Homosexuality
Fatwas Page 1

QUESTION:
I am a Muslim student in Australia. I have found out that a Muslim friend of mine is gay. He says he has not been with another person, but has feelings for men in terms of being attracted to them. It is difficult for him to be attracted to women. What I want to know is, how do people become homosexuals? Is it from Satan? What can my friend do to reduce the desire for men and transfer it to women? He really wants to try. Has my friend become sinful, even though he has never touched a man? How does Islam look upon my friend?

ANSWER FROM MUZAMMIL SIDDIQI

It is a perversion to consider every attraction of males to males or females to females as homosexuality. People are naturally attracted to each other and there is nothing wrong.There is nothing wrong when women touch each other and feel close to each other. Similarly there is nothing wrong if males and females that are Mahram to each other, such as mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, uncles and nieces etc. touch each other. These are natural relations and are acceptable in Islam. However, these touches should be those of love and not lust (shahwah), they should be to show affection, not sexuality. In perverse atmosphere even these pure and good relations are endangered. But Islam wants to promote these intimacies and wants to keep them pure and clean.

Any one, who has illicit sexual desire, whether towards males or females, should control it and curb it. One should seek Allah's protection and pray to him to keep him/her pure. Should remain in Wudu always, should wear loose and long clothes and keep his/her eyes down.

According to Islam, any sexual expression, which is beyond what is permissible by Allah, is forbidden and is a sin. The evil desires of course should be avoided, but according to Islam, the evil desire itself is not a sin, unless it leads to evil action. If a person has an evil desire and he/she controls it, he/she will find a great reward and blessings from Allah.

QUESTION:
Please, could you tell me the ruling on homesexuality: sodomy and lesbianism. And if it is Haram, what is the punishment for it in Islam?

ANSWER FROM DR. YUSUF AL-QARADAWI

We must be aware that in regulating the sexual drive Islam has prohibited not only illicit sexual relations and all ways, which lead to them, but also the sexual deviation known as homosexuality. This perverted act is a reversal of the natural order, a corruption of man's sexuality, and a crime against the rights of females. [The same applies equally in the case of female homosexuality. (Trans.)]

The spread of this depraved practice in a society disrupts its natural life pattern and makes those who practice it slaves to their lusts, depriving them of decent taste, decent morals, and a decent manner of living. The story of the people of the Prophet Lut (Lot) as narrated in the Qur'an should be sufficient for us. Lut's people were addicted to this shameless depravity, abandoning natural, pure, lawful relations with women in the pursuit of this unnatural, foul and illicit practice. That is why their Prophet Lut (peace be on him), told them, "What! Of all creatures, do you approach males and leave the spouses whom your Lord has created for you? Indeed, you are people transgressing (all limits)!" (26:165-166)

The strangest expression of these peoples' perversity of nature, lack of guidance, depravity of morals, and aberration of taste was their attitude toward the guests of the prophet Lut (peace be on him) who were angels of punishment in human form sent by Allah to try these people and to expose their perversity. The Qur'an narrates the story thus: And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and did not know how to protect them. He said, 'This is a day of distress.' And his people, who had long since been practicing abominations, came rushing toward him. He said, 'O my people, here are my daughters. They are purer for you, so fear Allah and do not disgrace me in front of my guests. Is there not a single upright man among you?' They said, 'Thou knowest well that we have no right to thy daughters, and certainly thou knowest what we want.' He said, 'If only I had strength to resist you or had some powerful support!' Said (the angels) 'O Lut, truly, we are messengers of thy Lord; they shall not reach thee....' (11:77-81)

The jurists of Islam have held differing opinions concerning the punishment for this abominable practice. Should it be the same as the punishment for fornication, or should both the active and passive participants be put to death? While such punishments may seem cruel, they have been suggested to maintain the purity of the Islamic society and to keep it clean of perverted elements.

QUESTION:
I am aware that Islam clearly states the penalty for sodomy, which is death. But I’m not very clear on exact penalty for lesbianism. Is there any Hadith or verse in the Qur'an related to the subject? 

ANSWER FROM ISLAM ONLINE FATWA COMMITTEE

We should know that in regulating the sexual drive Islam has prohibited not only illicit sexual relations and all what leads to them, but also the sexual deviation known as homosexuality. Islam considers homosexuality as a sexual deviation leading to a perverted act which goes against the natural order Allah intended for mankind. It is corruption of human being’s sexuality and a crime against the opposite sex. Therefore, the Islamic Shari`ah strictly prohibits the practice of this perverted act. In fact, the spread of this depraved practice in a society disrupts its natural life pattern and makes those who practice it slaves to their lusts, depriving them of decent taste, decent morals, and a decent manner of living. Islam teaches that homosexual acts are sinful and punishable crime.

Allah tells us in the Glorious Qur’an how He punished the people of Lot for their homosexual behavior; as they were addicted to this shameless depravity (sodomy), abandoning natural, pure, lawful relations with women in the pursuit of this unnatural, foul and illicit practice. That is why their Prophet Lut (Lot), peace be on him, told them, "What! Of all creatures, do you approach males and leave the spouses whom your Lord has created for you? Indeed, you are people transgressing (all limits)!" (Ash-Shu`araa': 165-166) The aberration of these peoples, lack of guidance, depravity of morals reached peak when they misbehaved towards the guests of Prophet Lut, peace be upon him; these guests were angels of punishment in human form sent by Allah to try these people and to expose their perversity.

The Qur'an narrates the story thus: "And when Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and did not know how to protect them. He said, 'This is a day of distress.' And his people, who had long since been practicing abominations, came rushing toward him. He said, 'O my people, here are my daughters. They are purer for you, so fear Allah and do not disgrace me in front of my guests. Is there not a single upright man among you?' They said, 'Thou knowest well that we have no right to thy daughters, and certainly thou knowest what we want.' He said, 'If only I had strength to resist you or had some powerful support!' Said (the angels) 'O Lut, truly, we are messengers of thy Lord; they shall not reach thee....'" (Hood: 77-81) From these passages we learn that Allah saved Lot and the righteous ones of his family, and rained on the rest a shower of brimstone, so they were utterly destroyed. This is mentioned in the Qur'an not only for the sake of information, but mainly to serve as a warning to anyone who dares to repeat such acts.

This ruling applies to lesbianism. Just as illicit sexual relations can occur between men, they can also occur between women. This act is called Sihaaq (lesbianism) in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). (See Al-Mufassal fi Ahkaam al-Mar’ah by Zaydaan, 5/450). As for the punishment of lesbianism, there is no specific punishment given in the Qur’an for lesbianism; however, Muslim jurists state that it is a punishable offence and that the punishment is a form of discipline for disobedience. The punishment is to be set by the Muslim ruler according to the circumstances of the crime and the one who commits it. The lesbian’s testimony is unacceptable because she is an evildoer (See Al-Mawsoo`ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, 24/253). Ibn Qudaamah, may Allah bless his soul, states: "If two women masturbate one another, then they are cursed fornicators" (See Al-Mughni 10/162). Some scholars, like Al-`Izz Ibn `Abd As-Salaam, say that a lesbian is not permitted to look at a Muslim woman, and that a Muslim woman is not permitted to uncover (take off her Hijaab) in front of a lesbian, because she is an evildoer who cannot be trusted not to describe her attitude towards others.

ISLAMIC RULING CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY
Al-Jumu'ah Magazine (Sha'ban 1416 AH)

Islam considers homosexuality as a sexual deviation leading to a perverted act which goes against the natural order Allah intended for mankind. It is a corruption of the man's sexuality and a crime against the opposite sex. Therefore, the Islamic shari'ah strictly prohibits the practice of this perverted act. This is mentioned in many places in the holy Qur'an.

The story of the people of the prophet Lut who were addicted to this practice, is the best example. Prophet Lut, alayhessalam said to his people: "Verily, you do sodomy with men, and rob the wayfarer! And practice all wickedness in your meetings," (Al-Ankabut, 29:29). And he said to them: "Of all the creatures ofthe world, will you approach males, and leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!" (Al-Shu'ara', 26:165-166) But their answer to Prophet Lut, alayhessalam, was: "Bring us the Wrath of Allah if you are telling us the Truth." (Al-Ankabut, 29:29). And so Allah gave them the punishment they deserved: "And We rained on them a rain of torment. And how evil was the rain of those who had been warned," (Al-Shu'ara', 26:173).

Just as a person who has a sexual urge should not satsfy it by committing zina, a person who has this perverted thought should not act upon it. In order to maintain the purity of the Muslim society, most Muslim scholars have ruled that the punishment for this act should be the same as for zina (i.e. one hundred whiplashes for the man who has never married, and death by stoning for the married man). Some have even ruled that it should be death for both partners, because the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: "Kill the doer and the one to whom it was done." (Related by Al-Bayhaqi).

QUESTION:
How do I persuade a homosexual person from believing that homosexuality is genetic? And what does Islam consider homosexuality is?

ANSWER FROM MUZAMMIL SIDDIQI

If a homosexual person is a Muslim, then it should be enough to tell him that this is absolutely haram. Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAAWS) have forbidden any homosexual act. Also, to say that homosexuality is genetic really has no base of evidence. Even if it is genetic, just for the sake of argument, does that mean that you should do it? Someone could say their desire to commit adultery is genetic. Does that mean that we should do it? Or even his desire to steal or tell lies? To abuse or accuse people, causing fitnah? The point is that the rules of morality are not taken from genetic research. The rules of morality are taken from Allah and His messenger (SAAWS). Whatever Allah has allowed, that is permissible. Whatever He has forbidden is haram and must be avoided. Homosexuality is an unnatural way. It destroys the family. It can also be the cause of diseases. For that reason, it is forbidden. In the Qur'an, we have, in various places, references to the people among whom Prophet Lut was sent. That community was destroyed because of the sin homosexuality.