Q/A + Reminders

What Does Islam Say About Homosexuality?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

As Muslims, we are bound to follow and abide by the commandments of Almighty Allah whether we understand the logic and wisdom behind the laws or not. Hence, we are completely subservient to Allah. As Muslims, we vehemently guard our beliefs and protect our beliefs from any action that will compromise our (Imaan) faith and belief in Allah Ta’ala.

As Muslims, we believe that Almighty Allah has revealed a perfect and practical religion that will be applicable to us until the end of time. This perfection leaves no room for editions and reinterpretations.

Consider Verse 3 of Surah Maaidah,

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا

Translation: “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as the religion.”

It is evident from this verse that once Almighty Allah has decreed a law, we cannot decide to change or alter it simply because it suits us.

Homosexuality has been prohibited in both the Holy Quran as well as the Hadith.

Almighty Allah makes mention of the people of Lut (Alayhis Salaam),

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ. إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ

Translation: “And (We had sent) Lut when he said to his people, Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.”

As far as the Quranic narrative is concerned regarding the nation of Lut (Alayhis Salaam), the classical jurists are in unanimous agreement that the sin of the nation was homosexuality. It was not the rape of men, as is claimed by proponents of homosexuality.

As for prohibition from the hadith,

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَى رَجُلٍ، أَتَى رَجُلاً، أَوِ امْرَأَةً، فِي دُبُره

Translation: “Allah does not look at a man who enters (has sex with) a man or a woman in the behind.”

No amount of reinterpretation can escape the apparent and intended meaning of the above hadith. To deny the prohibition of homosexuality is to deny the Quran and Hadith. Evidently, that is extremely detrimental to ones faith.

Why is homosexuality prohibited?

To understand this, one must first acknowledge that Almighty Allah has laid down a Deen for us to practice upon. None can question Him with regards to the ‘why’. It is also imperative to understand that many laws of the Shari’ah cannot be understood. For example, why do we have to specifically pray five times a day? Why have men been prohibited from wearing silk? In the same vein, why is homosexuality prohibited?