Same Sex Marriages and LGBT+ in light of the Holy Qur’an.

“O humanity, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing, Well Acquainted.” (Qur’an 49:13)

“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse, Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.” (Qur’an 17:32)

Allah (swt) reminded us of the promise of Satan where he said:
“And I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah.” (Qur’an 4:119)

﷽

All of human existence that is observable and known has come through the pairing of a male with a female. Every single person in existence today who claims to be a part of LBGT+ are the result of hetro-sexual reproduction. 

“So set thy face to the way of life that is upright and in harmony with nature, the pattern which He originated mankind. There is no changing Allah’s creation. That is the upright way of life; but most men know it not (Qur’an 30:30)

The exceptions to this have come through supra-natural means.  Adam being the first of the creation was created without a mother and a father.

Eve being created without a female.   Christ Jesus being created without a father.

This entry is to address rather or not the Qur’an (the foundation of Islam) allows for or makes room for same sex marriage.    I will also like wise be addressing the issue of LGBT in particular transsexuals and people who inject hormones and have physical operations to change their gender.

First I would like to share a personal story of a friend of mine (whom will remain anonymous). This friend of mine I would see attend the Friday prayer on a regular basis.  At that time we actually were not friends; however as Muslims we are brothers in faith.

He approached me and asked me about the work (giving guided tours to tourist) at the Masjid.  We became good friends and went out for lunch.  I think he understood that from his mannerism that I knew he was homosexual or “gay”.    So he confided in me and I told him that I knew that he had those inclinations.

So he asked me, “So what do you think where am I going when I die?”  I told him, “My brother and my friend, if you were to reach your hand in my pocket you will not find a ticket with my name on it that says seat number 7 aisle 10 guaranteed paradise.  If that is the case for myself who am I to say about you or anyone else.  You should know that to act upon your desire is sinful in the same way that if an unmarried man or woman acted upon their desire it is a sin.”

Al hamdulilah this brother goes to the masjid, I’ve never known him to intentionally miss prayers.  I’ve known that he does his best to support his mother and sister in Malaysia. He has compassion and love for others in his heart.  Allah (swt), the All-Wise, the Just, and the Compassionate is his judge not me.

So I think the first thing to do is look at the following verse of the Qur’an again.

So set thy face to the religion, that is upright and in harmony with nature, the pattern which He originated mankind. There is no changing Allah’s creation. That is the upright religion; but most men know it not (Qur’an 30:29)

As Islam is a world view and a way of life that is in harmony and balance with nature the first question should be.  Does Allah (swt) disallow or absolutely abhor the idea of any species changing its sex?

The answer to that would be an emphatic No!  The proof of that is that the majority of snails are hermaphrodites -that is they carry both sexual organs and only need one other snail to procreate their species.

The purpose of this in nature is to allow proliferation of their species.

*Note* Snails do not go under any physical operating procedures this is their fitra.

There are also species of fish that will change from male into female and female into male.  I myself used to keep a reef tank and learned quite a bit about corals, inverts and the various fish species that I desired to keep and learn about.

One such gorgeous species is the Anthias.

“Harem groups usually consist of several females, their young (both male and female), and a single dominant male. Parrotfishes, wrasses, anemonefishes, and anthias form harem groups, but harems are not unique to reef fishes. Elephant seals, common pheasants, and several species of baboons also use this reproductive strategy. The single dominant male defends his group of females, and he may reproduce with one or several of his choosing. The advantages are for the females to reproduce with the strongest male and for the male to produce many offspring. The single largest disadvantage is that reproductive success
for the females may be seriously jeopardized in the absence of the male. It is such a disadvantage that most families of reef fishes that practice this form of social behavior have evolved an interesting solution to the lack of a reproductive partner; the largest female will turn into a male and assume harem control and reproductive responsibilities. This reproductive strategy, whereby an individual begins life as one sex and switches to the opposite sex at some point in their life, is called sequential hermaphroditism. In the case of females turning into males, it is called protandrous hermaphroditism, or protandry.” see link: https://coraltriangleadventures.com/sex-changing-anthias/

The purpose of this in nature is to allow proliferation of their species.

*Note* Anthias do not go under any physical operating procedures this is their fitra.

Another example is the Ocellaris ‘Clown Fish‘.  I witnessed this first hand.  I had two small male clown-fish and over time one of them became larger than the other and this one actually became a female.

“Clownfish are all born males and the dominant male of a group will turn female when the female of that group dies.”

“Clownfish, also known as anemonefish, are sequential hermaphrodites that first develop into males. In fact, they live in regimented schools made up of all males and just one female- the lone female being the dominant and generally the largest fish in a given group.  The second in command of the school is usually the largest, and most aggressive, male of the group. Due to his dominance of the other males, he’ll tend to ensure they stay small via taking the best food opportunities for himself and the like.  Besides the perks of more food, he’s also the only one that gets to breed with the female.”   see link: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/08/clownfish-are-all-born-male-a-dominant-male-will-turn-female-when-the-current-female-of-the-group-dies/

The purpose of this in nature is to allow proliferation of their species.

*Note* Clownfish do not go under any physical operating procedures this is their fitra.

These three examples will suffice.  It should be noted in all these examples there are no physical operations or physical procedures being done to these species.  These are all built in mechanisms.  These are all done with the purpose and drive to proliferate their species.  All of this is permitted and allowed by Allah (swt).  Allah (swt) deemed it an appropriate mechanism for their proliferation and survival of their species.

However, Allah (swt) has not allow this for humans.  This is not the strategy that Allah (swt) has devised for human proliferation.

There has never been a recorded case in human history of a situation where a male or female human being has  undergone or experienced Sequential hermaphroditism . Even in all male prisons or all female prisons or in other cases where males /females have been more numerous than the other.

We should also be aware that just as there are genetic disorders in animals (a subject that is still vastly under researched) there are also genetic disorders among humans.  There is also a whole field of science called abnormal psychology, among them is Gender dysphoria:   This is a branch of science that ‘studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder.‘

In conclusion transgender marriage, or even changing one’s sexuality through outside physical operations is something that goes against the natural disorder and is against the firtra as prescribed by Allah (swt).

What about same sex marriage between gays and lesbians? 

Before I get into the Qur’an on this issue I would also like to take the time to post a video that highly recommend from Professor Richard Dawkins.  Professor Richard Dawkins is a well known evolutionary biologist who is no friend to religion.

Watch in the first video how Professor Richard Dawkins struggles to make the case for the ‘gay gene‘.

“The gay gene was passed on in the bodies of the children that were being protected by the gay uncles.” -Professor Richard Dawkins

It is highly astonishing that someone of Oxford education could even make a statement like this.
It begs the question where did the ‘gay uncle‘ come from? How was the ‘gay gene‘ passed on in the bodies of the children?
That could only come from ‘bi sexual’ uncles not from purely homosexual men.

He then proceeds to his “Sneaky Fu*&er Theory“.

Listen carefully to what he says:

“Which is the idea that uh the males who possess the gay gene many of them may not have been wholly homosexual, they maybe bisexual. In that case go back to our scenario of the dominant males going off hunting and leaving behind the women and children in the charge of other males uh and if there were other males who were known to be homosexual than the dominant uh than the dominant males would have trusted them uh not to mate with the females.” -Professor Richard Dawkins

“Being gay would have been a pretty good certificate that you can safely leave your women with me.” “If they were bisexual that would have been the first assumption we now have a way in which the gay gene would have been passed on.” -Professor Richard Dawkins

Once again this is not addressing the ‘gay gene‘ at all. He’s still on the topic of men who have sexual predilection towards females and males. There is no ‘gay gene’ being passed on. What we do have  here are opportunistic men sleeping with women and children when their fathers/husbands were away hunting.

Notice that the homosexual man  (whom Professor Dawkins was actually throwing him a life vest) actually discarded Professor Dawkins theory altogether! He said from experience:

HE says:

“I don’t know that but it seems to be that allot more women that are bisexual. I can’t think of really too many guys that they start out as bisexual and they usually come out as gay latter. Now there are men who are bisexual. I just think it’s a smaller percentage than people might think just from my experience having met in being in the gay community, running organizations or meeting thousands of people over the years I can’t think of too many people that hop back and forth.” -From the interview

Also notice the facial expression as the man begins to realize that Professor Dawkins hasn’t made a case for the ‘gay gene’ at all. At best he made a case for the ‘bisexual gene’.

I think that Professor Richard Dawkins with all his intelligence also like many of us don’t like being rebuffed.
You can see this in his third response and which he actually says “there really is no such thing as the gay gene.”

In the third attempt Professor Richard Dawkins gives his weakest example yet but suggesting that this ‘gay gene‘ manifest differently in different environments. He almost seemed to suggest that the homosexual in his scenario manifest in a world where we move away from breast feeding to bottle feeding.

The suggestion here is that at a very young age we moved away from the natural breast feeding to sucking on bottles-this carries heavy innuendo for those able to read between the lines.  Finally, Professor Richard Dawkins submits  “There really is no such thing as the gay gene.”  This may not go over very well with many in the LGBT+ community because what Professor Dawkins is saying is that it environmental conditions or triggers or learned behaviorism cause this to be expressed.

I think at this point the wise thing for Muslims who are trained in biology , Darwinian & Lamarkian evolution and so forth, is to be courageous enough to put forth the question:

“What is the Darwinian reason for possessing non beneficial traits for reproduction and survival ?”

For example why are people born with  Achondroplasia or ‘dwarfism’. What about people who are born with poor eye site?  What about people who are born with genes that cause Down Syndrome, Hemophilia, Muscular Dystrophy, Sickle Cell Anemia.

In what way does evolution favor such things?

“And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when under any condition say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”  (Qur’an 2:155-156)

In other words why can’t it be possible that being ‘gay’ or being ‘lesbian’ is a either a genetic or psychological disorder.   My understanding is that science is to be neutral and free of our societal pressure; as well as our own presuppositions.

Now what does the Qur’an say about same sex marriage? 

“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse, Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.” (Qur’an 17:32)

So two things to note here:

1. We are obviously not to do unlawful sexual intercourse.
2.  We are not to even approach unlawful sexual intercourse.

The first one is very obvious.  The second however has been governed by a whole set of ethos guided by the respective culture that one lives in.  So not only is the act of unlawful sexual intercourse forbidden but any and all acts that lead up to it as well.

This is something that doesn’t have to be spelled out in minutia.  Human beings are intelligent and that is why in Islam we are judged by the intentions behind every single action.

However, you can see guidance given by the Qur’an on this matter again:

“Tell the believing men to reduce some of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce some of their vision and guard their private parts.” (Qur’an 24:30-31)

This is a clear command not to look upon with lust those whom we are not married to, cannot marry or have no intention of marrying. What is interesting is that men are told to reduce some of their vision but it is not said exclusively in reference to women and women are told to reduce some of their vision and it is not said exclusively as a reference to men.

It is said as a general injunction and gives a strong indicator when the Almighty tells us ‘do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse‘.

I feel it is worth mentioning here the following statement attributed to Christ Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew.

 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)

So what is unlawful sexual intercourse as defined by the Qur’an?

“And do not marry those women whom your fathers married, except what has already occurred. Indeed, it was an immorality and vile, indeed it was evil as a way. Prohibited to you for marriage are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father’s sisters, your mother’s sisters, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your milk mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing, your wives’ mothers and  your step-daughters under your guardianship of your wives, unto whom  you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you. And also prohibited are the wives of your sons who are from  your own loins, and that you take in marriage two sisters simultaneously, except for what has already occurred. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.” (Holy Qur’an 4:22-23)

You cannot marry women your fathers married.

You cannot marry your mothers

You cannot marry your daughters

You cannot marry your sisters

You cannot marry your Aunts from either your mother or father’s side.

You cannot marry your nieces.

You cannot marry milk nurses who nursed you.

You cannot marry your maternal grandmother.

You cannot marry step-daughters that come under your ward from women who were previously married, widowed etc…

You cannot marry the wives of your sons.

You cannot marry sisters. You have to marry one or the other.

Comments:  One cannot fail to notice that the address is to men to what type of women that they cannot marry.   Although no mention in the Qur’an at all about who the women can marry in this text by inference or istidlal  one can deduce that the reverse applies to women as well.

Examples: 

You cannot marry brothers, (because women have only one husband).

You cannot marry the husband of your daughter.

You cannot marry step-sons that come under your ward from men who were previously married, widowed.

You cannot marry your nephews.

You cannot marry uncles from either your mother/father side.

You cannot marry your maternal grandfather.

You cannot marry your brothers.

You cannot marry your sons.

You cannot marry your fathers.

You cannot marry men your mothers married.

Comments: Likewise as the text did not explicitly mention not marrying one’s paternal grandmother or one’s paternal grandfather.  However, through istidlal or inference we can deduce that it is similarly forbidden.

The above text is also not explicitly forbidding the following types of marriage.

1. The text above is not forbidding same sex marriage. I am not saying same sex marriage is not forbidden I am simply saying the above text does not address it.
2. The above text does not address the issue of bestiality or humans who have a desire or inclination towards performing sexual acts towards animals.
3. The above text does not address necrophilia-the desire or inclination to perform sexual acts with the dead or dead bodies.

“And We had sent Lot when he said to his people, ‘Do you approach such sexual immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men with desire, along with and other than women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.” (Qur’an 7:80-81)

The Arabic word ‘duni’ means that they had desire for both men and women as well as simply just men. This means both bisexual and homosexual desire.

Also note ‘latatuna’ -approach.

Now notice what this text is and is not saying.  This text is addressing people who were ‘caught in the act‘. There is no mention of anyone penetrating anyone.   In fact it is much stronger than this. The text is giving strong condemnation of both bisexual and homosexual men who even approaching men with the desire and passion to be with them.

Even in classical Shafi’i books of jurisprudence it is disliked for a man to return or initiate a greeting of ‘as salamu ‘alikum’ to a boy youth who  was considered to have effeminate characteristics or voice. This was done to avoid any passions being stirred.

“And mention Lot, when he said to his people, ‘Do you approach sexual immorality while you are seeing? Do you indeed approach men with desire other than/along with that of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly.” (Qur’an 27:54-55)

Comments: Again notice the Arabic words: Do you approach (atatuna) and latatuna (approach). duni (instead of/along with) addressing bisexual men and homosexual men. It is very important to keep this in mind because if you are not allowed to approach men with sexual passion than it stands to reason you are not allowed to engage in sexual acts with other men and by that would mean to marry them.

Marriage in Islam serves three very basic objectives.

1. To have sex legally in a way that is blessed by the Creator. 
2. To procreate the species.
3. To have a family unit that supports one another and shapes the next generation of human beings.

This does not mean that marriage cannot encompass companionship, and objectives other than sex and procreation or having a family. 

As two men cannot have sex that is recognized as sacred in Islamic law, nor has any two men in the history of humanity ever produced another human being they do not meet the basic objectives for a marriage.

What is also important as mentioned before is atatuna and latatuna to approach.

The reason this is important is often times critics will focus on the act of ‘penetration’ for men and the reason why that is, because there is no penetration where women are/is concerned there is no harm done. Yet, we can see that the two text above mention simply approaching men with the intention and desire of lust for them.

As mentioned above when giving the categorizes of women that men cannot marry it was also understood that similar categories were applied to men that women cannot marry.

Likewise as men are not to approach sexual immorality with men it is understood that women are not to approach sexual immorality with women. This is through the principle of istidlal.  Likewise in any case same sex marriage among women would not be able to meet both of the basic objectives of marriage.

1. To have sex legally
2. To procreate the species.
3. To have a family unit that supports one another and shapes the next generation of human beings.

Punishment for Homosexuality in The Qur’an?  

As can be seen in the cases of the Prophet Lut (upon him peace), in both cases Allah (swt) is fully capable to meet out punishment.

The punishment for any type of sexual immorality is mentioned here:

“The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.” (Qur’an 24:2)

There is no death penalty for homosexual acts in the Qur’an meted out by human beings.  If four witnesses are produced and a man was found with a man or a woman with a woman or a man and woman who are unmarried than the above prescribed punishment would be meted out.  

*Note* The Qur’an does not condemn men living together with men, or women living together with women.  What it does condemn is sexual immorality.  What people do in the privacy of their own homes is between them and their Rabb. 

Holding hands of the same sex.

It should be noted here that men who desire men and women who desire women are allowed to hold hands.  This is because the punitive measures of of Islam are only meted out on the apparent and the obvious. Where as men and women who desire/ or do not desire each other of the opposite sex are to avoid unnecessary physical contact altogether; unless they are mahram 

This is a cultural practice that you find common throughout India, the Arab lands, and European nations influenced by Latin culture.   Men and men holding hands is not something the Germanic and Nordic cultures in general embrace.

Other thoughts on the subject. 

Possible wisdom/hikma in all of this? 

Again keep in mind this is my (the author of Prima-Quran) personal thoughts. They are based upon reason -which often can be flawed.  It is possible that as a counter measure to over population Allah (swt) in his wisdom allowed people to be born with such inclinations as a counter measure to over population.  This is so the homosexual will not reproduce and thus prevent the species from being overpopulated.

It could be reasoned that without this trait heterosexuals alone could put an enormous strain on the ecosystem, leading to species wide extension.   Thus, species that are able to curb their reproduction to manageable levels are better able to survive.

What about the alleged injustice of this? 

A person with gay/lesbian inclinations may argue. It is not fair. Heterosexuals are allowed or given an outlet to express their sexuality and we are not.

First of all there are as mentioned above people who are born into this world with all of kinds of physical and psychological challenges.  There are mothers who die in childbirth and children who are born with leukemia.

There are heterosexual people who cannot get married because of their financial challenges, or other restrictions imposed on them by parents, culture and society.

There are heterosexual people who are divorcees or advanced in years -often society is not kind to them.

There are heterosexuals who get married and do not feel sexual gratification from their respective partners.

Likewise being homosexual doesn’t guarantee one a partner or sexual gratification either. There are very many people in the homosexual LGBT+ community, lonely, depressed.  Like heterosexuals they face the same stigma of being divorced, aged, and so forth.

As regards as to what is just and what is not just Allah (swt) reminds us in the revelation.

“He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.” (Holy Quran 21:23)

So ultimately it is about filling out lives with those things which are meaningful , fruitful and give us joy and bring joy to others with in the parameters of Allah’s guidance.

It should also be remembered that the following promise is also true of all believers (even those believers who have inclination towards the same sex).

So who ever you are where ever you are right now I would advise you to take solace in knowing that that beings of light, holy angels are praying for your protection and your salvation by Allah’s permission.

“Those who bear the power and those around Him celebrate the praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask protection for those who believe: Our Lord!  You embrace all things in mercy and knowledge, therefore grant protection to those who turn (to You) and follow Your way, and save them from the punishment of the hell: (Qur’an 40:7)

What should be the attitude of Heterosexual Muslims towards Homosexuals (both Muslim and Non Muslim). 

First keep in mind the following verses:

If Allah were to punish men according to what they deserve, He would not leave on the back of the (earth) a single living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated Term: when their Term expires, verily Allah has in His sight all His Servants. ( Qur’an 35:45)

So this verse includes both heterosexual and homosexual.   When it rains outside it rains on all of us.  We should always have mercy and compassion towards all human beings.  We should call each other towards piety and patience. We should ourselves strive to be patient and upright.

As one shaykh said, “Do not look down upon people because their sins are different than yours.”  In other words we are all struggling.  The highest struggle of them all is jihad an nafs (struggling with the inner-self and one’s desires).

Perhaps we as Muslims also push people to sin because of our attitude towards them.  Perhaps if more people in our community were not stigmatized for having various psychological disorders like bipolar, depression, or even certain sexual inclinations (homosexuality). These people would likely be more fruitful productive members of the Muslim community, as well as living more wholesome lives in general if their wasn’t always condemnation waiting at the door.

People, human beings have a desire to belong and be a part of something bigger then themselves.

So I feel as Muslims and as a community we need to make it abundantly clear. We do not embrace same sex marriages. We do not embrace the LGBT + agenda.  Marriage in Islam was, is and always will be between a man and a woman.  Those in our communities who force this upon us should be debated and repudiated with the utmost of intellectual  vigor.

What about men and women with same sex inclination should they be forced or pressured to marry the opposite sex? 

The answer to that is absolutely not! This is part of the problem as mentioned above.  You have people in the Indo-Pak, Arab, Malay, Turkish and other Muslim communities who think the solution is to get their homosexual son or daughter married off! That is the worse possible thing they can do.

They are now forcing that person towards an inclination that they do not feel. Not only this but it is totally unfair to the man/woman they are being married off to.  Because believe you and me when I tell you you are dooming such marriages to  failure. You will have a partner who spiritually will be crushed and depressed and the other who will never feel sexual gratification because their partner is simply ‘not into it’.

First off as a parent you should actually say, ‘Al hamdulillah’. Why?  Al hamdulillah that you have done such an amazing job as a parent that your son /daughter have felt comforted and confident enough to confide in you their inclination and their immense struggle with opposite sex partnership.   Than you should encourage your son/daughter to be the best Muslim that they can be, enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong.  To be healthy, happy, productive members of both the Muslim community and the larger communities to which the may belong.

Allah (swt) knows best and the help of Allah (swt) is always sought.

“And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when under any condition say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” (Qur’an 2:155-156)

May Allah (swt) guide those who are struggling with the whispers of the Shaitan. May they find the strength to turn away from that which is neither blessed nor honoured nor accepted in Islam.

May Allah forgive the Ummah.

May Allah guide the Ummah.