ISLAM AND HOMOSEXUALITY

Negative comments about homosexuality
by Muslim groups and individuals

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Comments by Mukhtar K. Ahmed Al-Mesalati:

Mukhtar K. Ahmed Al-Mesalati is the author of a book titled: "Introducing the QUR'AN: The book of ALLAH." In it, the author attempts to show that the Qur'an is scientifically valid, that Islam is a religion of peace; that it teaches tolerance; and that it is the only valid religion in the world. He also attempts to clear up many of the misconceptions about Islam that are widespread in the West.

The author discusses three passages from the Qur'an which touch on same-sex sexual behavior. He concludes:

"Sodomy is one of the most gruesome and detested crimes, the punishment for do so is also one of the harshest penalties, it is the capital punishment....The punishment is obviously hard, but the crime is of a harder effect on the society if the culprits are let go unpunished. They should not be allowed to live in society, for the epidemic they could spread is overwhelming. Imagine a society with a bunch of sodomites living in it. It will be a society without chastity, morality of virtue, because these values will be executed and killed. Certainly, executing these sick and dangerous sodomites is much better and safer for the society than executing morality, chastity and virtue."

"Some people claim that a sodomite is genetic, but this is wrong. A sodomite is an evil habit, like alcohol. It can start as a trail and experiment and then turn into addiction and disease." ₁

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Statement by the Islamic Society of North America:

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has written:

"Homosexuality is a moral disorder. It is a moral disease, a sin and corruption... No person is born homosexual, just like no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education."

"There are many reasons why it is forbidden in Islam. Homosexuality is dangerous for the health of the individuals and for the society. It is a main cause of one of the most harmful and fatal diseases. It is disgraceful for both men and women. It degrades a person. Islam teaches that men should be men and women should be women. Homosexuality deprives a man of his manhood and a woman of her womanhood. It is the most un-natural way of life. Homosexuality leads to the destruction of family life."

This statement has since disappeared from the ISNA web site.

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Beliefs of Investigating Islam:

In their essay "What is Islam's view of homosexuality?" this web site expresses views which are very similar to those held by conservative Christians:

	Homosexuality is considered sinful within Islam.
	Homosexuality is a profound mistake.
	Humans are all naturally heterosexual.
	Homosexuality is caused by environmental factors, particularly near the time of puberty.
	People can control their thoughts and steer themselves away from homosexuality.
	Homosexuality is a chosen sexual orientation.
	Any homosexual can become a heterosexual. ₂

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British Muslim group Al-Muhajiroun

According to www.RainbowNetwork.com, the British Muslim group Al-Muhajiroun issued a fatwa (religious decree) on 2001-JUL-16 against a Muslim homosexual rights group Al-Fatiha. The alleged fatwa said:

"The very existence of Al-Fatiha is illegitimate and the members of this organisation are apostates. Never will such an organisation be tolerated in Islam and never will the disease that it calls for be affiliated with a true Islamic society or individual. The Islamic ruling for such acts is death. It is a duty of the Muslims to prevent such evil conceptions being voiced in the public or private arena."

A spokesperson for Al-Fatiha said:

"Al-Fatiha has concluded that the statement from Al-Muhajiroun is only an alleged fatwa. We believe that it was only sent to press in the United Kingdom in reaction to the Al-Fatiha conference that was held in San Francisco, and Al-Fatiha�s participation in the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. But whether it is an official fatwa or not, the rhetoric used in the statement was extreme, and cause for concern." ₃

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Canadian Muslim group - Ahmadi Muslim Jama'at'

Ahmadi Muslim Jama'at' was a Canadian Muslim group. They published an essay "Homosexuality & Islam" which views homosexual behavior as a symptom of the decadence of society. "As this process continues, people find and invent even more bizarre and perverted means to satisfy natural urges, and trends like child and adult pornography, bisexuality, homosexuality and bestiality appear." They make a number of points:

"....either the sexual license will cure itself through its own excesses (as it is doing now in the shape of numerous venereal diseases) or the wrath of God will fall in shape of multitudes of Sodoms, Gomorrahs and Ubars."

Homosexuality has been considered deviant behavior throughout human history.

Homosexuals have redefined sexual abuse of children as "natural and acceptable."

Homosexuality cannot be caused by genes because:

	there are essentially no gays and lesbians in Russia, China and many other countries
	if there is a "gay gene" it would cause homosexuality to die out quickly because homosexuals typically do not have children.

Homosexuality "is utterly contrary to every natural law of human and animal life, and counter to the morals, purposes and institutions of a procreative society." ₄

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Mission Islam:

They write:

"We as Muslims need to state unequivocally and unambiguously that homosexuality is a deviant behavior and that there is not even an iota of doubt that Islam condemns the behavior.

The most important thing for us as Muslims is that Islam is not our ethnicity, it is our religion which regulates our lives and from which we derive our values.

Even though our religion allows us latitude, more than most, to ponder and reconsider some issues, homosexuality is clearly and explicitly condemned by the Quran (7:80-83, 11:77-79), the Prophet, and his progeny.

When we have a conflict with the Quran, which is the word of God verbatim, we do not ask where the Quran went wrong but rather why are we, limited beings, in conflict with the wisdom of the absolute, God Almighty.

As Muslims we do not make up our religion, but we receive it and we obey it.

Thus stated, we need to clarify, that it does not mean that we hate the homosexual person but rather that we find the behavior abhorable. We want to help with sensitivity and care whoever has these tendencies, or practices such behavior. We can further point out the following:

God has created everything in pairs each endowed with physical and psychological characteristics to complement and complete one another. The Quran (4:1) indicates that human beings have been created from one living entity (nafs), which represents the origin of both the male and the female. The human species though has included male and female since its existence. The "mating" or "spousing" of male and female sexes is original in human nature and out of this instinctive relationship the human race develops, continues and spreads....."

"We, as Muslims, have benefit and blessings of divine guidance and wisdom. The Quran reminds us that Allah (SWT) will change the condition of the people only if they themselves put forth the effort (13:11). If the homosexuals can promote their wrong values with vigor and succeed, we have a duty and a responsibility to not only make an effort to arrest this trend, but also to invest our time, energy, and resources to promote the divine values with as much zeal." ₅

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References used in the above essay:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

Mukhtar K. Ahmed Al-Mesalati, "Introducing the QUR'AN: The Book of ALLAH," Page 230
"What is Islam's View of Homosexuality" Investigating Islam, at: http://www.islamic.org.uk/
Richard Summerbell, "Does gay-positive Christianity suggest a gay-positive orthodox Judaism and a gay-positive Islam?," at: http://www3.sympatico.ca/
Al-Fatiha ("The Opening") is at: http://www.al-fatiha.org/
"Islam and homosexuality," Mission Islam, at: http://www.missionislam.com/