– Nabeel Ahmad (M.Lib.Sc. AMU)
The next generations of Muslims are having questions and doubt that why Islam has severe restrictions when it comes to homosexuality or why it is haraam?
“And remember Lot (Lut) when he said to his people: “Do you commit the worst sin such as none before you have committed among creation? Indeed, you practice your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds.” (Quran 7:80-81)
Allah made men and women with distinct attributes and Muslims should not doubt, even slightly, that what Allah has prescribed is wise or not. We should know that what Allah has commanded and what he has forbidden hides great wisdom. No matter how much mankind progress and get intellectually prudent, the wisdom of Allah would always remain much ahead.
Modern philosophy is based on lewdness, hedonism, pedophilia, and many such unnatural filthy acts. No wonder people (especially the people of the west) would soon legalize them and strive to impose the same barbaric activities all over the world just like they are now normalizing Homosexuality/LGBTQ+ in the name of free will and equality.
Homosexuality is being made common since the 1970s under the false justification of it being a natural desire. Sadly, many Muslims fall prey to this myth.
In Islam, undoubtedly, there is a consensus that homosexuality is condemned and strictly prohibited. Since the prohibitions are from the almighty Lord, the Muslims should not wait for and seek medicinal proofs, and worldly logic behind it. Rather Muslims must firmly believe with certainty and confidence that what Allah has decreed is good for the people by far and wide.
“You come to the men of creation and you leave those wives whom Allah has created for you? Nay! You are a transgressing people.” (Qur’an 26: 165-166)
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) stated: “The curse of Allah is upon the one who engages in the act of the People of Lut. The curse of Allah is upon the one who engages in the act of the People of Lut. The curse of Allah is upon the one who engages in the act of the People of Lut.”
Furthermore, those who claim it to be a natural urge either are fed by the wrong theories/reports or are drowned in the ocean of modern-day liberalism. Before the 1970’s homosexuality was considered to be a mental disorder though since 1970 major medical associations in the USA the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have labeled homosexuality as an equivalent of heterosexuality by bringing forth distorted and flawed pieces of evidence. Though later researchers analyzed those chunks of evidence and explained that they are irrelevant to the core.
Unfortunately, entirely inadequate and duped reasoning has served as the explanation for scientific proof favoring the claim that homosexuality is not a mental disruption but is rather a natural form of human sexual inclination. We cannot be naive and ignore the power of such organizations to conduct advocacy science. A paper published in NCBI on “Homosexuality and scientific evidence” summarises–
“The present summary and analysis in this paper of the literature put forth as “rigorous” and “significant” empirical evidence uncovers major deficiencies—irrelevant, outdated, and absurd literature—and calls into question the credibility of the APA and the American Psychiatric Association’s discussion and identification of sexual disorders.”
Now people need to understand that there is a wide gap between having a feeling of the sinful act and actually committing that particular sin. The Islamic Shariah is worried about actions, not emotions or inclinations. It is irrelevant and doesn’t matter in Shariah that whether a desire of a person is natural or not, whether he/she is born with that disposition or not. When emotions and desires exemplify themselves in dialogues or act, only then the sins are committed and rulings are disobeyed. What is gravely sinful in homosexuality is the actual intimacy in-between two people of a similar sex. Look upon the mercy of our lord. If you strive against your desires and struggle to confront and control them and not physically commit them, then you will be rewarded for it, Insha Allah. Indeed, we are going through difficult times where morality and chastity are being eliminated and debauchery is endorsed. Not every urge needs to be fulfilled. A believer submits his will to God hence his passion must fall within the limits of Allah’s commandments.
In summary, whatever the social norms, practices, and trends prevail in the society, Islamic laws and restrictions specifically those which are certainly stated in the Quran and Hadith are final. Nonetheless, even if the whole world was to differ with this forbidding and assert that it is for individual rights and equality in the society, Muslims must remain obedient to what Allah has ordained without any uncertainty.
