Islam 'recognizes homosexuality'

Abdul Khalik ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 03/28/2008 1:38 AM  |  Headlines

Homosexuals and homosexuality are natural and created by God, thus permissible within Islam, a discussion concluded here Thursday.

Moderate Muslim scholars said there were no reasons to reject homosexuals under Islam, and that the condemnation of homosexuals and homosexuality by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings.

Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace cited the Koran's al-Hujurat (49:3) that one of the blessings for human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation.

"There is no difference between lesbians and nonlesbians. In the eyes of God, people are valued based on their piety," she told the discussion organized by nongovernmental organization Arus Pelangi.

"And talking about piety is God's prerogative to judge," she added.

"The essence of the religion (Islam) is to humanize humans, respect and dignify them."

Musdah said homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural, adding it was not pushed only by passion.

Mata Air magazine managing editor Soffa Ihsan said Islam's acknowledgement of heterogeneity should also include homosexuality.

He said Muslims needed to continue to embrace ijtihad (the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the Koran and the Sunnah) to avoid being stuck in the old paradigm without developing open-minded interpretations.

Another speaker at the discussion, Nurofiah of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said the dominant notion of heterogeneity was a social construction, leading to the banning of homosexuality by the majority.

"Like gender bias or patriarchy, heterogeneity bias is socially constructed. It would be totally different if the ruling group was homosexuals," she said.

Other speakers said the magnificence of Islam was that it could be blended and integrated into local culture.

"In fact, Indonesia's culture has accepted homosexuality. The homosexual group in Bugis-Makassar tradition called Bissu is respected and given a high position in the kingdom.

"Also, we know that in Ponorogo (East Java) there has been acknowledgement of homosexuality," Arus Pelangi head Rido Triawan said.

Condemnation of homosexuality was voiced by two conservative Muslim groups, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Hizbut Thahir Indonesia (HTI).

"It's a sin. We will not consider homosexuals an enemy, but we will make them aware that what they are doing is wrong," MUI deputy chairman Amir Syarifuddin said.

Rokhmat, of the hardline HTI, several times asked homosexual participants in attendance to repent and force themselves to gradually return to the right path.

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Junaid (not verified), UK — Sun, 10/18/2009 - 1:37pm

Where in the Qur'anic verse of 49:3 does it speak about sexual orientation? If you deceive people about what the Qur'an says you are commiting much more serious sins than simply doing the acts you are trying to justify. Therefore you have lost all credibility and given more reason to reject your arguments. @Hafeez, God be with you.

Micfreak (not verified), Kuala Lumpur — Wed, 09/02/2009 - 6:15am

This Siti Musdah Mulia is infamous of her staunch supports to US policy and cultural missions. She received awards and honors from US government, She has been campaigning cultural liberalism a la US under the name of "ijtihad", "moderation", and "Islam" itself. She is a serious threat to the ummah if the MUI and other sane moslems didn't take swift actions to enlighten the moslem in Indonesia,especially, about her deviated ideology. Check out how she interpreted a verse of surah Hujurat,..how on earth "sexual orientation" can be included?... Read more Homosexuality is a blatant defiance of God 's fate and the evidence of God's wrath would be the fate of Prophet Luth.AS 's followers. Anal sex is also disallowed in Shariah, what more a marriage of the same gender...Naudzubillah min dzalik...May Allah.Swt give hidayah to those who practice and those who condone this sin ..amen...

Rusmanto (not verified), Boyolali, Indonesia — Thu, 08/27/2009 - 1:08am

To Peter Boom. Now you have shown your theory's weakness. You never put religion as one of your theoretical consideration. To everyone. Don't get confused. We are talking about religion (Islam) recognition over homosexual and you all see that anything that came from God including religion itself, if it doesn't suit to God's character and plan is nothing but the result of human lust.

Artista (not verified), Prague — Mon, 08/10/2009 - 10:46pm

I am a straight Muslim. It does seem that Islam condemns the act of homosexuality (not homosexuals themselves - there's a big difference!), and the majority of scholars have agreed on this. That being said, I have gay friends and relatives, and I don't think of them any differently than anyone else. Only God knows what's in peoples' hearts; they might be better people than me, and better than many people we see that seem like "good Muslims." They have been given a huge test... Dasch, because you have such a hard struggle that most of us don't have, you will have a reward that most of us won't have. You will be in my du'as, and you definitely have my respect!

I love God! (not verified), california — Mon, 08/10/2009 - 4:10pm

for all of you who are against homosexualty I just want to say this. when we read the koranvor any other book we usually pick out what is bad and preach that to everyone els. But how about the part that says love yourself and others for who they are. dont judge and dont do things to others if you dont want done to yourself. so how about everyone just stop judging people even if they are gay because God knows the truth in everyones hearts. If they really chose to be gay or lesbians then God will punish and if not then let it be!im sure God is too busy worried about more important things then who falls in love with who. so stop all the fighting and judgments because at the end who knows you might be wrong. Oh and for those who think homosextules will go to hell for being with the same sex let me just say this. if someone is a good person and is doing everything in there hearts to do good and they succeed im sure that they will be going to heaven. If you hate gays then dont be gay and if your against gay marraige then dont marry someone of the same sex! its that easy!! so try and except everyone for who they are and STOP judging!! its really not that hard to love everything that god has placed on this earth. even homosexules. who knows they might end up being the best friend that you never had if only you could stop judging.

Love1 (not verified), london — Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:40pm

Salam Brothers and Sisters! I was triying to post a comment in other Islamic sites where they were talking a lot of nasty stuff "as usual" but seamed that it was not possible for some reason. Anyway I dedicate this comment for all those "muslims hypocrits" out there which might be the 98%. ah! and I believe I understand what really did happen with the people of Lut and what does this episode mean, and specialy to you the kuwaiti man I will explaine for you to open your mind a bit more, accept it and teach other ppl! in shallah! so read carefully and don't be so arrogant in not believing in what I will let you know cos I believe Al hamdullillah God sent me this knollege from the Heavens. Homosexuality is obviously not a natural thing in my opinion and is nither from God, is a Karma that man has created! but I am a lesbian and I am proud to be one. I'll let you know that if homosexuality is a disorder as scientist and doctors state now this days then that means that we are only victims and not trangressers, a disorder if you don't know is a part of someones personality which is in most cases genetically transmitted and in some cases caused. In psicological studies everyones mind has a code which is impossible to break based in someones ethics, beliefs...For example hypnotherapist study that the mind can be reprogram and a lot of bad habits could be removed but for example it wouldn't be possible to change someone from bad to good nither someone from good to bad and this is what I mean by the code based in ethics, beliefs...No one could change something from someone if someone wouldn't want to, that is why they say that someone could not be hypnotize if the person wouldn't want to be hypnotize. Everything in this world is created as a karma (as everything is spirit), like the prophet muhammad (pbuh) said that the one to be blame for people killing each other "I think" it was the third son of Adam because of him killing the first man. So the people of lut, were not only starting perhaps homosexual activity but also they were starting all sort of dirty sexual activity, (man and women I suppose all mix) and I've read also the sexual harrasment, like when it says in the Kuran "and you rub with the traveller" I suppose men use to expose their sexual activity with anyone who would come around (all this it was perhaps as a fashion like it is happening now with all this weird sexual activities) anyway so the People of Lut started the Karma of homosexuality and that is why in my opinion why God punish them, when it is said that one of the signs of the end of the world would be that the men will sleep with the men I think it means that all the karmas that man has created (killing all sort of disorders, madness...) has taken the world to damnation is just a sign meaning that the world it is to its end. The prophet said once to one of the sahabas that if someone does good and believe in just one God (and not everyone has the same faith, believing in god isn't just to say I believe in God...) even if he has commited adultery will enter the paradise, the sahaba who he told wasn't happy with what he heard.. Also from what I have understand it is that when someone has a habbit God forgives him/her. (God is compasionate, and also God forgives the one who is ill...) My advice to the muslims is that why don't you put all the messages together and try to understand. You are also creating a lot of Karmas like the karma of the hypocresy and this is a greatest sin. Seing things from the disorder point of view (disorder=karma) then punishing an homosexual will be like punishing someon who has been born without legs lets say, or punishing a mad person for being mad...We living in a material and spiritual world from what God says "I say be and it is created". I pick one message from all the sayings, koran...is that doing good is important and the faith is important and when God loves you he gives you a lot of experiences (Cos this is what really opens your mind) from there someone could develop knollege thanks to God mercy! the loving of each other is importan...One man came to the prophet muhammad (pbuh) and said to him pointing to another man that he loved that man so the prophet (pbuh) said to him if you do love him why don't you tell him so the man went and told him and the other man answered from the love (reason) that you love me I hope that God love you too (you don't know if this man was homosexual, and the prophet use to know things in advance due to angel Gabriel that use to share a lot of knollege with him) anyway how can non homosexual people understand if you do not share the knollege of being homosexual. If anyone of you have any kind of disorder and you do understand that is a part of you a part of your pesonality then please understand it and don't be narrow. In the Koran it's stated no one will grasp the message unless the Lord wants to. "From above all my rules I will forgive and punish whoever I want" . And when we pray to God we put our head in the ground and say subhanah rabbi al allah (glorious to the lord the highest) In my opinion which means that our mind is nothing in compare with God for a miserable human to take the judgement from God and God knows what we don't know. From the Koran "I will let you know what you didn't know" and remember the hypocresy is a greatest sin. Instead of creating hate and killing and harrasing people why don't we spread the love, accept, read, learn and take the religion as a matter of goodness, belief, tolerance...I you understand what I'm triying to explaine, Al hamdullillah GOD IS BIG! why the ppl of lut,! why the man who killed 99! why!, why!, why!...

Peter Boom (not verified), Italy — Sat, 08/01/2009 - 3:22am

Thank you very much "ZK from KUWAIT", what you wrote is important: "Remember Allaah and ask forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allaah" — But ... what you wrote is from the part of a good and tolerant believer of Islam to the attention of other believers of Islam and that is allright. Not everybody is a believer, I am, for example an agnosticist, thus I say simply: "I DON'T KNOW". A lifelong I observed sex and studied sexology and that brought me in conclusion to write the Theory and the Philosophy of Pansexuality. It expresses the real and also scientific Nature of human sexual behaviour. I do not think a person should be condemned for masturbation, homosexuality, etcetera, as long as he or she doesn't do any harm to other persons. You cannot go against NATURE!

ZK (not verified), Kuwait — Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:07am

Please don't attribute your thoughts to Islam. If what you say is true, why did that happen from Allah to People of Lot (Lut). Please explain. i think you can't, as you require detailed study in Islam to do that Reference: http://islammessageofpeace.blogspot.com/2009/07/stories-of-prophets-prop... “Nay, Allaah never commands Fahshaa’ (evil deeds, unlawful sexual intercourse). Do you say of Allaah what you know not?” [al-A’raaf 7:28] “And those who, when they have committed Faahishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allaah and ask forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allaah — and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:135] “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All-Aware of what they do” [al-Noor 24:30]

Rusmanto (not verified) — Tue, 06/23/2009 - 11:45am

Dear Kemal,

As long as I know, the only knowledge in which people is able to know about God is religion. If religion itself already determine which things are really created by God and which emerge during human history, we cannot use our logic to force religion stating that homosexual is created by God.
Religion is something complicated to think but is easy to live. No religion is allowing people to act freely instead it lead people return to be what they are intended to be. It is the image of God.

Kemal (not verified) — Sat, 06/20/2009 - 12:09pm

Yes, homosexuality is created by God. But using the same logic, so is earthquake, flood, tsunami, Black Death, giant meteor, leper, malaria, dengue fever, ebola, terrorist, fundamentalist and other horrors in life. Just live your life simple, will you? Why do people need God's backing everytime? Without it, so what?

Religion makes things complicated. No other aspects in human life that is so baseless and yet demand sacrifice and obedience of billions of life. If homosexuality's for you, live it and be happy about it. Just do not expect other people to have the same view. The day homosexuals force their views, that's the day new fascists are born.

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