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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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KARIM1994 (not verified) — Fri, 11/14/2008 - 12:54pm
scientists have discovered that there are 1,500 homosexual species and 10% of every specie is homosexual,animals haven't reason they act by instinct,how can animals be homosexuals If that's unnatural?were all those animals raped?overprotective mother?distant father?because of they saw homosexuality on tv?.
HOMOSEXUALITY IN ANIMALS:
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=eUxtWg3hgrU
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=7RlTAyNI8WE&feature=related
Aaron (not verified) — Sat, 09/27/2008 - 5:43pm
In response to Aslam (not verified) — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 11:08pm
"To conclude homosexuality is a dirty horrible satan crime in Islam, and is punishable by death: period"
So you would become the judge of man & not leave such things to the will of Allah, blessed be his name. Is it not a greater sin to commit murder? Or to sanction it? Do you remember the Holocaust of the Jewish people, or do you forget your brothers of Abraham? Do you not think that there but for the will of God go yourselves? Do you not see the essential teaching of Islam is the Struggle for Peace? If you believe that all homosexual people (who may be your own brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, uncles & aunties) should be put to death do not be surprised if the people of other faiths & beliefs in the world do not accept your right to rule them. Islam is being hijacked by Nazis/fascists to the detriment of Islam. Do you know anything of Dara Shikoh, son of Shah Jahan, his seminal work called the 'mingling of two oceans'? I recommend you to look at this work as a piece of interfaith dialogue & understanding. What about the great flowering of Islamic culture in the medieval period by romantic poets such as Abu Nawas? Do you not think there are many examples within Islamic history that shows Islam was in many cases more tolerant in the past towards homosexuals, in fact finding them to be an invaluable part to enriching Islamic cultures further. Do you not see that the intolerance in Islam towards other faiths & cultures in the past 300 years may have been to it's detriment. Where is the true development of culture & glory going to these days?
You commit the greatest of sins in your irresponsible fatwa against gays & lesbians. Who are you to declare such things, how dare you presume to know the will of Allah, blessed be his name.
Hafeez (not verified) — Mon, 09/15/2008 - 5:05pm
I'm a muslim. I pray 5 times a day. I fast in month of Ramadhan. I pay zakat.
Unfortunately, I'm a gay. Pls bear in mind this the way nature works for me. I've never been abused as a child. I've never been nurtured to be gay. pls understand it comes as natural as any hetero who wants the opposite sex. Pls dont blame us. I have stopped blaming the Creator.
Lets face it, Islam never condone homosexual activities (how I wish it is allowed).I see this as a test to my Iman.How bad i want to be loved by another man, I'll make sure that I just kept it for myself. I will not do anything against the shariah law. I will never commit zina with another man. May heaven the place for me, in my later life.
Ereen (not verified) — Sat, 09/13/2008 - 6:11pm
Dear Pertiwi Nusantara, or whatever your name is.
You said: "The natural things are man attracted to women and vice versa. If a women like women or a man like other man, it was absolutely unnatural. Even dog and pig knows that rule. That is why there is no male dog fuck with the same male dog or female dog with female dog. The same thing happened to pig and others animal.
So, if the animal, dog and pig, knows that natural rule and that must God's rule, why those homosex and lesbian are very difficult to accept this simple rule?"
It is obvious that you have no knowledge in animal behavior, why did you bring that up? Are you trying to ridicule yourself?
Penguin, dolphin, bonobo are often engaged in homosexual activities, check it out yourself if you do not believe me. Still thinking gays and lesbians are lower than animal?
Stu (not verified) — Wed, 09/10/2008 - 1:53pm
i know god created adam and eve not steve. but do you know how does it feels born as steve. how could you say that tequila is sweet bitter sour while you never ever taste it yet. i do have.
Komang (not verified) — Sat, 09/06/2008 - 7:30pm
ok listen!!
what i've been reading throughout this debate...and god created us to be man and wife...and god created adam and eve not adam and steve....and god created us to follow his line.....etc...until it becomes ridiculous.
for once and for all. There is no god!!not in islam ,not in christianity or in what ever religion.
We are a product of the evolution,millions and many million years ago!!
We are what we are and god has nothing to do with that.
god and religion are made up by people who couldn't give an answer to the questions they had.
since then we have to live by "the book" ;and also kill and have war by "the book" !! how human is that where does god or the book condemn all that !!
instead of pointing fingers to homosexuals it would be better to point to all the wrongdoers in various religions.
we still remember the bomb you nice heteros placed here in Bali,so think twice will ya.
live could be beautyful but it's a pity there is so much hate and little understanding amongst most of the population.
have fun and get a life
greetings from bali
Pertiwi Nusantara (not verified) — Thu, 08/28/2008 - 6:46pm
Siti Musdah Mulia must be kidding when she said homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural. The truth is God created man and women. To differentiate from animal, God give human being wisdom.
The natural things are man attracted to women and vice versa. If a women like women or a man like other man, it was absolutely unnatural. Even dog and pig knows that rule. That is why there is no male dog fuck with the same male dog or female dog with female dog. The same thing happened to pig and others animal.
So, if the animal, dog and pig, knows that natural rule and that must God's rule, why those homosex and lesbian are very difficult to accept this simple rule?
Awonk (not verified) — Thu, 08/28/2008 - 1:37pm
Ck..Ck..Ck...
John wilfred (not verified) — Sat, 08/23/2008 - 12:31pm
well it is lively forum, But facts remain facts .check
http://www.sodomylaws.org/
Indonesia is more pluralistic thought the passing of the Pornographic bill is showing dangerous signs of going backwards.
Gay is natural as we are born that way , so is lesbians, bi or tans.
the religious institutions in most country's are saying gays lesbians bi and trans are against religious teachings.
well i am against the teaching of religion.
JoAnne (not verified) — Thu, 08/21/2008 - 8:03pm
In conclusion, Islam does not recognize homosexuality. That obvious. The citation of Al Qur'an is unreliable since it was too biased, as it clearly seen just by looking at whom did the citation later explained as a member of Satu Pelangi, a local gay organization.
Trying not to judge both parties, the homosexuals should know that there are more dignified ways of getting public acceptance (ie. by Q! film festival) and stop pushing too far by citing Al Qur'an to justify their act, or worse enough, parading around on a pride day (I heard this idea from young queers from another local gay organization). If the homosexuals are blaming the country for banning them and being narrow minded, should not it be themselves who are to blame for not staying low and make themselves useful for other people?
Taking an example from Dorce. She is a transgender, everyone knows that but everyone likes her and her virtues are well known even amongst ibu-ibu pengajian, could you say people are narrow minded? She makes herself useful to other people, she helps people, she is an awesome figure even for straight people. Homosexuals, before you scream for a recognition and pride, could you spare a little of your time to do a good deed? Being a gay is hard, but being a human is harder.
As for the straights, try not to judge the homosexuals, please. Being a straight does not mean you will automatically saved from the hell. What difference does it make if a straight commits adultery, steal, and whatever God-forbid things? You are no better than the homosexuals. Why can not you mind your own business and stop yelling at homosexuals how God condemns them, acting as if you are way better than they are. You have no right to decide whom to go to heaven and whom to go to hell.