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Letter: Do we read the same Koran?
Fri, 04/04/2008 1:17 AM | Reader's Forum
I also want to comment on The Jakarta Post's headline published on March 28, "Islam 'Recognizes Homosexuality'", and the criticism by Marah Sakti Siregar.
According to Musdah Mulia, homosexuality comes from God and should be considered natural, and so, it is also natural for them to fall in love and get married.
Does Islam have any rules about homosexual marriage? I have never read about it in the Koran or the Hadiths of the Prophet. Then is this marriage legal?
How about their natural needs of having sex? We know anal sex is strictly prohibited in Islam (in the Koran: Al-Araf 80-81, Al-Mukminun 5-7; in the Hadiths: At-Tirmidzi no. 1166 ar-Radha' book, Ibnu Hibban no. 1302, Shahiih at-Tirmidzi no. 930 and Al-Misykah no. 3195).
We also know Allah condemned Luth's people, who were fond of sodomy (Koran: Hud 82-83).
Do we read the same Koran? Or did the Post not accommodate everyone in the discussion? I'm afraid it could mislead people who don't fully understand Islam.
VISKA WIBOWO
Depok, West Java
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Abdullah (not verified) — Sun, 04/13/2008 - 9:47pm
Everything is from Allah as stated in the Al-Quran. Homosexuality is from Allah, even iblis is from Allah. Just because it is from Allah, it does not mean that it can be adopted by mankind as "natural" when God has made it very clear it is forbidden. But why does Allah provides everything but then forbids some? Why does Allah create iblis and kafirs and then warn mankind not to embrace, succumb and follow their ways? Again Allah made it very clear in the Al-Quran that those are subjects of test for mankind. But how can the non-Muslim understand that? Lakum dinukum, waliyadin.
Anita (Bandung) (not verified) — Mon, 04/07/2008 - 11:44am
Just trust that Allah always gives the best for its creations.
The Reader (not verified) — Sat, 04/05/2008 - 6:58am
Who decides who does and who does not fully understand Islam? Who decides what is and is not a correct or incorrect interpretation of Islam- the MUI, JIL or the Taliban?? Surely they cannot all be right?? Or is it Viska Wibowo, Gus Dur or Osama Bin Laden who have the answers?? These 3 people all seem to think they do! What exactly is required to fully understand it? In Indonesia,one minute the Bali Bombers are denounced as having nothing to do with the 'real' Islam, and then they are having lunch with the authorities because they are their Muslim brothers!! Amrozi cs were convinced, and still are, that they were defending Islam, according to their understanding, which is obviously very real to them. The Wahid Institute tells us Islam is plural, tolerant and inclusive. Tolerant and inclusive of who, and what? Some say the Al-Qu'ran cannot be translated from the original Arabic, so can only native speakers of Arabic fully understand Islam? What is the 'real' Islam: Muslims and non-muslims are constantly telling each other they have no idea what this is, if they happen to disagree on something...so, Viska Wibowo, what is the real Islam, who fully understands it, and how do you know? Why is one person's interpretation or understanding 'better' or more 'correct' than anothers??