Bisexuality And The Family System

There is a young American female doctor who has read about Islam and is interested in becoming a Muslim. She is homosexual. Her homosexuality is congenital (by birth). She did not acquire it as a fashion or to be different from the rest of us or to rebel against God. She wishes she was heterosexual.

As I see this situation, her natural tendency toward homosexuality is not her fault or her own choice. God made her like that. Since God made her like that why does God deprive her of a family, adopt a child, and live like anyone else with dignity and respect? This is a predicament for which, I am seeking your comments.

I am reasonably sure that Islam accommodates such people; otherwise this would be an injustice on part of God to create someone like her and expect a behavior contrary to her natural tendency.

You have stated, “The Book of God tells us that He created Eve for Adam and set the family right in the beginning“. If one man and one woman is the ONLY form of relationship acceptable to God then how it is that Islam does not restrict it to one man and ONLY one woman? Multiple wives are not only acceptable in Islam but also encouraged if a situation calls for it. If multiple wives is an exceptional case, then it follows by reason that homosexuality is also an exceptional case and should be accepted as such.

There are other such cases: a woman cannot conceive and a man is unable to reproduce. These medical conditions are congenital. In some such cases, artificial insemination or medication is used for procreation. If this alternate procedure of procreation is not adapted, then that means these people are doomed by God to live a life of celibacy and without a family.

Here are some specific questions:

1. Is homosexuality categorically prohibited in the Qur’an? If so, please identify the Ayahs.

2. Is there a punishment categorically specified in the Qur’an? If so, what it is?

3. What was the Prophet Muhammad’s attitude towards homosexuals in his days? What advice did he give to such people?

4. In the days of Hadrat Loot were people homosexual by choice or was this tendency congenital (by birth).

5. Are there any ahadith that may shed light on this issue?

6. Most importantly, what does the Qur’an or Islam teachings recommend these people do in their lives?

Thank you again for all your responses and your time.

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* This is a counter query on the discussion: The Family System

A. There is no doubt that Islam does not accept homosexuality. The main reason for this is that it is against the nature. The other reason is that it is clearly condemned in the Qur’an with very harsh words (e.g. 26:165, 166 ; 7:80,81 ; 21:74 ; 27:54).

B. I invite you to look at the above verses and the words that are used when describing the act: Fahisha (indecent outrage), Khaba’ith (evil acts). We need to appreciate a point here. The point is, it is the act itself that is primarily condemned disregard of the motivation of the people who committed the act. Whether people who have committed this act have done it out of their attitudes and thoughts and or because they were born like this does not change the fact that the act is not acceptable in Islam. It is so much unacceptable that the punishment for those who keep doing it despite the warning of the messenger of God is equal to the punishment of those who keep being Mushrik despite the warning of the messengers of God.

C. It is not correct to say that God creates a man or woman with homosexuality so God should recognise and approve their sexual desires and preferences. First, in my opinion psychological or sexual disorders are the results of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour or the unhealthy way of living of a person or his/her ancestors, community or society. Second, people are born with tendency to kill, tendency to be sex addicts, tendency to be lazy, etc. Yet this does not mean that God is recognising or has to recognise and accommodate these attitudes. It means that God is testing them with those attitudes just as he tests people who are born healthy or are born with advantages.

D. It follows from the above point that we can only see and appreciate God’s fairness if we look at the whole system of creation and not just this world (that is nothing but a place to be tested for the hereafter). A homosexual person will get much reward for his/her efforts to get rid of the disorder and to keep himself/herself from committing an act that is not allowed in Islam. This is the fairness of God.

The comparison you made with having multiple wives is not really related here. First, having multiple wives does not go directly against the nature, second, if you read the verse of the Qur’an that allows this, you will see that the primary reason for the allowance was to make sure orphans will be taken care of (4:3).

I now try to provide an answer to your specific questions:

1. Is homosexuality categorically prohibited in the Qur’an? If so, please identify the Ayahs.

Yes, please see point A above.

2. Is there a punishment categorically specified in the Qur’an? If so, what it is?

No, it is not categorically mentioned. It is up to the judge to decide about a punishment, and please note that a person who (as you said) was born with homosexual behaviour should not be considered for punishment for his tendencies.

3. What was the Prophet Muhammad’s attitude towards homosexuals in his days? What advice did he give to such people?

As far as I see, we do not have any specific Ahadith from the Prophet (pbuh) in which he would advise homosexuals. Looking at the Ahadith, it may be concluded that the Prophet (pbuh) clearly disapproved recognition of homosexuals in his society where Islam was just being promoted and established.

From Ibn ‘Abbas: The Prophet cursed effeminate men and those women who assume the manners of men, and he said, “Turn them out of your houses.” (Bukhari 7:774).

4. In the days of Hadrat Loot were people homosexual by choice or was this tendency congenital (by birth).

The above verses of the Qur’an and the fact that people of Loot are called transgressor (26:166) are evidences that it was their choice.

5. Are there any ahadits that may shed light on this issue?

Here are a few Ahadith:

– From Jaabir: “The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘There is nothing I fear for my ummah more than the deed of the people of Loot.’” (Tirmidhi, 1457; Ibn Maajah, 2563).

– From Ibn ‘Abbaas: “The Prophet (pbuh) said: “… cursed is the one who has intercourse with an animal, cursed is the one who does the action of the people of Loot.” (Ahmad, 1878).

– From Abu Hurayra: “The Apostle of Allah cursed the man who dressed like a woman and the woman who dressed like a man.” (Sunan Abu-Dawud, 32: 4087).

6. Most importantly, what does the Qur’an or Islam teachings recommend these people do in their lives?

There are no specific prescriptions for homosexuality in the Qur’an or Islam. This is not within the scope of religion. The person who has homosexual behaviour should first remind himself/herself of the fact that his/her Lord does not approve this behaviour and should therefore develop a degree of Taqwa (fearing God) to resist his/her inappropriate desires. On the other hand, the person needs to seek treatment from the experts and this should be taken very seriously.

Last point, you mentioned that why God deprived a homosexual person from adopting a child. God has never done that and there is nothing in Sharia to stop that.