Oops June 28, 2011
Posted by Rasheed Eldin in Media.trackback
One Rabayl Manzoor has linked to this blog in the midst of her argument for “gay rights in Pakistan“, citing it as an example of:
…practicing [sic] Muslims who have managed to reconcile their sexual orientation and faith and find no reason to focus on conflict within the two.
Well, there is some truth in that, in that the matter is very clear from an Islamic perspective: acting on homosexual desires is forbidden by our Creator, and so whether we talk about “same-sex attraction” (as we do) or “orientation”, the duty of every Muslim towards it is the same.
When it comes to “conflict” between worship and desires, between dunya and Akhirah, there really is no contest.
Another oopsie: the pro-homosexuality “scholar” (or, it seems, Manzoor herself) cited the Qur’an 49:3 when she presumably meant 49:13. As the refuted argument goes, Allah has created diversity of all types, so all diversity should be accepted. Note that the Qur’an calls our attention to diversity of the following kinds and made them signs of His power and beauty: two genders, many nations and tribes, many languages and colours, and even the fact that not everyone will follow the truth of Islam.
Did you spot sexual orientation anywhere? And if we take this argument too seriously, couldn’t any deviant tendency be gathered under the umbrella of diversity?
But then again, there is a secret to Manzoor quoting 49:3. It reads:
Indeed, those who lower their voices before the Messenger of Allah – they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for righteousness. For them is forgiveness and great reward.
If we study the meanings of this surah, we understand that these are the people who show utmost respect for the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him), submitting to the commands of God as revealed in the Qur’an and Sunnah, not pushing their own opinions and desires.
I have written much on the topic of homosexuality in Islam but this is the first time I have come across an attempt to reconcile the faith with being gay. Perhaps you can explain why a loving God should make it clear to so many of his creation that he despises them?
The pleasure and displeasure of Allah towards certain of His creatures is related to their obedience or disregard for His guidance and commandments, not according to how they were created.
As you say you have written a lot, I would hope that you have researched a lot. In that case, the naivety of your statement/question/objection is surprising – I mean no offence in saying so.
If you wish to engage in constructive dialogue with us, please read quite thoroughly and extensively and try to understand our message before commenting on it.
I think what you are saying here is that Allah despises the act of gay sex but He does not despise those who are gay and resist/deny their natural impulses. Am I right?
This is the argument put forward by all the believers in the Abrahamic religions who attempt to reconcile a supposedly merciful, loving God consigning those who wish to have a loving relationship with a member of the same sex to everlasting fiery torment.
So God creates some of us gay as a test then? It does seem a very strange kind of test – “I’ll design your libido so that you will have an overwhelming desire to have sex with other men but if you act upon those overwhelming desires I’ll burn the flesh off your back for eternity…”
And how do you explain the prophet telling us to turn out of our houses those who “act” in a gay way. This doesn’t seem to be the actions of a perfect human being whom we must all emulate
I’m afraid you are demonstrating a lack of research, both of Islam itself, and of this site, despite my request. For one thing, we don’t go along with labelling people as “gay” because of some feelings they have.
Moreover, you completely misunderstand Islamic teachings if you think that punishment for sins (short of disbelief) is “everlasting”.
As for the question (if that’s what it was), please provide evidence and we can discuss it.
Allah created two genders? Think again. People are born intersex, so that makes at least three genders, and that raises the question: who do these people get to love? Clearly the idea of one-man-one-woman does not work for these people, because they are neither fully man nor fully woman. Sure, the doctor can do a little surgery at birth (normally it’s easier to snip off the male genitalia), but that doesn’t change who they were born as.
There is what the Qur’an says (in numerous verses, e.g. 75:39, 92:3) and then there is what you say. For knowledge about Allah and His creation, any right-thinking Muslim will take the explicit word of revelation.
I don’t deny the existence of such exceptions, but even in your own explanation, you have used the term “intersex”, i.e. between two sexes. So rather than three genders, that sounds closer to another state between two genders. If people choose to define it otherwise, that will not affect the reality of creation.
Finally, such cases are indeed worthy of attention and consideration by scholars, whereas people simply feeling attraction to the same sex (while having no confusion, let alone physical aberration) regarding their gender identity, should think twice carefully making analogies with such anomalies.
Question: What is it that your looking for? In Islam? It’s clearly forbidden in Islam to do gay sex and it’s in some way people who have gay attraction are somewhat ‘disgusting’..
Okay, so let’s make it clear what you’re really saying.that having gay attraction is okay but doing it is not? Meaning the right way to do for those ‘gay’ people are for abstaining sex..? And other things I presumed: Love, etc..
Is that true? If that’s true, then, the only way for some gay man/woman to be accepted by God is to abstain them self from pleasures. These sexual pleasures.. That’s in a way transcend to any other pleasures..? Am I understanding correctly..?
Then, if I may continue, do you know that Muhammad married more than 4 woman, and one of them was a 9 year old girl. And it is okay back at the time to have sex with your right hand woman ? Or if I remember correctly, it’s okay to have sex with your slaves..? And if my history lesson is correct, it’s okay to have contractual marriages? Meaning I can marry a prostitute for just one day, have sex with her, and be done with it?
So.. it’s okay for these men to have pleasures, sexual pleasures, many of them, while “gay” men (I put the quote here because you don’t like to label them, I just simply meant it for people who have same-sex attractions)..
While gay men are not allowed to have such pleasures..?
Am I understanding correctly..
And now to put the end to this question : What kind of cult is this..?
Inada, this “cult” of a billion people is also responsible for some of the greatest achievements of civilisation, so please show a little respect while trying to learn, if that is indeed your aim.
As I think you’ve noticed, we don’t label people “gay” in such a way that being as such is inevitable and unchangeable, because change is possible in principle, and in practice varies from person to person.
The rule is that men cannot have sex with other men, nor women with women. There is no rule telling “gay men” what to do or not to do. Someone could have SSA without that negating opposite-sex attraction (e.g. what they call “bi”). Someone who was called “gay” in the past might get married today, so marriage is not ruled out: only unlawful relations.
Regarding your other points, you are partly mistaken, especially that there is no “temporary marriage” in mainstream Islam. But all that you are proving is that there are many routes of “halal”, so there is no excuse for “haram”.
i want to react to this article.
I am Julien ( Giulio974 ) French , gay and good looking.
At present, i live in ile de la Réunion, but before, I met a Pakistanese man in Karachi (what a man) and the fact that we have to hide our relationship towards his family made me sick .
So the only way to live our love as gays, is to run away and live in French island like Réunion island or in California.
So sad, but true.
And what will you do for your next lives? I don’t know if this message is genuine (as I don’t see what thinking of yourself as “good looking” has to do with anything) but what’s sad is if someone would know the truth of Islam but give precedence to his desires over the truth. May God guide both of you.