Homosexuality: a sexual relationship with someone of the same | Ask A Muslim

Homosexuality: a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex.

Islam’s teaching about homosexuality is referred to in a story found in the Qur’an. This is the story of the Prophet Lūt (may Allah’s peace be upon him), who criticized the men of his town for their homosexual practices. Allah stated:

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ – 7:80

إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ – 7:81

“And remember Lot (Lūt) when he said to his people: “Do you commit the worst sin such as none before you have committed among creation? Indeed, you practise your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds.” (Quran 7:80-81)

Some people (who engage in, or justify same-sex relationships) have tried to claim that the prohibition (in the verse above) refers to non-consensual sex between homosexuals. Others assert it refers to homosexual relationships outside of marriage. Both of these views clearly contradict this verse because Allah stated: “Indeed, you practise your lusts on men instead of women.” If the verse was referring to homosexual rape (or non-consensual sex), then that is equally forbidden against women. However, Allah (in this verse) allowed sex between heterosexuals (within marriage). Also, if the verse was only forbidding homosexuality outside of marriage, then sex between a man and woman before marriage is forbidden so why would Allah say: “instead of women”? Therefore, the only conclusion that can be drawn from this verse is that sexual relationships between people of the same sex are prohibited.

Furthermore, arbitrarily changing one’s gender from male to female (or vice-versa) does not alter the reality of the prohibition because there is a principle in Islam that states: “Changing the name of something does not change its reality.” So changing the name of alcohol to milk does not alter its reality nor the ruling of prohibition.

Allah (the Most High) also said:

أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ – 26:165

وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ – 26:166

“You come to the men of creation and you leave those wives whom Allah has created for you? Nay! You are a transgressing people.” (Qur’an 26: 165-166)

Ibn ‘Abbās narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) stated:

لعن اللهُ من عمِل عملَ قومِ لوطٍ، لعن اللهُ من عمِل عملَ قومَ لوطٍ، لعن اللهُ مَن عملَ عملَ قومِ لُوطٍ

“The curse of Allah is upon the one who engages in the act of the People of Lūt. The curse of Allah is upon the one who engages in the act of the People of Lūt. The curse of Allah is upon the one who engages in the act of the People of Lūt.”

Reported in Musnad Imām Ahmad ibn Hanbal 4/292 and graded saheeh by Ahmad Shākir; see As-Silsilatus-Sahīhah of Al-Albāni, no. 6432, who graded it saheeh (authentic)

Jābir narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي عَمَلُ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ

“What I fear most for my followers is the actions of the People of Lūt.”

(Collected by At-Tirmidhi, 1457 and Ibn Mājah, 2563, and graded as hasan by Al-Albāni)

When the people ignored the Prophet Lūt’s message, Allah destroyed the town and every transgressor in it, and He saved Lūt (peace be upon him) and his daughters. This event is a sign for the people who reflect. This story is also mentioned in the scriptures of the Jews and Christians.

The traditional Muslim viewpoint based on Religious sources:
Muslim scholars throughout history have taken this story to mean that Allah has prohibited homosexuality absolutely, i.e. courtship and sexual relationships between men. Muslims see homosexuality as an unnatural condition, an immoral inclination, even a mental illness which is dangerous for the individual and society in terms of its goodness and morality.