Question:
What is Islam’s viewpoint on homosexuality?
Answer:
Islam is the religion of nature, and all its commandments are fully in harmony with nature. It removes humanity from the impurities of animality and bestows spiritual light. Islam clarifies the fundamental difference between an animal and a human being in every matter. Similarly, complete awareness has been provided in the chapter of sexuality. Islam permits marriage for the fulfillment of natural desires. The Quran describes the qualities of a believer as follows:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ
They guard their private parts and fulfill their desires only with their wives and those whom their right hands possess; in this there is no blame. But those who go beyond this way, they have transgressed the limits.
The limit for fulfilling natural desires has been set: come to your wife or enjoy your slave woman; adopting any other way is forbidden.
That is, these two ways are natural, and all other ways found beyond these are the paths chosen by the rebels against Allah. Whether it is adultery with a non-mahram woman or homosexuality, both ways are vile and unnatural. Just as Islam has set a limit for an adulterer, similarly a limit has been set for a homosexual.
Sodomy is the vile act that was first found in the people of Lot; its originators are called the people of Lot. The Quran narrates the statement of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him):
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٨﴾
When Lot (peace be upon him) said to his people, “Do you commit an indecency which no one has done before you?”
And as a punishment for this sin, a very painful torment was imposed on them. Allah’s Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) kept advising and preaching to them for a time.
أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ
“Do you approach men with desire instead of women, and leave the way that your Lord has created for you? Indeed, you are a transgressing people.”
People mocked him, made fun of him; Allah’s Prophet was distressed that these people were inviting Allah’s punishment. He warned them of the torment, but they did not fear it. He explained, but they troubled him. He wanted to save them from Hell, but they freed themselves, and the Prophet was left standing behind helplessly.
The Quran describes a scene:
أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنْكَرَ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ
“You come to men lustfully instead of women, committing evil deeds in your gatherings.” In response, the people said, “If you are truthful, then bring upon us the punishment of Allah.”
إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
“You leave women and desire men instead; you are a transgressing people.” We rained stones upon them, so see how was the end of the criminals.
When this creature called human becomes rebellious, it forgets its benefactors, mocks them, laughs at the words of the Prophets. They warn of punishment, but they do not fear it. They explain, but they cause pain. The Prophets want to save them from Hell, but they free themselves, and the Prophets remain helpless.
The Quran narrates:
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾ فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِّن قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾ فَأَنجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَاهَا مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾ وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا ۖ فَسَاءَ مَطَرُ الْمُنذَرِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
Lot (peace be upon him) said to his people, “Do you commit indecency while you are well aware? You fulfill your lust with men instead of women. Indeed, you are a people who act ignorantly.” In response, Lot’s people said, “Expel Lot and his family from the city; they are people who purify themselves.” Then We saved Lot and his family, except his wife, for she was to remain behind. Then We rained upon them a rain; evil was the rain of those who were warned.
When the people decided to treat their benefactor this way, Allah’s punishment came into effect. A few angels came to the house of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) in beautiful and handsome forms. The people attacked them with evil intentions. Lot (peace be upon him) became distressed and said, “My people! These are my guests; do not disgrace me concerning my guests.” Since a Prophet is like a father to his people, he said, “Your wives are my daughters; fulfill your desires with them.”
وَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِنْ قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي ۖ أَلَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَشِيدٌ قَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ
His people came rushing towards him; they had been committing evils before. Lot (peace be upon him) said, “My people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. Fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?” They said, “You know well what we want; we have no interest in your daughters.”
Sometimes he said:
قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
“My daughters are here; if you must fulfill your desires, then do so with them. By your life, they wandered in their intoxication.”
When rebellion exceeded limits and the Prophet’s patience was exhausted, he raised his hands:
قَالَ رَبِّ انْصُرْنِي عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
“My Lord! Help me against this corrupting people.”
That night passed, and the whip of punishment descended.
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ
At dawn, there was a terrible scream. We overturned that city, turned the upper part down and the lower part up, then rained stones upon them. Thus they became a sign for those who understand.
وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنَا مِنْهَا آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
“We have made the people of Lot a clear sign for those who have understanding.”
Those who mock divine commandments and betray the chastity of nations meet this fate.
In this world, humiliation, disgrace, loss, misery, and regret become their destiny.
Allah Almighty says:
فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ مَنْضُودٍ مُسَوَّمَةً عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ
“When Our command came, We overturned their city, turning the upper part down and the lower part up, then rained upon them stones of baked clay marked by your Lord. And these stones were not far from the wrongdoers.”
Allah honored His Prophet and destroyed the oppressors, sinners, and corrupters:
وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ ۗ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَاسِقِينَ
“We gave Lot (peace be upon him) wisdom and knowledge and saved him from the city that committed abominations. Indeed, they were a sinful people.”
This is such a heinous crime that Allah sent down the punishment of stones upon its perpetrators, overturned their city, and made them a sign of warning until the Day of Judgment. Surely, those who commit immorality and lewdness are those whose nature has been distorted, who have acquired beastly traits, and over whom Satan has gained control. Even monkeys and pigs do not commit this vile and wicked act, but the disbelievers do.
Homosexuality is a cancer for society; it is a brutality more deadly than poison. It is a fatal mistake and a deception of the self that shatters the standards of honor. Every truthful and sound-natured person feels disgust for this wickedness; hearts turn black, and it gnaws at human health like a termite. Societies afflicted with this act face severe punishment from Allah; ingratitude and disobedience bring forth their bad consequences. Their moral standards become extremely low, they lose chastity and modesty, and courage and bravery disappear from them.
Imam Fudail bin Iyad (may Allah have mercy on him)
used to say:
لو أن لوطيا اغتسل بكل قطرة من السماء لقي الله غير طاهر
Even if a sodomite were bathed in every drop of water falling from the sky, Allah would still find him impure.
Sodomy destroys the sanctity and sanctification of relationships; that is why the Quran describes it as indecency and abominations. Indecency means that which exceeds its limits.
Allah Almighty says:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Say, ‘My Lord has forbidden immorality, outward and inward, and sin and unjust aggression. He has forbidden you from associating anything with Him for which He has not sent down authority, and from saying about Allah that which you do not know.'”
