Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is Islam’s stance on homosexuality?
Islam is the religion of nature (dīn al-fiṭrah), and all its rulings are perfectly in line with human nature. It uplifts humanity from the filth of animalistic instincts and illuminates it with spiritual light. Islam clarifies the distinction between man and beast in every matter — including matters of sexuality — and grants comprehensive guidance in this realm.
To fulfill natural desires, Islam prescribes the institution of Nikāḥ (marriage). The Qur'an describes the qualities of a believer as follows:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ﴾
(Surah al-Mu’minūn: 5–7 & Surah al-Maʿārij: 29–31)
“And those who guard their private parts, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess – for indeed, they are not blameworthy. But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors.”
This establishes the boundaries for fulfilling sexual desires: either with one's wife or female slave (in historical context). Any third route beyond these is prohibited.
Thus, zina (fornication/adultery) with an unrelated woman, or homosexuality, both fall under unnatural and prohibited acts. Islam, just as it prescribes ḥadd (legal punishment) for the adulterer, also prescribes punishment for the one who engages in homosexuality.
The first nation to commit this perversion was the nation of Lūṭ. The Qur'an records his words:
﴿إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾
(Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 28)
“You commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds.”
Due to this very crime, the nation of Lūṭ was subjected to a painful and severe punishment. The Prophet Lūṭ (ʿalayhis-salām) continued to advise and warn his people.
﴿أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ﴾
(Surah al-Shuʿarā’: 165–166)
“Do you approach males among the worlds, and leave what your Lord has created for you of your wives? But you are a transgressing people.”
The people mocked him, joked about his warnings, and arrogantly demanded punishment.
﴿أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنكَرَ﴾
(Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 29)
“Do you indeed approach men, obstruct the road, and commit evil in your gatherings?”
﴿إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ، وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا ۖ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ﴾
(Surah al-Aʿrāf: 81–84)
“You lust after men instead of women. Indeed, you are a people who transgress all bounds. So We rained upon them a rain (of stones). Then see how was the end of the criminals.”
When their rebellion exceeded limits, Allah destroyed them by turning their town upside down and showering upon them a rain of stones.
﴿فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ، فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ﴾
(Surah al-Ḥijr: 73–74)
﴿وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنَا مِنْهَا آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾
(Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 35)
“And We left from it a clear sign for a people who use reason.”
Thus, Allah turned them into a perpetual sign and example for humanity.
Homosexuality is not just a sin but a heinous crime that Allah has punished in the most severe form.
It is such a filthy act that not even animals like monkeys or pigs engage in it naturally — yet disbelievers have fallen into this degradation.
Imām al-Fuḍayl ibn ʿIyāḍ رحمه الله (d. 187H) said:
لو أن لوطيا اغتسل بكل قطرة من السماء لقي الله غير طاهر
“Even if a Lūṭī (sodomite) were to bathe with every drop of rain from the sky, he would still meet Allah in a state of impurity.”
(Dhamm al-Hawā by Ibn al-Jawzī, p. 208 – Authentic chain)
﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ...﴾
(Surah al-Aʿrāf: 33)
“Say: Indeed, my Lord has forbidden immoralities – both what is apparent of them and what is hidden...”
✔ Homosexuality is a grievous, unnatural, and impure act.
✔ It was the reason for the destruction of the people of Lūṭ, who were made a sign for all times.
✔ It results in moral collapse, societal harm, and divine punishment.
✔ Islam strictly forbids it and prescribes severe punishment in this world and the next.
❖ Question:
What is Islam’s stance on homosexuality?
✿ Answer:
Islam is the religion of nature (dīn al-fiṭrah), and all its rulings are perfectly in line with human nature. It uplifts humanity from the filth of animalistic instincts and illuminates it with spiritual light. Islam clarifies the distinction between man and beast in every matter — including matters of sexuality — and grants comprehensive guidance in this realm.
To fulfill natural desires, Islam prescribes the institution of Nikāḥ (marriage). The Qur'an describes the qualities of a believer as follows:
❀ Qur'anic Guidance:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ﴾
(Surah al-Mu’minūn: 5–7 & Surah al-Maʿārij: 29–31)“And those who guard their private parts, except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess – for indeed, they are not blameworthy. But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors.”
This establishes the boundaries for fulfilling sexual desires: either with one's wife or female slave (in historical context). Any third route beyond these is prohibited.
Thus, zina (fornication/adultery) with an unrelated woman, or homosexuality, both fall under unnatural and prohibited acts. Islam, just as it prescribes ḥadd (legal punishment) for the adulterer, also prescribes punishment for the one who engages in homosexuality.
❀ Homosexuality: A Heinous Crime from the People of Lūṭ (Lot)
The first nation to commit this perversion was the nation of Lūṭ. The Qur'an records his words:
﴿إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾
(Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 28)“You commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds.”
Due to this very crime, the nation of Lūṭ was subjected to a painful and severe punishment. The Prophet Lūṭ (ʿalayhis-salām) continued to advise and warn his people.
﴿أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ﴾
(Surah al-Shuʿarā’: 165–166)“Do you approach males among the worlds, and leave what your Lord has created for you of your wives? But you are a transgressing people.”
The people mocked him, joked about his warnings, and arrogantly demanded punishment.
﴿أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنكَرَ﴾
(Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 29)“Do you indeed approach men, obstruct the road, and commit evil in your gatherings?”
﴿إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ، وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّطَرًا ۖ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ﴾
(Surah al-Aʿrāf: 81–84)“You lust after men instead of women. Indeed, you are a people who transgress all bounds. So We rained upon them a rain (of stones). Then see how was the end of the criminals.”
When their rebellion exceeded limits, Allah destroyed them by turning their town upside down and showering upon them a rain of stones.
﴿فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ، فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ﴾
(Surah al-Ḥijr: 73–74)﴿وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنَا مِنْهَا آيَةً بَيِّنَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾
(Surah al-ʿAnkabūt: 35)“And We left from it a clear sign for a people who use reason.”
Thus, Allah turned them into a perpetual sign and example for humanity.
❀ The Condemnation of Homosexuality in Islam
Homosexuality is not just a sin but a heinous crime that Allah has punished in the most severe form.
- It leads to moral corruption,
- Loss of honor and dignity,
- Spread of diseases,
- Collapse of family structure,
- And invites divine wrath.
It is such a filthy act that not even animals like monkeys or pigs engage in it naturally — yet disbelievers have fallen into this degradation.
❀ Sayings of the Salaf:
Imām al-Fuḍayl ibn ʿIyāḍ رحمه الله (d. 187H) said:
لو أن لوطيا اغتسل بكل قطرة من السماء لقي الله غير طاهر
“Even if a Lūṭī (sodomite) were to bathe with every drop of rain from the sky, he would still meet Allah in a state of impurity.”
(Dhamm al-Hawā by Ibn al-Jawzī, p. 208 – Authentic chain)❀ Qur'anic Verdict on All Forms of Lewdness:
﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ...﴾
(Surah al-Aʿrāf: 33)“Say: Indeed, my Lord has forbidden immoralities – both what is apparent of them and what is hidden...”
Conclusion:
✔ Homosexuality is a grievous, unnatural, and impure act.
✔ It was the reason for the destruction of the people of Lūṭ, who were made a sign for all times.
✔ It results in moral collapse, societal harm, and divine punishment.
✔ Islam strictly forbids it and prescribes severe punishment in this world and the next.
