Reality of Transgender Identity: Sharīʿah and Societal Consequences
❖ Determination of Male and Female Gender
The determination of gender—male or female—takes place at the moment of conception, based on the chromosomes contributed by the mother and father. These chromosomes are responsible for the development of both internal and external organs and hormonal structures in the fetus, which become evident at birth or puberty. However, due to certain medical anomalies, some children may experience sexual ambiguity, which may manifest either at birth or later in life.
❖ Who Are Intersex (Hermaphrodite) Individuals?
Those individuals who are congenitally affected by sexual ambiguity are referred to as intersex or hermaphrodites. The degree of ambiguity may vary in each case. In Islamic jurisprudence, such individuals are given the right to adopt the gender that is most dominant in their physical traits. A dignified and religious society is expected to grant them respect and the right to live with honor. Medically, hormonal and surgical treatments are available to help ease their condition.
❖ Who Are Cisgender Individuals?
These are individuals who are biologically and physically fully male or female and are content with their natural gender identity. This group includes ordinary men and women.
❖ Who Are Transgender Individuals?
These are individuals who are biologically and physically male or female, but later, due to psychological conflict, social pressure, fashion trends, or personal preferences, become dissatisfied with their gender. This condition is known as Gender Dysphoria. Such individuals self-identify their gender, with some completely adopting the appearance of the opposite gender, while others refer to themselves as “non-binary”, meaning neither male nor female.
❖ Transgender Identity and Islamic Rulings
Islam has distinct laws for men and women regarding ḥijāb (veil), gender interaction, marriage, and inheritance. When a person changes their gender identity, it gives rise to numerous social and Sharīʿah-related issues, such as:
◈ What if a man identifies as a woman and enters women-only spaces (bathrooms, swimming pools, gyms)?
◈ If he marries a man as a woman, does this not fall under homosexuality, which is prohibited?
◈ No surgery or hormonal treatment can truly change one’s biological gender; they can only alter physical appearance.
❖ The Reality Behind Transgender Laws
In the West, transgender laws are not primarily designed for intersex individuals, but rather for those who voluntarily choose to change their gender identity. That is why homosexuality is also fully protected under these laws.
❖ Future Risks of Transgender Ideology
The matter does not end with gender change; it becomes increasingly complex over time. For instance:
◈ A transgender “woman” (biologically male) may use a woman’s egg and have it nurtured in another woman’s womb to have children.
◈ Such cases result in deep confusion regarding parentage and lineage.
◈ In some Western countries, mothers or sisters carry pregnancies for their sons or brothers post same-sex marriage, disrupting the family structure.
◈ Western societies are now witnessing individuals known as “furries”, who identify as animals, aligning even their sexual identity accordingly.
❖ Pakistan’s Transgender Law of 2018
In 2018, Pakistan passed a transgender law, which declared “gender identity” a personal right, meaning that individuals are not required to undergo medical examinations to declare their gender. This law was criticized for not protecting intersex (hermaphrodite) individuals, but instead facilitating voluntary gender transitions.
❖ Impact on Pakistan’s Future
In the West, schools conduct gender-change ceremonies for children, and parental notification is not deemed necessary. If similar practices continue in Pakistan under this law, there is a serious threat of societal collapse in the future.
❖ The Choice Is Yours
This is not merely a political or social issue, but a matter concerning the very future of humanity. Will we remain silent, ignoring this grave threat, or will we raise our voices to demand essential amendments to this law?
