Homosexuality in Islam
Homosexuality in Islam
During this class, we researched and learned about the teachings of Islam and the Hudud that Muslims are expected to live under. One topic we did not cover was the existence of homosexuality. The Muslim world, for the most part, does not accept homosexuality as a way of life, but we know how prevalent it is. I was curious to find out more about how Islam treats homosexuality and if it is included in the Qur’an and Shari’a law. This essay will cover the aspect of homosexuality within religious text, which countries allow or forbid same sex acts, groups that support gay Muslims, if any, and homosexuality existing in the United States.
Some scholars deduce that the Qur’an is somewhat vague regarding homosexual punishment, but under some interpretations, Shari’a law permits the death penalty for homosexuality. According to most beliefs within Islam, God sent prophet Lot to Sodom to urge the people to turn to God and quit their sinful practices, one of which was homosexuality. The Qur’an references residents of Sodom and Gomorrah or “the people of Lut” seven times. One passage (7:80-84) states, “And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: What! do you commit an indecency which any one in the world has not done before you? Most surely you come to males in lust besides females; nay you are an extravagant people. And the answer of his people was no other than that they said: Turn them out of your town, surely they are a people who seek to purify (themselves)”. In fact, the Arabic words for homosexual acts, liwat and luti, are derived from the Lut people. The Qur’an itself references homosexuality at least 5 times, and solely lesbianism once. A few of those references include "What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk." (Qur'an 26:165) and "Kill the one that is doing it and also kill the one that it is being done to." (in reference to the active and passive
During this class, we researched and learned about the teachings of Islam and the Hudud that Muslims are expected to live under. One topic we did not cover was the existence of homosexuality. The Muslim world, for the most part, does not accept homosexuality as a way of life, but we know how prevalent it is. I was curious to find out more about how Islam treats homosexuality and if it is included in the Qur’an and Shari’a law. This essay will cover the aspect of homosexuality within religious text, which countries allow or forbid same sex acts, groups that support gay Muslims, if any, and homosexuality existing in the United States.
Some scholars deduce that the Qur’an is somewhat vague regarding homosexual punishment, but under some interpretations, Shari’a law permits the death penalty for homosexuality. According to most beliefs within Islam, God sent prophet Lot to Sodom to urge the people to turn to God and quit their sinful practices, one of which was homosexuality. The Qur’an references residents of Sodom and Gomorrah or “the people of Lut” seven times. One passage (7:80-84) states, “And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: What! do you commit an indecency which any one in the world has not done before you? Most surely you come to males in lust besides females; nay you are an extravagant people. And the answer of his people was no other than that they said: Turn them out of your town, surely they are a people who seek to purify (themselves)”. In fact, the Arabic words for homosexual acts, liwat and luti, are derived from the Lut people. The Qur’an itself references homosexuality at least 5 times, and solely lesbianism once. A few of those references include "What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk." (Qur'an 26:165) and "Kill the one that is doing it and also kill the one that it is being done to." (in reference to the active and passive