It should be clear that homosexuality is sinful and shameful. In Islamic terminology it is called ‘Al-Fahsha‘ or an atrocious and obscene act. Islam teaches that believers should neither do the obscene acts, nor in any way indulge in their propagation. Allah says, “Those who love (to see) obscenity published broadcast among the Believers will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and you know not.” (Al-Nur: 19)
Dr. TahaJaber Al-`Alwani, President of the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences and President of the Fiqh Council, states: Before we elucidate the details of the Shari’ah verdict on this conduct we would like to mention what is stated in the Noble Qur’an about it and about the people who engage in this activity as well as what befalls them of painful worldly punishment before the severe punishment of the Hereafter. The intent here is to show the great deception placed by those who allege that the Qur’an does not find this homosexual crime reprehensible. Allah, the Almighty, says: “We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: ‘Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to wo
men : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.’ And his people gave no answer but this: they said, ‘Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!’ But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind. And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime!” (Al-Araf: 80-84). Allah also says: “(We also sent) Lut (as a messenger): behold, He said to his people, ‘Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)?’ Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant! But his people gave no other answer but this: they said, ‘Drive out the followers of Lut from your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!’ But We saved him and his family, except his wife; her We destined to be of those who lagged behind. And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)” (Al-Naml: 54-58).
Almighty Allah also says: “(And (remember) Lut: behold, he said to his people: ‘Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway? andpractise wickedness (even) in your councils?” But his people gave no answer but this: they said: ‘Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth.’ He said: ‘O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!’ When Our Messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said: ‘We are indeed going to destroy the people of this township: for truly they are (addicted to) crime.’ He said: ‘But there is Lut there.’ They said: ‘Well do we know who is there: we will certainly save him and his following-except his wife: she is of those who lag behind!’ And when Our Messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account, and felt himself powerless (to protect) them: but they said: ‘Fear thou not, nor grieve: we are (here) to save thee and thy following, except thy wife: she is of those who lag behind. For we are going to bring down on the people of this township a Punishment from heaven, because they have been wickedly rebellious.’ And We have left thereof an evident Sign, for any people who (care to)understand.” (Al- Ankaboot:28-35).
In all of these glorious verses, Allah, the Almighty, revealed the actions of the people of Lut with the term “abominable” [lewd, atrocious] and their village were named as villages that committed “wickedness”. Furthermore it is known that the word “fahisha” (abominable) in this context means the act of adultery and the actions committed by the people of Lut of (male) sodomy and (female) lesbianism. These groups claim that these verses do not indicate that this type of sexual conduct is prohibited but merely discouraged. They claim that if this conduct had been prohibited the Qur’an would have stipulated explicitly a legal punishment for such an affair and therefore the lack of any text that stipulates a punishment for such conduct shows that it is something allowed.
But a necessary connection between legal punishment on the one hand and something being prohibited on the other hand is not an accurate observation because (as we know) polytheism is a grave injustice and it is considered the greatest sin by Allah, despite this there is no Shari’ah statute or legal punishment that can be applied to polytheists whether they are Magians, cow worshipers or any other polytheists. Thus a punishment is one thing and an action being sinful is another thing.
In fact, great sins like that of Lut’s people are often punished in the Hereafter because its punishment is greater than this worldly punishment and the humiliation of the Hereafter is greater than the humiliation in this world. Furthermore, punishment in the Hereafter, like entering the Hell-Fire and incurring Allah’s curse – may Allah save us from it – and the banishment from Allah’s mercy, is more harmful and burdensome than any other worldly punishment. The scholars of this Ummah are in agreement and have reached consensus – based on what has been revealed in the Qur’an and what has been authenticated in the Prophetic Tradition (Sunnah)- on prohibiting both behaviours (gayness and lesbianism) because in each of two actions there is an assault on the humanity of a person, destruction of the family and a clash with aims of the Lawgiver, one of which is the establishment of sexual instincts between males and females so as to encourage the institution of marriage. Islam does not view sexual desire as the main aim of marriage; for marriage is a means to acquire tranquility and to actualize the love and mercy between spouses. Furthermore, it is a means for the survival of human kind and fostering a web of sound relations that aid in building sound families that constitute the smallest units for the society at large; this healthy society being the final aim of Islam. Actually, humans are not animals controlled by their sexual instincts, answering the call of sexual desires every time it is aroused in them. Rather, it is their responsibility to know how they can orient this craving, which is a trust Allah has implemented in them, both male and female, in addition to the will and power to choose, a blessing Allah has bestowed on humans; all this is what distinguishes them from the rest of the creatures in that they orient their conduct and do what is good. So, viewing (material) desires as aims in themselves is a deviation from one’s natural disposition and a departure from the natural order. If the trend in the West is to legalize this conduct, it should be noted that such things did not materialize until after religious values had been diluted and had been changed to relative values that glorify individuality and make pleasures as an end and aim.
Furthermore, the confusion about the concept of the Hereafter and other issues gives rise to confusion about sexuality and hence the occurrence of this anarchy; From here covetousness and greed arose to push for the establishment of numerous industries built for the purpose of stirring up passions such as sexual tourism, the making of lewd films, the promotion of sexually gratifying instruments and other things. The result is the destructions of the concept of family and its values and confusion arose about appropriate kinds of relationships between males and females to the point that we see families being formed from two males or two females.
In their commentaries on Allah’s words: “If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four (Reliable) witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them, or Allah ordain for them some (other) way. If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone; for Allah is Oft-returning, Most Merciful” (An-Nisa:15-16), some scholars have stated that the meaning of the expression “Al-lati” (in the verse) is Lesbians who practice deviant conduct amongst themselves and the meaning of the expression “ Al-ladhani” in the verse is homosexuals who practice this conduct amongst themselves; and their punishment being through words and action. In Hadith, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, clarifies the gravity of this abomination by saying: “Allah curses the one who does the actions of the people of Lut” repeating it three times; and he said in another Hadith: “ If a man comes upon a man then they are both adulterers”
here, he considered homosexuality tantamount to adultery in relation to the Shari’ah punishments because it is an abomination on the one hand and the definition of adultery applies to it on the other hand. It has also been narrated from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that this crime deserves severe punishment more than that of adultery to insure its deterrence and restraint. Verily, the punishment here is the burning of both homosexuals (the actor and acted upon) or stoning them with rocks till death because Allah Most High stoned the people of Lut after demolishing their village.
As for lesbians, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said about them: “If a woman comes upon a woman, they are both Adulteresses”. The scholars mentioned that it is incumbent on the authority to enact a reprimand on lesbians that is fitting to the crime committed. It is true that some of the scholars disagreed with these punishments not because of doubt that these actions constitute a crime, but because of a lack of divine textual stipulation for a worldly punishment. But the actions of the Prophet’s Companions do indicate that in fact this crime has a worldly punishment, to be carried out by those in authority among the Muslims. The story of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq when Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed wrote to him on this matter is famous and can be referenced in many sources.
[The story referred to above goes as follows:
“In his book Fat-h al-Qadir, the famous Hanafi scholar, Ibn al-Humam states: Al-Bayhaqi reported in his book Shu`abal-Iman on the authority of Abu ad-Dunya that Abd al-`Aziz ibnAbiHazim related from DawudibnBakr who related from Muhammad ibn al-Mukadir the following:
“Khalid Ibn al-Walid wrote to Abu Bakr [seeking the legal ruling] concerning a man with whom another man had sexual intercourse. Thereupon, Abu Bakr gathered the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and sought their opinion. `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was the strictest of all, saying, ‘Only one nation disobeyed Allah by committing such sin and you know how Allah dealt with them. I see that we should burn the man with fire.’ The Companions unanimously agreed on this.” This incident is also mentioned by al-Waqidi under the subject of apostasy at the end of the section on the apostasy of BaniSalim.]
In brief, verily this conduct, whether it comes from two males or females, is considered an abomination and a crime. Therefore, what these lewd people allege is not accepted by Islam at all and is rejected completely. Moreover, the fact that some religious groups, due to being pressured, have allowed their followers to engage in this conduct cannot be considered as justification for prohibited actions. There is precedence in history of some people changing their religions by adding and subtracting from them. As for Islam, it is unequivocal in this matter, for it does not accept any bargaining in any situation whatsoever.
The Muslim needs to take precautions against these deviants and not to give them any opportunity to mix with and corrupt their children. Furthermore, they are neither fit to establish masajid and frequent them, nor are they fit to lead those who frequent the masjidwhomever they may be. More importantly for them is to seek a cure for themselves from their own illness, to purify their souls from whatever filthiness became attached to it, and return to a sound path instead of mocking and ridiculing the sentiments of Muslims.