This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/447
February 18, 2005
MIM: Muslims claim that Islam is welcoming (when it comes to recruiting converts), and American Muslim groups are attempting to spread Islam by falsely stating they want people to learn about their religion in the name of 'diversity' 'tolerance' and 'understanding'. A look at the Islamic view on homosexuality, through fatwas and the statements of the heads of major US Islamic Centers and organisations, proves that far from being the benign, tolerant, 'religion of peace' Islam has a very strict code of conduct regarding interaction between Muslims and non Muslims . One of the most glaring negations of Muslims claims that they are in favor of tolerance, diversity and human rights, is their stance on homosexuality. Besides groups set up by Muslim homosexuals, every organisation condemns homosexuality and states that "a painful human punishment (will be their lot) as well as severe painful punishment in the hereafter". The information below was taken from Islamic websites and was written by well known Islamic scholars and leaders of the Muslim community. Some, as in the case of Muzzamil Siddiqui,former president of ISNA (The Islamic Society of North America ) head of the Islamic Center of Orange County California, likes to present himself as a moderate. ".... M. Siddiqui observes: Since God condemns homosexuality, then we have to believe that a man or a woman with homosexual feelings is expected to behave like any other human being and follow God's laws if he/she truly believes in them. He/she shall resist his/her feelings, maintain abstinence, use all available resources of help including medical, social, and behavioral therapies to overcome their behavior and feelings. They should pray to God to help them getting over it and submit to God's law that sees homosexuality as gross sin" ("Homosexuality and Islam," www.submission.org/sex/homosexuality.html)..." "...The Hadith literature is even more explicit in its condemnation of homosexuality. The Prophet Muhammad is said to have commanded, "Kill them [homosexuals] wherever you find them" (www.gay.net/cruise/home_queerjihad_000201.html)..." "...Another hadith observes "Lut's [Lot] people did kill the one who's doing it, and kill the one it's being done to" (gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/world/010600wo.htm). The hadith literature also observes, "Homosexuals should be thrown off the tops of high buildings or cliffs" and "you should drive them (effeminate men or masculine women) from your homesand families"..." (gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/world/010600wo.htm). http://bcis.pacificu.edu/journal/2002/03/islam.php The fatwa on the Islamic view of homosexuality which was published on Islamonline (se below ) was written by among others Taher Jaber Al Alwani is head of the GIISS,Graduate School of Islamic Social Sciences, an institution under investigation for ties to terrorism funding and Yusuf Qaradawi, a cleric based in Qatar who issued a fatwa stating that women should fulfill their religous obligations in Islam by becoming suicide bombers. Qaradawi is a trustee of MAS - the Muslim American Society, (MAS/ICNA) one of the largest Muslim organisations in North America. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MIM: The 'mission statement of Queer Jihad' one of several Muslim homosexual organisations. http://www.well.com/user/queerjhd/aboutqj.htm What is Queer Jihad? Queer Jihad is the queer Muslim struggle for acceptance: first, the struggle to accept ourselves as being exactly the way Allah has created us to be; and secondly, the struggle for understanding among Muslims in general. 'Jihad' is a misunderstood word: it means to struggle, to endeavor. Traditionally, the first and most important jihad is the struggle with one's self, one's nafs, one's selfish desires, the struggle to do good, to be good, to put into practice the beliefs and values we claim to possess. 'Queer jihad' is our own struggle with sexuality, with accepting it and dealing with it, and moving on, but it is also an endeavor to provide knowledge and foster understanding within the larger community. Queer Jihad is not a formal organisation: it's an idea. We have no mosques; we are not a movement; we request no donations, neither do we accept them. We are not funded by any government or organisation. We are interested in the spiritual lives of gay and lesbian Muslims, and other queer Muslims. We are interested in encouraging queer people to remain true to their Creator, to grapple with the issues, to come to terms with who they are in whatever manner and fashion they are capable of doing so. The issue of Islam and homosexuality is complicated and there are no easy answers. If we can begin to talk about ourselves and share our experiences and ways of coping, we will have made a start in the right direction. --------------------- MIM: A review of the show "Allah Made Me Funny" reveals anti homosexual Muslim attitudes. The group, whose repetoire also includes jokes about suicide bomging and plane hijackings, claims that their show is meant to 'build bridges and increase tolerance'. http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/291 Scenes : Unveiling Homophobia BY JON KAPLAN and GLENN SUMI Caught the final performance of Allah Made Me Funny , the Official Muslim Comedy Tour at Yuk's Downtown. What began as a refreshing and diverse comedy night – it's rare to see one Muslim, let alone five, on a mainstream comedy stage – turned into a display of bigotry..." "...But headliner Preacher Moss ended his set with several unfunny anti-gay comments – you couldn't call them jokes – that wrecked the night and made everyone's pleas for acceptance and seeing beyond stereotypes seem hypocritical. Moss claimed homosexuals are "like Visa, everywhere I want to be," dismissed gay rights with an impression of a man cooing, "I have a dream, too!" in reaction to Martin Luther King's civil rights speech, and implied that gay men like the prostrate Muslim praying stance and wear the hijab. Two steps forward, three back. NOW | JUN 3 - 9, 2004 http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2004-06-03/stage_scenes.php ---------------------------------- The website of the American Muslim Association of North America - illustrates how how a Muslim organisation whose logo proclaims"Islam honors human and civil rights we honor them too!" also lists the civil rights groups affiliations of its' director, Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout. At the same the AMANA website boasts essays such as the one below entitled " Homosexuality is not O.K " which highlights the true position on homosexuality according to Islam. In a perversely amusing twist the author of the essay complains that homosexuals "Shield themselves with the Greatest Nations constitution" and criticises the fact that they are accepted because "it is a free country" and that "the American public has no choice but to accept them and their deadly act". http://al-amana.org/article.php?id=51 http://al-amana.org/aboutus.php
MIM: Ironically AMANA devotes an entire webpage for "any case of discrimination against you" and brags that the director of AMANA, Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout is serving as amember of the Florida State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (!) http://al-amana.org/complaint.php In case of any discrimination against you, please fill out this form and submit it. If you feel that your application to rent an apartment or to apply for a job was rejected due to your race, religion or color, if you feel that someone mistreated you or refused to give services due to your race or color please report it. Report your claim against any one, any company, any private or public agency or government office. The Director of AMANA is serving as a member in the Florida State Advisory Committee (FL SAC) to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, USCCR. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Islam's Stance on Homosexual Organizations | ||||||||||||||
Date of Fatwa | 17/ May/ 2004 | |||||||||||||
Date of Reply | 17/ May/ 2004 | |||||||||||||
Topic Of Fatwa | Homosexuality | |||||||||||||
Question of Fatwa http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hFatwaID=72432 |
As-Salaam `Alaykum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh! I do not know whether you've heard about an announcement of establishing a sexually stray organization consisting of gays and lesbians who claim affiliation to Islam. Its ideas are disseminated and promoted by means of their site on the World Wide Web. Some of the affiliates and sustainers of this organization allege that there is no proof in the Qur'an that forbids this sort of sexual conduct and that those who engage in such activities are excused because this issue is dependent on the genetic make-up of humans. Furthermore, they engage in these activities with mutual consent of both parties without any coercion or harm. They argue that some other religions have permitted their followers (who have this orientation) to establish places of worship specifically for themselves. This group claims that it is permissible for them to establish special masjids for themselves whereby one of their members can act as an Imam. This way they can satisfy their spiritual needs after satisfying their need for homosexual conduct. What is the position of Islam on this conduct? And what is Shari'ah verdict on this affair? And is it true that some Muslim scholars do not view stray sexual conduct as a crime detested by the Shari'ah or punishable by Islamic law? Benefit us, may Allah have mercy on you. | |||||||||||||
Name of Mufti | Dr. Taha Jaber Al-`Alwani | |||||||||||||
Content of Reply | Wa `Alaykum As-Salaam Waramatullah Wabarakatuh! In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful All thanks and praise are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear brother in Islam, thanks for posing this question, which reflects your great concern about Islam and your keenness to get acquainted with the teachings of this noble religion. May Allah Almighty help us all stick firm on the Right Path, Ameen! As for your question, 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. Taha Jaber Al-`Alwani, President of the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences and President of the Fiqh Council, states: 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 women : 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? and practise 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. 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 behaviors (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" 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. 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 masjid whomever 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." Homosexuality and Lesbianism: Sexual Perversions Homosexuality: The Nature of Perversion Allah Almighty knows best.
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This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/447