Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 03/28/2008 1:38 AM | Headlines
Homosexuals and homosexuality are natural and created by God, thus permissible within Islam, a discussion concluded here Thursday.
Moderate Muslim scholars said there were no reasons to reject homosexuals under Islam, and that the condemnation of homosexuals and homosexuality by mainstream ulema and many other Muslims was based on narrow-minded interpretations of Islamic teachings.
Siti Musdah Mulia of the Indonesia Conference of Religions and Peace cited the Koran’s al-Hujurat (49:3) that one of the blessings for human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation.
“There is no difference between lesbians and nonlesbians. In the eyes of God, people are valued based on their piety,” she told the discussion organized by nongovernmental organization Arus Pelangi.
“And talking about piety is God’s prerogative to judge,” she added.
“The essence of the religion (Islam) is to humanize humans, respect and dignify them.”
Musdah said homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural, adding it was not pushed only by passion.
Mata Air magazine managing editor Soffa Ihsan said Islam’s acknowledgement of heterogeneity should also include homosexuality.
He said Muslims needed to continue to embrace ijtihad (the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the Koran and the Sunnah) to avoid being stuck in the old paradigm without developing open-minded interpretations.
Another speaker at the discussion, Nurofiah of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said the dominant notion of heterogeneity was a social construction, leading to the banning of homosexuality by the majority.
“Like gender bias or patriarchy, heterogeneity bias is socially constructed. It would be totally different if the ruling group was homosexuals,” she said.
Other speakers said the magnificence of Islam was that it could be blended and integrated into local culture.
“In fact, Indonesia’s culture has accepted homosexuality. The homosexual group in Bugis-Makassar tradition called Bissu is respected and given a high position in the kingdom.
“Also, we know that in Ponorogo (East Java) there has been acknowledgement of homosexuality,” Arus Pelangi head Rido Triawan said.
Condemnation of homosexuality was voiced by two conservative Muslim groups, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Hizbut Thahir Indonesia (HTI).
“It’s a sin. We will not consider homosexuals an enemy, but we will make them aware that what they are doing is wrong,” MUI deputy chairman Amir Syarifuddin said.
Rokhmat, of the hardline HTI, several times asked homosexual participants in attendance to repent and force themselves to gradually return to the right path.
November 29th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
what is islam if its not all about prodiversity among each other
December 18th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I am sorry to say that I disagree with this article.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Thank you, Kasyah. Can you explain why?
December 19th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
To Kasyah,
i wanna know “why” too
if u can explain it.
December 20th, 2008 at 1:31 am
It is clearly stated in the Holy Quran and the authentic Hadith of Prophet Muhammad that Islam does not accept homosexuality, either gay or lesbian. But that does not mean that Islam rejects homosexuals. What is not accepted is the act, not the people. Although the act is prohibited, the people who committed the act should not be isolated from the mainstream society. It is the responsibility of the society to bring them back to right path.
December 20th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Do you mean Islam does not accept SEX between two people of the same biological SEX? I have come across a few religious Muslim gay men who agree that anal sex is prohibited in Islam, but who still hold that love between two men is fine and good. The right path which we all have a responsibility to do is to make sure they don’t feel ABNORMAL and SINFUL because loving a person of your sex isn’t wrong. It’s also our responsibility to make sure that people, both gay and not, engage in responsible behavior (ie safe sex).
What do you mean by right path?
January 26th, 2009 at 3:54 am
sodomy is prohibited in Islam.
Gays (well, mostly) do practice sodomy in their sex life.
So it’s wrong according to Islam.
Unless you’re gay and don’t do sodomy, that’s fine by the religion.
I’m curious about oral sex between men. Is it as wrong as sodomy in the view of Islam?
January 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
“homosexuality was from God and should be considered natural”
if u said like that, that mean muslim also can eat pork?can drink beer?
pig and wine also from God, so it natural?
January 30th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
aku adalah aku,
With all due respect, do you mind looking back into Islam and explain to me, because I am curious; why are there so many Islamic laws that are not practised here today? Or why so many Islamic rules are applied differently from one country or another? Am I to be killed for being an “infidel” then?
February 26th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
This is so interesting. Now let me share something with all of your, which i hope might encourage acceptance of the above mentioned.
I was in Bahrain on a business trip last year, September i think it was. And at that point in time the second wave of allegations against Anwar came about. So i was in a meeting at one of the local banks, sipping coffee and making small talk with these Islamic banking hotshots. As the conversation progressed towards Malaysia and how things were in my country were. The two gentlemen i was speak to we really upset about what was happening to anwar. It was not that they were fans of his. It was the fact that the both of them truly believed that in muslim culture one does not talk about things like this and one especially do not publicize issues like this.
This leading bahraini went on to say that, things like this happens in every household. But we do not publish it in news papers. It is about respect and acceptance. Everyone is different.
Now my dear readers, this is not coming from me. These comments are from prominent Bahraini Islmaic bankers. Everyone knows that when it comes to religion, the middle easterns are the most devout. Then if they can come to terms and accept homosexuality, why cant we?
xoxo
April 19th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
The author did not state the content of [49:3]
So here it is:
“Surely those who lower their voices in the presence of God’s Messenger, those are they whose hearts God has tested for godfearing; they shall have forgiveness and a mighty wage.” [49:3]
Nothing states there about homosexuality is allowed. And dont say its an indirect meaning, as:
“It is He who sent down upon thee the Book, wherein are verses clear that are the Essence of the Book, and others ambiguous. As for those in whose hearts is swerving, they follow the ambiguous part, desiring dissension, and desiring its interpretation; and none knows its interpretation, save only God. And those firmly rooted in knowledge say, ‘We believe in it; all is from our Lord’; and none will grasp the message except those who think” [3:6]
And remember,
“And there is a sect of them twist their tongues with the Book, that you may suppose it part of the Book, yet it is not part of the Book; and they say, ‘It is from God,’ yet it is not from God, and they speak falsehood against God, and that wittingly.” [3:78]
So, human, read The Book, and think!.
May 5th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
The conclusion is flawed.
“Homosexuals and homosexuality are natural and created by God, thus permissible within Islam, a discussion concluded here Thursday.”
Doesn’t mean something exists in the world means it’s permissible, unless it’s been stated that it is. Alternatively, what has been stated as unpermissible by Allah S.W.T IS unpermissible.
My view is that it’s fine to lust and be bisexual- but not when you put that lust into action. Regardless whether you’re homo or bi or straight, you’re supposed to be decent anyway, and the only time consummation is allowed is when it’s between two married people.
Homosexuals cannot marry because the union is not recognized in Islam, so why are you homos even having sex?
I’m bisexual myself too, but I seriously think this issue has been warped out of point.
OCCAM’S RAZOR, PLEASE!
May 21st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
i agree with Follower of the book. I researched the text quoted by the speaker it is does not say “that one of the blessings for human beings was that all men and women are equal, regardless of ethnicity, wealth, social positions or even sexual orientation.”
either the author of the blog misquoted the speaker or the speaker had misquoted the source.
Whatever it is, we are all on one Earth. Why can’t we just be one people? wouldn’t be easier if we just stopped fighting about anything?