LGBT and Homosexuality in Islam: Preserving the Fitrah Allah Decreed
أَأَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ
“Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people transgressing.” (QS. Al-A’raf [7]: 81)
Dear readers, this topic may feel heavy. But let us begin with a simple reflection.
Allah created humans in a fitrah that is very well-ordered — male and female, complementing each other, loving each other, and building life together. This is not a coincidence. It is a design that Allah established with profound wisdom.
وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَىٰ
“And that He creates the two mates — the male and the female.” (QS. An-Najm [53]: 45)
So what happens when someone desires the same sex? What happens when the fitrah that Allah has decreed is inverted?
This is what happened to the people of Lut — a people whom Allah destroyed because they inverted the fitrah. And today, when liberal ideology promotes LGBT as “human rights” and “individual freedom,” we need to return to Islam — not with hatred, but with clarity.
This article will guide you to understand: what is Islam’s view on homosexuality and LGBT? Why is the story of the people of Lut so important? How does Nizhamul Ijtima’iyyah (the Islamic social system) address the root of the problem? And what is the correct attitude for a Muslim?
All discussions here refer to Nizhamul Ijtima’iyyah fil Islam by Sheikh Taqiyuddin An-Nabhani, the fundamental reference of Hizbut Tahrir on the social system in Islam.
Let us discuss this calmly and with clarity.
1. Definitions and Terminology: Understanding Terms Correctly
Dear readers, before going into deeper discussion, let us first understand the relevant terms — so we can speak about this topic with knowledge and clarity.
Terms in Islamic Sharia
| Arabic Term | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| اللِوَاط (Al-Liwath) | Male homosexuality | Attributed to the people of Prophet Lut |
| السِّحَاق (As-Sahaq) | Lesbian (women with women) | From the word “rubbing” |
| المُخَنَّث (Al-Mukhannath) | Man who resembles a woman | Different term from modern LGBT |
| القَوْمُ الْمُسْرِفُونَ | The transgressing people | Allah’s designation for the people of Lut |
Modern LGBT Terms
| Term | Meaning | Islamic View |
|---|---|---|
| Gay | Man attracted to men | The act is haram, a major sin |
| Lesbian | Woman attracted to women | The act is haram, a major sin |
| Bisexual | Attracted to both genders | The act is haram |
| Transgender | Changing gender identity | Altering Allah’s creation |
What needs to be understood: Islam does not recognize the concept of “sexual orientation” in the modern sense. In Islam, what is judged is the act, not feelings or desires. And homosexual acts — liwath and sahaq — are haram by the consensus of all scholars (ijma’).
2. The Story of the People of Lut: A Lesson from History That Must Not Be Forgotten
Dear readers, the story of the people of Lut is not merely a tale of the past. It is a warning — which Allah has recounted repeatedly in the Qur’an so that we do not repeat it.
2.1 The Da’wah of Prophet Lut ‘Alaihissalam
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِي وَقَدْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
“And [mention] when Lut said to his people, ‘Why do you commit such immorality when no one has preceded you of the worlds?’” (QS. Al-A’raf [7]: 80)
Note the phrase “when no one has preceded you of the worlds.” This shows that this act was so foreign and contrary to fitrah — that the people of Lut became the first nation to do it openly.
Allah continues in the next verse:
أَأَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ
“Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a people transgressing.” (QS. Al-A’raf [7]: 81)
The word musrifun (مُسْرِفُونَ) — “transgressing” — shows that they were not merely “different.” They transgressed the boundaries of the fitrah that Allah decreed. Transgressed common sense. Transgressed what the nature of healthy humans can accept.
2.2 The People of Lut’s Response to Da’wah
And how did they respond? Not with repentance. Not with remorse. But with threats.
لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهِ يَا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ
“If you do not desist, O Lut, you will surely be of those who are expelled.” (QS. Al-A’raf [7]: 82)
This is a recurring pattern: when a wrongdoing has become entrenched in society, those who warn against it are threatened. It is not the wrongdoing that stops — but the da’wah that they want to stop.
2.3 The Angels Came in the Form of Handsome Youths
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| Angels came to Ibrahim | Giving glad tidings of the birth of Ishaq |
| Ibrahim worried for Lut | He knew the people of Lut would harass his guests |
| Angels arrived at the people of Lut | The people of Lut immediately came to Lut’s house demanding his guests |
| Lut pleaded | ”This is a difficult day” — he already knew what would happen |
| Angels revealed themselves | ”We are angels; you will not be able to touch us” |
| Punishment was sent down | Their city was overturned, rained with stones of baked clay |
فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ مَنْضُودٍ
“So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay, lined up one after another.” (QS. Hud [11]: 82)
Notice how Allah destroyed them: the city was overturned from top to bottom — as if Allah was showing that since they inverted the fitrah, Allah inverted their city. A tandiq (تنديق) — a punishment matching the deed — that is very deep in meaning.
3. Sharia Evidences: The Foundation of the Prohibition of Homosexuality
Dear readers, the prohibition of homosexuality in Islam is not from just one source — but from many evidences that reinforce each other. This shows how seriously Islam views this matter.
3.1 From the Qur’an
Allah says in several surahs:
أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ
“Do you approach males among all worlds and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing.” (QS. Asy-Syu’ara’ [26]: 165-166)
This verse is very clear. Allah questions — in a style that shows the unnaturalness — why someone would leave the mates that Allah created (women) and turn to the same gender (men). This is not merely a “choice.” This is a rejection of Allah’s design.
And Allah also says:
وَاللَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَانِهَا مِنْكُمْ فَآذُوهُمَا ۖ فَإِنْ تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَحِيمًا
“And the two who commit it among you, dishonor them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (QS. An-Nisa’ [4]: 16)
This verse shows that repentance is always open. Even for a sin as great as this, Allah still accepts the repentance of those who sincerely repent. This is important — because Islam never closes the door of mercy.
3.2 From the Sunnah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ يَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ فَاقْتُلُوا الْفَاعِلَ وَالْمَفْعُولَ بِهِ
“Whoever you find doing the action of the people of Lut, kill the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.” (HR. Abu Dawud no. 4462, Tirmidhi no. 1456)
And in another narration:
لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلَ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
“Allah has cursed the one who does the action of the people of Lut.” (HR. Ahmad no. 1368)
3.3 Consensus of Scholars
All scholars from every era — from the time of the companions until today — have agreed (ijma’) that the acts of liwath (male homosexuality) and sahaq (lesbianism) are haram and major sins. There is not a single school of fiqh that permits it.
| School | Ruling on Liwath | Ruling on Sahaq |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Haram, major sin | Haram, major sin |
| Maliki | Haram, major sin | Haram, major sin |
| Shafi’i | Haram, major sin | Haram, major sin |
| Hanbali | Haram, major sin | Haram, major sin |
This consensus is not a coincidence. It arises from the same understanding of the evidences we have discussed — and from the awareness that these acts contradict the fitrah that Allah decreed.
4. The Punishment for Homosexuality in Islam: Justice with Wisdom
Dear readers, this is the part that is often misunderstood. When Islam establishes a punishment for homosexuality, the purpose is not “cruelty” or “revenge.” The purpose is protecting society from greater corruption.
وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالًا مِنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“As for the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (QS. Al-Ma’idah [5]: 38)
Notice: punishments in Islam always have two functions — jaza’ (جزاء) — recompense for the act — and nakala (نَكَالًا) — deterrence so that others do not imitate. Likewise the punishment for homosexuality.
Difference of Opinion Among Scholars on the Punishment for Liwath
| School | Punishment | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Hanifah | Ta’zir (discretionary punishment by the judge) | Not zina, because there is no husband-wife relationship |
| Malik | Stoning (if muhsan) or lashing (if ghairu muhsan) | Analogized to zina |
| Asy-Syafi’i | Stoning (if muhsan) or lashing + exile | Analogized to zina |
| Ahmad bin Hanbal | Death penalty (by an appropriate method) | Based on the hadith of Abu Dawud |
What needs to be understood: these punishments can only be carried out by the state (the Islamic Khilafah) — not by individuals or groups. A Muslim must not “take the law into their own hands.” This is the authority of the legitimate ruler — who implements the law according to sharia.
Difference Between Liwath and Sahaq
| Aspect | Liwath (Male-Male) | Sahaq (Female-Female) |
|---|---|---|
| Ruling | Haram, major sin | Haram, major sin |
| Punishment | According to the school chosen by the state | Ta’zir (discretionary punishment by the judge) |
| Specific evidence | Hadith of Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi | QS. An-Nisa’ [4]: 16, qiyas |
| Severity level | Heavier | Lighter |
This difference in severity does not mean sahaq is “permissible.” It remains haram and a major sin. But in Islamic fiqh, the level of impact on society differs — and the punishment is adjusted accordingly.
5. Islam Separates the Act from the Actor
Dear readers, this is a very important point — and often overlooked.
Islam prohibits the homosexual act — but does not prohibit the actor from repenting. In fact, Islam affirms that Allah is the Accepter of Repentance.
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’” (QS. Az-Zumar [39]: 53)
This verse was revealed for all sins — including homosexuality. And this shows that Islam does not “hate” the actor — Islam hates the act and wants the actor to return to Allah.
Analogy: The Doctor and the Patient
Imagine a doctor facing a patient suffering from a dangerous disease. A good doctor will not scold his patient — but he will diagnose the disease, explain its dangers, and provide treatment.
Likewise Islam. Islam is the “doctor” for the ummah. It diagnoses the moral disease — explains its dangers — and provides the cure: repentance, self-improvement, and a life in accordance with fitrah.
Islam does not say “you are a bad person.” Islam says “this act is dangerous, and you can change.”
This is what distinguishes Islam’s attitude from both the liberal attitude and the extremist attitude. Islam does not normalize the homosexual act — but it also does not ostracize the actor. Islam invites a return to fitrah — with wisdom and mercy.
6. Why Does Islam Fundamentally Reject LGBT?
Dear readers, Islam’s rejection of LGBT is not merely “because it is prohibited.” There are fundamental reasons that we can understand with reason and fitrah.
6.1 LGBT Contradicts Fitrah
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion.” (QS. Ar-Rum [30]: 30)
The word fithratan (فِطْرَةَ) — “fitrah” — means the basic nature that Allah instilled in humans from birth. And that fitrah is: men are attracted to women, and women are attracted to men. This is not a social construct. This is not the result of indoctrination. This is Allah’s design — written into the DNA of every human.
When someone desires the same gender, Islam understands this as a deviation from fitrah — not as a “natural variation.” Because if it were natural, why would Allah destroy the people who did it? Why would Allah call it an “immorality”?
6.2 LGBT Destroys Generations
| Aspect | Male-Female Marriage | Homosexual Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Offspring | Can have children | Cannot have children |
| Continuation of generations | Preserved | Discontinued |
| Family structure | Complete (father & mother) | No father/mother |
| Social impact | Society grows healthily | Society’s population declines |
Islam is very concerned with the continuity of the ummah. And homosexuality — if normalized — would threaten that continuity. Not only biologically (no offspring), but also socially (children losing father or mother figures).
6.3 LGBT Ignores the Wisdom Behind the Creation of Pairs
Allah created men and women with complementary traits. Not only biologically — but also psychologically, emotionally, and socially.
| Trait | Man | Woman | Complementarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical | Strong, sturdy | Soft, gentle | Man protects, woman nurtures |
| Emotional | Tends to be rational | Tends to be emotional | Balance in decision-making |
| Natural role | Seeking provision | Bearing and nursing children | Both are needed for the family |
When same-sex relationships are normalized, all of this wisdom is ignored. And society loses the balance that Allah decreed.
7. The Liberal Ideology Behind the Promotion of LGBT
Dear readers, this is the part that needs to be understood clearly. LGBT today is not merely “individual behavior.” It has become an ideology — systematically promoted by global powers.
7.1 LGBT as a Product of Capitalist-Secular Thought
| Stage | Method |
|---|---|
| 1. Normalizing | Through films, media, art — LGBT is presented as “normal” |
| 2. Punishing opponents | Anyone who opposes is labeled “discriminatory,” “homophobic” |
| 3. Institutionalizing | Same-sex marriage laws, bans on “conversion therapy” |
| 4. Exporting | Through political pressure, economic sanctions, and cultural intervention |
This is what Hizbut Tahrir calls kasyful khutut (كشف الخطط) — exposing the plans — so that the ummah is not deceived.
7.2 Pretexts Used
| Pretext | Islamic Response |
|---|---|
| ”This is a human right” | Human rights in Islam are limited by sharia — there is no right to sin |
| ”This is a personal choice” | In Islam, personal choices that harm society must be prevented |
| ”They were born that way” | There is no scientific evidence that homosexual orientation is genetically innate |
| ”It does not harm others” | It destroys generations, destroys fitrah, and invites Allah’s punishment |
| ”This is love” | Love that contradicts fitrah is not true love |
What needs to be understood: Islam does not hostility individuals who experience same-sex attraction. Islam rejects the ideology that normalizes and promotes this act as something “normal” and a “human right.”
7.3 Scientific Facts: No “Gay Gene”
| Claim | Scientific Fact |
|---|---|
| ”There is a gay gene” | No specific gene has been found after decades of research |
| ”LGBT is natural” | No animal consistently exhibits homosexuality as an “orientation" |
| "It cannot be changed” | Many reports exist from people who successfully left the homosexual lifestyle |
| ”It has existed since birth” | Same-sex attraction usually emerges after certain environmental exposure |
This point is important: Islam is not anti-science. And when science does not support the claims of LGBT ideology, there is no reason for the Muslim ummah to accept them.
8. The Root of the Problem: How Can Someone Fall Into This?
Dear readers, rather than merely “punishing” and “rejecting,” Islam also invites us to understand the root of the problem — so we can prevent it.
In Nizhamul Ijtima’iyyah, Sheikh Taqiyuddin An-Nabhani explains that a social environment not regulated by sharia is one of the main factors that opens the door to this deviation.
Contributing Factors
| Factor | Explanation | Connection to Nizhamul Ijtima’iyyah |
|---|---|---|
| Mixing of men and women (ikhtilath) | An environment that mixes without boundaries blurs understanding of gender roles | Islam separates the public life of men and women |
| Exposure to pornography | Obscene content damages fitrah and can trigger experimentation | Islam prohibits tabarruj and pornography |
| Dysfunctional family | A child who loses a father/mother figure is vulnerable to seeking wrong substitutes | Islam builds strong families through lawful marriage |
| Peer/environmental influence | Association with perpetrators can normalize the behavior | Islam builds a society that enjoining good and forbidding evil |
| Childhood trauma/abuse | Bad experiences can distort understanding of relationships | Islam protects children with strong laws and social systems |
Notice that all of these factors relate to the social system. And this is why Islam does not only “prohibit” homosexuality — but also builds a social system that prevents it from occurring in the first place.
9. Islam’s Solution: Building a System That Preserves Fitrah
Dear readers, now we come to the most practical part. If the root of the problem is a corrupted social system, then the solution is to build a correct social system.
9.1 Solutions at the System Level (State)
| Solution | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Implementing Nizhamul Ijtima’iyyah | Islamic social system: separation of public life, prohibition of ikhtilath and khalwah |
| Eradicating pornography | Closing access to obscene content, regulating media |
| Enforcing sharia punishments | Implementing Islamic law against perpetrators of liwath — by the state, not individuals |
| Building strong families | Encouraging lawful marriage, protecting children’s rights |
| Islamic education | Teaching fitrah, social etiquette, and the story of the people of Lut from an early age |
9.2 Solutions at the Individual Level
| Solution | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Seeking sharia knowledge | Understanding Islamic law on social interaction and fitrah |
| Guarding the gaze | QS. An-Nur [24]: 30-31: lowering the gaze from what is haram |
| Choosing a good environment | Avoiding social circles that normalize wrongdoing |
| Strengthening the relationship with Allah | Prayer, dhikr, Qur’an recitation — to keep the heart protected |
| Praying to Allah | Asking for steadfastness upon fitrah |
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
“Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us a leader for the righteous.” (QS. Al-Furqan [25]: 74)
9.3 For Those Who Want to Repent
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Sincere repentance (taubah nasuha) | Sincere repentance — leaving the act, feeling remorse, and resolving not to repeat |
| 2. Leaving the old environment | Cut contact with friends or places that led to the behavior |
| 3. Building a new environment | Associating with people who encourage goodness |
| 4. Getting religious guidance | Study circles, mentoring, guidance from scholars who understand the issue |
| 5. Psychological support | Counseling with professionals who support change in accordance with sharia |
And most importantly: never despair of Allah’s mercy. Allah Himself says: “Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.” (QS. Az-Zumar [39]: 53). The door of repentance is always open — as long as the soul has not reached the throat.
10. Conclusion: Returning to Fitrah
Dear readers,
Let us summarize this journey briefly and calmly:
First, Islam prohibits homosexuality — liwath and sahaq — with clear evidences from the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the consensus of scholars. This is not the opinion of one group. This is the consensus of the entire Muslim ummah throughout history.
Second, the story of the people of Lut is a lesson that Allah has recounted repeatedly in the Qur’an. The punishment that Allah sent down — overturning the city and raining stones — shows how serious this matter is. And the people of Lut became the first nation to do it, showing that this act contradicts human fitrah.
Third, Islam separates the act from the actor. Islam prohibits the act — but opens the door of repentance as wide as possible. Allah is the Most Forgiving, and He accepts the repentance of His servants who are sincere.
Fourth, the liberal ideology behind the promotion of LGBT needs to be understood so that the ummah is not deceived. LGBT is not merely a “human right” — it is a product of secular-capitalist thought that contradicts fitrah and sharia.
Fifth, the root of the problem is a corrupted social system. And the solution is to build Nizhamul Ijtima’iyyah — the Islamic social system — that prevents this deviation from occurring in the first place: through separation of public life, eradication of pornography, strengthening of families, and Islamic education.
Sixth, repentance is always open. For anyone who wants to return to fitrah — Islam welcomes them with open arms. No one needs to be shamed. No one needs to be ostracized. What exists is an invitation to return — to Allah, to fitrah, to a noble life.
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And those who strive for Us — We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” (QS. Al-‘Ankabut [29]: 69)
May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala protect us all — preserve the fitrah He has decreed, open our hearts to return to Him, and grant success to anyone who wishes to repent to walk the straight path.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (QS. Al-Baqarah [2]: 201)
Continue the Journey: