Homosexuality in Islam - 3723 Words

Macalester Islam Journal Volume 2 Macalester Islam Journal Issue 3 Article 8 3-28-2007 Homosexuality in Islam: A Difficult Paradox Nicole Kligerman Macalester College Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/islam Recommended Citation Kligerman, Nicole (2007) Homosexuality in Islam: A Difficult Paradox, Macalester Islam Journal: Vol. 2: Iss. 3, Article 8. Available at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/islam/vol2/iss3/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Religious Studies Department at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Macalester Islam Journal by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more†¦show more content†¦The Qur’an further encourages sex by outlawing celibacy and permitting polygamy, thus reinforcing heteronormative sexual behavior. Since the purpose of sex is procreation according the religious text, homosexuality is seen as an aberration of Allah’s will which threatens Muslims with extinction. As a result, there is officially no room for homosexuality or homosexuals within Islam.43 Scholars of shari’a, Islamic law, interpret homosexuality to be not merely a sin, but a crime as well. Despite this, there is no specific punishment for homosexuality; instead, the decision is left to the discretion of the ruling authorities. Shari’a encourages those accused of homosexuality to repent instead of confessing to the â€Å"crime†. This phenomenon can potentially explain the paucity of historical literature of punishment of sexual transgressions.44 â€Å"Islamic law stands for privacy and protects it by all means. Besides, it repeatedly emphasizes that a person is innocent until proven guilty without any doubt, and 39 Duran 182 Ibid 182 41 Ibid 182 42 Ibid 182 43 Ibid 183 44 Ibid 184 40 Published by DigitalCommons@Macalester College, 2007 3 Macalester Islam Journal, Vol. 2 [2007], Iss. 3, Art. 8 Macalester Islam Journal Spring 2007 page 55 ______________________________________________________ everyone should have the benefit of the slightest doubt.†45 Therefore the jurisprudence laid out in Islamic law also aids those accused of being gay. MuslimShow MoreRelatedTwisting Islam to Justify Cruelty Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesJournal Article 1: Twisting Islam to justify cruelty Paul Sheehan in his piece titled ‘Twisting Islam to justify cruelty’ which appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald (27/05/2013) responds to the 2013 murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, a British soldier, and explores the Islamic stance on the killing of non-Muslims. 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