Homosexuality in Islam

Some people who only follow the Quran state that homosexuality is not a sin, while others simply want to know whether it is a sin based on the Quran alone. To be honest, the answer to this question is very clear-cut and explicit. So, let's look at what Allah SWT says about this matter.

Allah tells us that He created us from a male and a female. In 49:13, He says:

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female…"

Allah also tells us that He created "Al-Zawjayni," meaning the two mates — the male and female. In 53:45:

"And that He creates the two mates — the male and female — from a sperm-drop when it is emitted."

The Arabic word "Zawj" comes from the trilateral root Zay-Waw-Jim, which carries meanings such as pair, spouse, or mate. So, this verse is referring to the two that Allah created as a pair, as a couple — the male and the female.

Allah also says in 7:189:

"It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he might dwell with her. And when he covers her, she carries a light burden and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke Allah, their Lord, 'If You should give us a good [child], we will surely be among the grateful.'"

Here, Allah is describing the creation of mankind. He tells us that He created mankind from one soul and then created its mate from it. Notice the grammar Allah SWT uses when describing the two mates. He says "so that he may live/dwell with her" (liyaskuna—3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb) "with her" (ilayha—3rd person feminine singular object pronoun).

This shows us that the two mates being described are male and female. Allah then says: "When he covers her, she carries a light burden and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke Allah with a prayer…" This is referring to intimacy between the male and female, followed by the female becoming pregnant. The burden begins as something light and then becomes heavier, at which point both of them invoke Allah for a good child.

So, we can see that Allah created male and female as mates for one another, and that intimacy between them can result in the conception of children. This is the way Allah created us; this is His way.

Now Allah SWT tells us about Lut, a prophet and messenger sent to his people.

"And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, 'Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men (Al-rijala) with lust, instead of women (Al-Nisa). Rather, you are a transgressing people.'"

These verses give us a clear picture of what Lut was addressing. He tells his people that they are committing an immorality unlike anything committed by those before them. The context then explains what that immorality was: approaching men with lust instead of women. Lut then describes them as a transgressing people because of this action.

We see the same thing in 27:54:

"And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, 'Do you commit immorality while you are seeing? Why do you approach the men with lust instead of the women? Nay, you are an ignorant people.'"

Again, Lut identifies what they are doing as an immorality, and the verse explicitly describes that behavior as approaching men with lust instead of women.

Then in 26:165–166, Allah says:

"Do you approach males among the worlds, and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."

Here, the same point is made even more clearly. They are approaching males while leaving what Allah created for them as mates. Since the opposite of males is females, the verse is contrasting approaching males with what Allah created for them as mates—the females. And Lut calls this a transgression.

Addressing the Other Interpretations

Some people who only follow the Quran argue that these verses are not condemning homosexuality itself, but that the people of Lut were being condemned because they were assaulting people, forcing themselves upon others, robbing people, or committing other acts.

However, these particular verses do not mention force, assault, or robbery. Instead, they specifically describe the people of Lut as approaching men with lust instead of women, and this behavior is called a "Fahishata."

The word "Fahishata" comes from the trilateral root Fa-Ha-Shin, which carries meanings such as immorality, abomination, filth, or foulness.

Another verse people use to support the argument that something other than homosexuality was being condemned is 29:28–29. Allah says:

"And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, 'Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds. Indeed, you approach men and you cut off the way and commit in your meetings [every] evil.' And the answer of his people was not but they said, 'Bring us the punishment of Allah, if you should be of the truthful.'"

Notice that 29:28 begins with the exact same description found in 7:80: "Indeed, you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds." Then 29:29 explains what that immorality involves: "Indeed, you approach men." It also says that they "cut off the way" (Al-sabil) and commit evil in their meetings.

If we look at the context as a whole, these statements are connected. The verse is not describing completely separate acts. Rather, they are part of the same description of the behavior of Lut's people. They were approaching men with lust, leaving what Allah created for them as mates, and thereby transgressing against the way of Allah.

And when Allah says they "cut off the way," this can be understood in the context of cutting off the way of God, because they were going against the way Allah established for male and female mates.

What About Women?

Another argument is that Allah only addresses men in these verses and does not explicitly mention women engaging in the same behavior.

But 26:166 gives us a principle that extends beyond the specific people being addressed:

"…and leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing."

The issue is not simply who Allah was addressing at that moment. The principle is that approaching others while leaving what Allah created for you as a mate is described as a transgression. Therefore, if a woman were to lust after another woman while leaving what Allah created for her as a mate—the male—that would likewise fall under the same principle and would be a Fahishata (immorality).

So, Is Homosexuality a Sin According to the Quran?

We know that what Allah declares haram is prohibited. So if you do those things, it is a sin. And Allah explicitly says in 7:33:

"Say, 'My Lord has only forbidden immoralities (Al-fawahisha)—what is apparent of them and what is concealed—and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.'"

The words Al-Fawahisha and Al-Fahishata come from the same root and refer to immoralities. So, when the Quran describes the act of approaching men with lust instead of women as a Fahishata, and Allah says that Al-Fawahisha are forbidden, the conclusion is clear:

According to the Quran alone, homosexuality is haram in our religion, and therefore it is a sin if it is committed.