Nowdays, in the rise of the awareness of gender & sexuality, people are identifying themselves with lots of new terms, under one umbrella designed to be inclusive to everyone.
This has clearly caused confusion to Muslims as we have run millennias of civilizations with the differentiation and expectations of role between male and female.
But, what if I told you, despite what you think,
the definition of sex & gender that I’ve mentioned just now, does not contradict with Islam?
Sex is binary, gender is a spectrum.
Which means, you are free to express yourself in the spectrum, but you identify ultimately with yourself. Meaning, what is biologically you.
Thus,
you may be free to do whatever you want in the gender spectrum, but the rulings applying to you are the sex-constructed rules & regulations in Quran.
Like, a man who likes cross-dressing. He might put all-in effort for them to look as feminine as possible.
Try to do it as much as he can, he’ll always be a male in Islam.
Another example is getting surgery; where a man might alter his secondary sexual characteristics, up until actually changing the genitals inside out.
Do as much surgery as he can, he’ll always be a male in Islam.
I’m not saying they are all allowed in Islam. Halal & haram, that’s another story to be told. My point is,
whatever you do to match yourself with the other sex so you can identify as their gender, you would still be identified according to your sex in Islam.
And I’m not saying it in a bad, restricted version too. Like, I actually understand all of new terms about gender & sexuality, designed to address customs issues. And personally I learn a lot from them.
I’m just saying, in Islam,
those terms are not needed because it’s simpler already in Islam.
Because, there are also Muslims spreading the ideas that LGBT are actually allowed in Islam, although sex-constructed rules are one of the type of rules being the most clarified in Islam.
It makes me wonder genuinely, why they pull such a lot of efforts to do so?
One possibility that I could think of, is because
we Muslims are not acknowledging them as Muslims too. They want to live the life that they want, but want to be Muslims too. Thus, a branch of reformed Islam is born.
Thus, the answer to the popular question of
“Do Islam accept LGBT people?”, can be answered in 2 ways.
Islam definitely do not accept other way of life including new sexuality and gender identification, apart from the simple one that Islam itself provided; you identify yourself with what you’re born with biologically.
But, does people who have these different sexuality and experiencing like they belong to the opposite sex, are excluded from Islam?
Definitely not!
Islam is for whoever who witness Allah is the one true God & Muhammad is His final messenger. As long as someone believes in these two things, they are Muslims and they are entitled to every single right of a Muslim; which may include not being talked-behind, dealing with other Muslims professionally, getting inheritance, and others.
The truth is simple; no matter what you do, if you believe, you’ll always be a Muslim.
And as a Muslim, you’re always be a male if you’re born male, and female if you’re born female.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking.
Trust me, I do know what you’re thinking.
I understand that I might sound too laid back, and the practicality of this principle is not as simple as it sounds.
I understand that behaviors regarding gender & sexuality are not small & petty things in Islam that we should shut our eyes from.
I understand, that without strict regulations from Islam, LGBT people in Islam could go way across the line, that could actually jeopardize their position as Muslims.
Thus, let me clarify that
I’m talking about this in a larger sense, to the majority of people. Rulings, what’s halal & haram, are not my specialties. In addition, real-life application always differs.
But what I uphold is,
I should not discriminate against others regardless of their gender & sexuality. Apart from certain behavior that Allah do order us (for example, not letting males identifying as the other gender enters women’s bathroom, as this would expose the women's aurah), I would not add on other types of injustice on them, and I would not withhold them from any other of their rights as a human & as a Muslim.
I would not let my beliefs & feelings towards a certain group of people abstain me from being just & fair on them.
Surah Al-Maidah, verse 2
Speaking of which, I do have my messages for the LGBT Muslims.
(I do aware of the other letters behind the acronyms, but due to my lack of knowledge, I'm sticking with the basic one)
1) You are a Muslim.
In case you forgot.
In case people around you keep telling that you’re not.
As long as you believe Allah is the one true God & Muhammad is His final messenger,
you are a Muslim. No one could take that away from you. Whoever condemns you to be lower that you should be, please remind them back with Surah Al-Maidah, verse 2.
You are a Muslim & you are entitled to every right that every other Muslims have.
2) Think about the construct of society.
LGBT ideas come mainly from the Western world, where they have a individualistic orientation of looking at life. They emphasizes uniqueness, and society should tend & mend to their uniqueness. Basically, nothing’s wrong with that core.
It becomes wrong when it’s too much. (Well, everything becomes wrong when it’s too much)
Islam emphasizes justice very much. You’re not the only person living on this Earth. We live together, with different beliefs, mindsets & perception towards each other. Yet we need each other.
In addition, Islam also teaches us that what we think would be the private stuff to us, actually do have their effects on society as a whole.
I’m not here to judge what you’re experiencing. But the one thing that I could say is, in regards to behaviour, please do consider & think of others. I know that sounds backwards, in this era where everyone is telling each other to show your authentic self regardless of what people say. And that
is true.
But I'm talking here from another perspective; where doing whatever you want to do while dismissing what the consequences would be to others, is
selfish.
If you’re living with other Muslims communities, coming out openly, encouraging supporting all of those LGBT events, would not bring benefit to everybody. It would make your Muslim community crumble. Be wise on how you would be able to handle this issue. Make sure of your actions after considering others as a factor too.
If you still insist on doing so, on the basis on
“Why care what other people say?”
then, my third message would be:
3) You’re a Muslim.
It’s about time to remind yourself again you’re a Muslim.
You believe in Allah as the one true God & Muhammad is His final messenger.
As you believe Allah is the ones who created you, have at least a little bit of faith in His restrictions. He created you, He knows what’s good & not good for you.
He does not prohibit or order for nothing.
Surah Al-Mukminun, verse 115
In addition, by reminding you’re a Muslim, please remember that Allah who is Ar-Rahim, has love for Muslims all around the world, including you.
Whenever you have a hard time, struggling, coping, and desires, I hope this reminder, that the fact Allah loves you for who you are, Allah sees your effort and does not dismiss you, gives you courage.
I hope you will gain strength to actually identify yourself with the words that Allah is pleased with.
And despite what’s going on the outside, I believe this is a very hard task for you. Again, just remember when nobody is on your side, when you are feeling outcasted by either the Muslims communities or the LGBT communities, Allah is always on your side.
So keep fighting on what’s right. Keep fighting on the ultimate truth.
Truth is mostly always simple.
Yes, simple does not mean easy.
But indeed, it’s simple.
sciglow.com
Comments
Post a Comment