“If Allah forbids homosexuality, then why does He allow people to be born gay?

Why is homosexuality a sin if Allah made me this way?

Why did Allah make me gay and then punish me for it?”

Familiar Questions?

As believers, we need to understand that the purpose of this life is to worship Allah and work our way to Paradise, which He has created us for. But Paradise is not easy to attain – however the harder the struggle the more beautiful the rewards. Allah has given each of us something to struggle with, and in His Mercy, He chose that struggle that we were most capable of. Despite how difficult that struggle may be, we are to always remember that “Allah does not burden a soul with more than it can bear.”

“On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear; before Us is a record which clearly shows the truth; they will never be wronged. (Qur’an 23:62)

Allah does not make trials for us which we cannot pass.

Examinations are different and there are examinations for all of us. The tests which Allah places in our everyday lives are done so for us to better recognize ourselves, our weak and strong points, to diagnose our diseases, and to cure these diseases.

Everyone’s struggle is unique. It could be in the form of physical or mental handicaps, obsessive compulsive disorder, being born in an extremely impoverished environment, being trapped in a war-stricken place like in Palestine or Syria or Afghanistan, with your parents and siblings wounded and raped in front of your eyes and bombs exploding around you at all times, or being homosexual.

“A person is not to be blamed for his nature. Rather, he is to be blamed if he acts according to his nature.” -Al-Junayd in ‘Hilyat al-Awliya”

Thus, if we rightly manage to overcome our diseases by using the opportunities Allah puts forward to us, we shall earn piety and purification of our hearts.

Islam is clear in its prohibition of homosexual acts. Islamic scholars cite these reasons for condemning homosexuality, based on teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah:

• It clashes with the “natural” order in which God created human beings
• It brings destruction of the family and the institutions of marriage
• It leads people to ignore God’s guidance in other areas of life

The Qur’an shares stories which are meant to teach us valuable lessons. The Qur’an tells the story of the people of Prophet Lut (Lot) (peace be upon him), which is similar to the story as shared in the Old Testament of the Bible. We learn of an entire nation which was destroyed by God due to their obscene behavior, which included rampant homosexuality.

And [We had sent] Lot (peace be upon him) when he said to his people, “Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? For you come in lust to men in preference to women. No, you are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.” (Qur’an 7:80-81).

In another verse, Lut (peace be upon him) advised them: “Do you approach males among the worlds. And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing.” (Qur’an 26:165-166).

The people rejected Prophet Lut (peace be upon him) and threw him out of the city. In response, God destroyed them as punishment for their transgressions and disobedience.

Imam Al-Aajuri (may Allah have mercy on him) has said, “Allah Ta’ala has informed you about the despicable act of homosexuality committed by the people of Lot (peace be upon him) and how He punished them by first snatching away their eyesight. Angel Jibraeel (peace be upon him) was then instructed to uproot their cities with all the inhabitants until they were high up into the sky and then turn over their cities upon them.

Thereafter they were pelted with stones of clay.” Such was their punishment that not a single citizen could save himself from the stones and from being completely destroyed. It is said that they were four million in number.  (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Pg.471 Vol. 2)

Let us reflect! Why did God Almighty punish them so severely in such a manner that He had never punished any other nation before? Surely their sin must have been really serious for the Creator to have punished and destroyed them in this way.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Certainly, the thing I fear most on my Ummah is the (wicked) practice of the people of Lut.”  (Tirmidhi, Hadith No.1457, Pg. 624, Vol.1, Altaf and Sons)

He also said, “May Allah curse him who does what the people of Lut did.”  (Ibn Hibbaan, Hadith No.4417, Pg.265, Vol.10, Risaalah Aalamiyah)

Homosexuality stems from conditioning or exposure and is a serious deviation from the inherent nature of man. It is unnatural to be gay, just as it is unnatural to rape, commit incest or murder, despite the claims made that these are all “natural acts”. An even sadder claim is the statement that there are homosexual animals, thus homosexuality is natural. Our Lord who created mankind as the best of all species clearly does not expect us to live and function in a lowly animalistic behavior. He wants us to conduct ourselves in a manner suitable to our standings. The institution of marriage is considered the foundation of society, which is the natural state in which all people have been created to live within.

Those persons who feel homosexual urges should strive to change. It is a challenge, as all other types of challenges that people face in their lives in different ways. Everyone who is in a matter of struggle and trials could ask the question: “If I am bound to sin or be miserable in this situation, why did Allah put me in it in the first place?” The reality is that we can deal with it, whatever the challenge, and this is our test. Allah alone knows why He chose one particular test for us over another, because perhaps we would not be able to deal with and successfully pass another form of test and trial.

As people who believe in God Almighty, we do not question our Creator or think ill of Him. He is Perfect, All-Good and All-Wise. We should not use our limited minds to judge and question Allah.

Allah did not make you homosexuals. To say that, is to accuse and lie about Allah which will result in His anger.

We are here to earn God-consciousness and a spiritual connection with our Creator. We are to prefer Allah’s will over ours. Instead of submitting to our human temptations and whims, we train ourselves to submit only to our Lord.
May Allah protect us.