Homosexuality

Salam!

Bismillah

So a sister posted an article about homosexuality in Islam HERE. She asked us to tell her what we thought about it.

I started to compile my thoughts and it started to get pretty loonnnggg lol. So I thought I would write a post here and share the link inshaAllah.

So, in my opinion this issue breaks down into two separate ideas:
I. How I would treat gay people as a believing Muslim
II. What Islam and the Qur'an actually say about homosexuality

I. How would I treat gay people
Simply: with tolerance. Would I condemn someone who is struggling not to sin, maybe winning sometimes and losing others? Absolutely not. I have been and am in the position where I struggle daily with a certain sin(s). Would I condemn a brother who drinks but is trying desperately to stop for the sake of Allah? No. This is jihad and is something commendable!
Allah gives tests to EVERYONE. Whether you see them as good or bad, easy or hard: It makes no difference. Allah knows better than we do. He clearly told us what to do in the Qur'an subhanAllah.

However, if I see someone who tries to warp the teachings of the Qur'an to suit their viewpoint, I will not support this. It is wrong to say that something that is haraam is halal in any way, even makruh (disliked). If it is forbidden, then it is forbidden. It is our job as brothers and sisters in Islam to give gentle naseeha (advice) to help correct this, but we should not do it in a way to make others turn from Islam.

So to me, I see two categories of gay people:
a. those who realize that these actions are a sin and struggle in the way of Allah to control these actions
b. those who try to say that being homosexual is not a sin, just another way to love. This is shaytan wispering you guys. He's waswas-ing all over the place! The Qur'an is clear on this, there is no ambiguity! (as I will show in the next part) To say it is not that bad when Allah says it is crossing the line is WRONG!

II. What the Qur'an says about homosexuality:
I believe that if we are going to talk about Islam and homosexuality we should throw out some daleel (evidence). Saying things like "I don't think Allah would do this" or "I don't think it is fair for Allah to do this" is not daleel. Allah and HIS WISDOM is above what we "feel" or "think" because we do not have the knowledge. HE does, subhanAllah Alhamdulillah.

26:165-166, 168-169
"Must you, unlike other people, lust after males and abandon the wives that God has created for you? You are exceeding all bounds... So he (Lot) said, 'I loathe what you do: Lord, save me and my family from what they are doing."

In this passage, lust for men and abandoning women as mates are the only charges brought against Lot's people, and these alone are enough to cross Allah's line. Allah created man and woman for each other and He knows best why.

11:78
"His (Lot's) people came rushing towards him, the used to commit foul deeds. He said, 'My people, here are my daughters. They are more wholesome for you, so have some fear of God and do not disgrace me with my guests. Is there not a single right-minded man among you?'

When the men of the town came to take the messengers, Lot offered them his daughters (or the daughters of his people). IF rape was the main objectionable crime (as some claim), he would not offer his daughters to such a fate! Would your father offer you up to be raped? Then how can you claim that Lot, a prophet of Allah 3layhi salam, would do that?!? Rather, he was asking the men of his town to turn away from other MEN and instead have conjugal relations with the WOMEN of the tribe, which is more wholesome.

Again, for those that claim that RAPE was the issue with Lot's people and not homosexuality, note that there was not ONE SINGLE right minded man in the town. This was not an issue of rape, but rather an issue of ALL of the men lusting after each other. As they say, "you can't rape the willing."

27:55
"How can you lust after men instead of women? What fools you are!"

Here the objection is not over "lust" vs "love" as some claim, but lusting for MEN vs. lusting for WOMEN. This is a contrast between what is crossing the line and what is acceptable.

4:16-18
"If two men commit a lewd act, punish them both; but if they repent and mend their ways, leave them alone-God is always ready to accept repentance, He is full of mercy. But God only undertakes to accept the repentance from those who do evil out of ignorance and soon afterwards repent: these are the ones God will forgive, He is all knowing, all wise. It is not true repentance when people continue to do evil until death confronts them and then says, 'Now I repent'..."

I don't think it is coincidence that these verses appear together, and this is the verse that gave me the idea of the two kinds of homosexuals. One is the repentant person who realizes it is wrong and struggles to control themselves. The other is the repeat offender who is not actually repentant.

Allah says punish those that don't repent and repentance means
a. realizing that what you did is wrong
b. asking Allah for sincere forgiveness
c. not repeating the action

Those that try to say that homosexuality is not really "that" haraam are not fulfilling the requirements of repentance.
If you are living in sin and indulging in the same sin repeatedly, then you are, as defined by the Qur'an, not truly repentant.

Now that said: am I the judge of these people? Nope. This is just my personal view on the Qur'an from my own personal study. I am not a scholar and this is not a reproduction of someone else's research, and Allah knows better. However, I do not believe there is any ambiguity. Allah forgives and punishes where he will, so "wait if you wish, I too am waiting (52:31)" and Allah will be the best of judges.

Love, another one by Me

Love:

Love is a test from Allah, like every thing in this life.

Bliss for some.

Misery for others.

But always an opportunity to do the right thing.

Allah grant you all fulfilling and halal love ameen

99 Names Part I

Salam!

Bismillah

I was planning to start one of my goals for Ramadhan of posting something useful each day to the blog. I will start inshaAllah with the 99 names of Allah, five each day. That will leave the last ten days for other posts inshaAllah.

"Say, 'Call on Allah, or on Ar-Rahman- whatever names you call Him, the best names belong to Him..." Al-Qur'an 17:110

1. الرحمن Ar-Rahman: The Most Compassionate

2. الرحيم Ar-Raheem: The Merciful

3. الملك Al-Malik: The King

4. القدوس Al-Quddoos: The Most Holy

5. السلام As-Salaam: The Most Peaceful, The Source of Peace and Safety

Knowledge

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Today's post إن شاء الله is about gaining KNOWLEDGE

Names of Allah:
العليم : Al-'Aleem, the All Knowing, Omniscient
الخبير : Al-Khabeer, the All Aware
الحكيم : Al-Hakeem, the Wise
الواجد : Al-Waajid, the Perceiver

From the Qur'an:
(Al-‘Alaq 96:3-5) Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not.

(al-Mujādilah 58:11) Allāh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge.

(Ta-Ha 20:114) and say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge’

(al-Zumar 39:9) Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who know not?’ It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allāh’s Signs and Verses)

(al-Imran 3:18) GOD [Himself] proffers evidence - and [so do] the angels and all who are endowed with knowledge - that there is no deity save Him, the Upholder of Equity: there is no deity save Him, the Almighty, the Truly Wise.

(Ta-Ha 20:110) [for] He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot encompass Him with their knowledge.

(An-Nisa 4:113) And but for God's favour upon thee and His grace, some of those [who are false to themselves] would indeed endeavour to lead thee astray; yet none but themselves do they lead astray. Nor can they harm thee in any way, since God has bestowed upon thee from on high this divine writ and [given thee] wisdom, and has imparted unto thee the knowledge of what thou didst not know. And God's favour upon thee is tremendous indeed.

From the Ahadith:

Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 483:

Narrated Anas:
I heard from Allah's Apostle a narration which none other than I will narrate to you. The Prophet, said, "From among the portents of the Hour are the following: General ignorance (in religious affairs) will prevail, (religious) knowledge will decrease, illegal sexual intercourse will prevail, alcoholic drinks will be drunk (in abundance), men will decrease and women will increase so much so that for every fifty women there will be one man to look after them."

Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 9, Book 89, Number 255:


Narrated 'Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said, "Do not wish to be like anyone, except in two cases: (1) A man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously. (2) A man whom Allah has given wisdom (knowledge of the Quran and the Hadith) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others."

Du'a: Ya Rabb, increase us in knowledge!!!!!

Repentance

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Today I found some verses and ahadith about *repentance*

InshaAllah they are a helpful reminder!!

Names of Allah:
الرحيم: Ar-Raheem, the Merciful
الغفار: Al-Ghaffaar, the Forgiver
الغفور: Al-Ghaffoor, the All Forgiving
العفو: Al-Afuww, the Pardoner

From the Qur'an:
7:153 (Asad) But as for those who do bad deeds and afterwards repent and [truly] believe-verily, after such repentance [120] thy Sustainer is indeed much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!

9:112 (Asad) [It is a triumph of] those who turn [unto God] in repentance [whenever they have sinned], and who worship and praise [Him], and go on and on [seeking His goodly acceptance], and bow down [before Him] and prostrate themselves in adoration, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and keep to the bounds set by God. And give thou [O Prophet] the glad tiding [of God's promise] to all believers.

11:3 (Asad) Ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins, and then turn towards Him in repentance - [whereupon] He will grant you a goodly enjoyment of life [in this world] until a term set [by Him is fulfilled]; and [in the life to come] He will bestow upon everyone possessed of merit [a full reward for] his merit. But if you turn away, then, verily, I dread for you the suffering [which is bound to befall you] on that awesome Day

11:52 (Asad) "Hence, O my people, ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins, and then turn towards Him in repentance-[whereupon] He will shower upon you heavenly blessings abundant, [76] and will add strength to your strength: only do not turn away [from me] as people lost in sin!"

From the Ahadith:
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 70, Number 577:

Narrated Abu Huraira:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.) They (the Prophet's companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Apostle?' He said, "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me." So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 321:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert. "

"O our Sustainer!
We have sinned against ourselves -
and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us,
we shall most certainly be lost!" [Qur'an 7:23]

Patience

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This time I will give some words on *Patience*

I'm not sure if I ever told you all this, but my mom use to tell me "NeverEver, don't ask for Patience from God because he will just give you opportunities to practice!" She was being sarcastic of course, because we should definitely ask Allah for patience.

Patience is a virtue, and it is one that we have to STRIVE for. It is hard to be patient. It is a skill to be patient. Patience is something we learn and practice every day and if we accomplish patience, it is a beautiful gift from Allah.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Seek aid in steadfast patience and prayer: for, behold, God is with those who are patient in adversity.- [Qur'an 2:153]

O you who have attained to faith! Be patient in adversity, and vie in patience with one another, and be ever ready [to do what is right], and remain conscious of God, so that you might attain to a happy state!- [Qur'an 3:200]

... And be patient in adversity: for, verily, God is with those who are patient in adversity- [Qur'an 8:46]

And be patient in adversity: for, verily,. God does not fail to requite the doers of good!- [Quran 11:115]

Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit, Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord, and that they are to return to Him.- [Quran 2:45-46]

Sahih Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 24, Number 548:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

Some Ansari persons asked for (something) from Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) and he gave them. They again asked him for (something) and he again gave them. And then they asked him and he gave them again till all that was with him finished. And then he said "If I had anything. I would not keep it away from you. (Remember) Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience."

Sahih Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 23, Number 389:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."

Du'a: Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy
and make us die as those who have
surrendered themselves unto You.- [Qur'an 7:123]

Sometimes Life is Hard

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Sometimes things get hard. Like life things. And when they DO, this is what I like to remind myself.

Narrated By Abu Said Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira: The Prophet, salAllahu aleyhi wa salam, said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 70, #545)

Narrated By Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle, salAllahu aleyhi wa salam, said, “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 70, #548)

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must ye return. [Quran 21:35]

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested? – [Quran 29:2]

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear – [Quran 2:286]

For truly, with hardship comes ease; truly, with hardship comes ease. [Qur`an, 94:5-6]

InshaAllah I will try more of these *words by topic* things and see how you like them.

Sometimes it is nice to be reminded :-)