LGBTQ is a very important phenomenon in todays time. This movement has become very influential in our culture and society. Almost no person has not heard about this movement and everyone is being asked regarding them. This begs the question, what does Islam say about LGBTQ. To answer this question, we shall look through the prophet who dealt with such a people, the great Prophet Lut (AS). He is one of the most honored prophets and is greatly revered in the Quran and his beautiful name was mentioned in the Quran 27 times. He is the nephew of Ibrahim (AS) and was sent to the nation of Sodom. Today we will be learning about the history of Lut (AS) and Islam’s view regarding homosexuality.
History:
Lut (AS) was raised by his uncle Ibrahim (AS). Within Ibrahim (AS), the people ridiculed and mocked him. Despite this, him and Lut (AS) would continue to give da’wah and spread the message of Islam to the people. Lut (AS) followed the message of Ibrahim (AS) and was a true believer. As such, Allah (SWT) revealed upon them that Lut (AS) was to be sent to the nation of Sodom. The nation of Sodom was a very busy and large city. Many businessmen, traders, and other high ranking people would all come for different purposes. Among this, Sodom became notorious for being very dangerous and filled with crime. Highway robbery was extremely common and often wayfarers were robbed when entering the city. But the greatest sin of the people of Sodom was the sin of homosexuality, which is to go to the same gender instead of who Allah created for you to go to.
Lut (AS) migrated to Sodom and began to preach the message of Islam, which was to worship Allah and do not associate any partners with him and to give up their sinful practices. In Surah Shu’ara, we see Lut (AS) rebuking his nation,
أَتَأْتُوْنَ الذُكْرَانَ مِنَ العَالَمِيْنَ
“Do you go to the men of worlds?”
Furthermore in Surah A'raf it states,
وَلُوطًا إِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِۦۤ أَتَأۡتُونَ ٱلۡفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنۡ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ ٱلرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةًۭ مِّن دُونِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌۭ تَجْهَلُونَ
“And (mention) Lut (AS), when he said to his nation, do you go towards evil which no one from the worlds has preceded you in it. Do you really go to men with desires from besides the women? Rather, in fact you are ignorant people.”
This verse shows that they were the ones first to do homosexuality. Despite his preaching, the people of Sodom rejected, mocked and threatened him. In the Quran it states,
قَالُوا۟ لَىِٕن لَّمۡ تَنتَهِ یَـٰلُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُخۡرَجِینَ
“They said, if you don’t stop O Lut, you will most definitely be among those who are exiled.”
After many years of giving Da’wah, Lut (AS) asked Allah to judge his nation and save him from their evil. Allah (SWT) sent three angels to Ibrahim (AS) to give glad tidings of Ishaq (AS), then they went to the nation of Lut (AS) as beautiful men. The daughter of Lut (AS) informed him regarding this and so Lut (AS) gave them shelter. Lut (AS)’s wife was a supporter of the homosexuals and so she informed them regarding their presence. Lut (AS) did not know of their angelity and warned them regarding his nation and advised them to go elsewhere. The people of Lut (AS) attempted to storm and take the men and forcefully take pleasure from them. Lut (AS) attempted to stop them and presented the daughters of the Ummah for them to get married to. But the homosexuals refused, so the angels revealed themselves and Jibril (AS) blinded them. They shouted that they will plot Lut (AS)’s downfall the following day and they left. Lut (AS) left the city with his family and so Allah sent a powerful shriek that instilled terror in their hearts. Then the angels flipped the nation upside down and then rained rocks upon them as mentioned in the Quran,
فَجَعَلْنَا عَـٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةًۭ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ
“So we turned it (city of Sodom) upside down and we rained upon them stones of baked clay.”
Lut (AS)’s wife was escaping with Lut (AS), when she was hit with a rock also, because of her support of their actions despite not committing it herself. After this, Lut (AS) returned to Ibrahim (AS) and they continued their preaching.
Homosexuality:
This story proves that homosexuality is a grave sin, is reprehensible, and worthy of punishment. The verses above mention the sin of going towards men instead of women. Some interpret these verses to mean rape instead of homosexuality (I.e homosexual rape is haram but consensual is halal). However, this contradicts the majority of the exegetes، interpretations of the verses and the Hadith of Rasululah (SAW). Therefore, we must understand that homosexuality is the sin and we must refrain and speak out against it, just like our prophet Lut (AS) did. Rasulullah (SAW) said,
من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيده فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف الإيمان
“Whoever sees evil from amongst you then he should change it with his hand, if he is unable, then he should change it with his tongue, if he is unable then he should change with his heart (think of ways to change it), and that is the weakest level of Imaan.”
Conclusion:
In conclusion, we learn many things about the prophet Lut (AS). How he persevered despite his circumstances and remained strong. We also learned how he remained steadfast upon the truth and did not divert from it. We also learned the reality of homosexuality and his rejection of it. May Allah guide the homosexuals to true Islam and protect us from such tests. Ameen
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