LGBT, homosexuality and Islam

Instead of censuring LGBT people, we should attempt to understand the biological and psychological reasons for their behaviour.

COMMENT

Dr Moaz Nair

LGBT refers to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. The punishment for such conduct can be severe in some Muslim countries. Islam forbids such behaviour which is also taboo in many societies.

Be that as it may, the LGBT issue should not be judged from a slanted religious or cultural perspective. It has to be looked at from medical and psychological perspectives.

In almost all cases, an LGBT’s ostensive “maquillage” is derived from inborn genetic factors. Apparently, this is not a peculiarity that was deliberately acquired after birth.

Thus, one should not censure them in an outright manner but attempt to understand the biological and psychological reasons for their behaviour.

We have some Arabs and Muslims who view the LGBT issue as a purely “Western” creation, but this cannot be true. The contentious behaviour found among LGBTs has been in most societies long before Western civilisation expanded. Again, homosexuality and bisexuality can also be found in the non-human kingdom, in animals and plants.

The same symptoms in animals and plants were created as such and this is not an issue at all to human beings. It’s only when human beings are seen as having these distinct traits that it becomes an issue in some societies.

In some modern societies, they advocate counselling (asrafa in Arabic) for those found to belong to this group of people. They believe that their behaviour and appearance in society is contrary to what was intended by God for human beings, that there should be a clear distinction between the two sexes, and that to procreate is an essential tenet of life.

In many societies, LGBTs are allowed to live according to their natural biological preferences. Most of these people are harmless to society.

Truth be told, there are many professionals – doctors, lawyers, lecturers, preachers and also ordinary people – who have this tendency. But being educated, they do not engage in homosexual or other aberrant activities. Not all LGBTs engage in homosexual activities or same-sex marriages. They prefer to live a life of their own and in privacy (al’iijmalia in Arabic).

The spermatozoa and ovum, when they come together in the womb, do not necessarily result in the creation of a perfect human being, nor will the child be genetically perfect.

For this reason, there are people born with biological differences and personality variances, deviating from accepted societal norms.

Simply said, from the religious perspective, this is preordained by God. It’s not the making of human beings.

The tendency to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender should be seen from the medical, biological and psychological points of view, not merely from the religious point of view.

Doctors, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, especially, would never despise these people as they understand the discomfort and dilemmas they face and the scientific reasons behind them. At best, they would counsel them if there is a need for it.

Professionals who work with LGBTs are cognisant of the fact that they do not choose to be that way. They are simply born with these tendencies which are irreversible in most cases.

LGBTs should not be looked down upon. They too have the right to live as citizens.

If society objects to their presence and fears they may influence others, then both society and LGBTs need to be educated and counselled.

However, some LGBTs may not want to be counselled as they may feel that there’s nothing wrong with their outward presentation.

But if their presence in society can lead to the spread of contagious diseases through homosexual activities and other aberrant social activities which could influence youngsters, this should not be condoned. In this case, they would need to be reproached. Otherwise, just leave it to them to live a life of their own.

There have been many cases of even religious figures who have children belonging to this category of people. Some have approached counsellors and doctors for ways out, but even trained psychiatrists cannot do much to change these congenital symptoms.

In Islam, it says Allah is compassionate (al-Rahman) and merciful (al-Rahim). Allah is also the forgiver and hider of faults (al-Ghafur).

So, just have faith in God for he knows best. Let the final judgment be God’s. As human beings with many shortcomings in our judgments, we should not play God and pass spiteful judgments on the LGBT community.

These people are an integral part of our society and they should be given the leeway and latitude to prove themselves useful to all and sundry.

Dr Moaz Nair is an FMT reader.