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Freedom of Choice [1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful [3:104] Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners. Salamun Alykum.
The religion of Submission (in Arabic, Islam) never ever advocates compulsion.
God Almighty offered the freedom of choice to all the humanity as we understand from the following verses of the Quran.
[33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant
[10:99] Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Do you want to force the people to become believers?
[2:148] Each of you chooses the direction to follow; you shall race towards righteousness. Wherever you may be, GOD will summon you all. GOD is Omnipotent.
[73:19] This is a reminder; whoever wills, let him choose the path to his Lord.
Marriage between man and woman is a blessing for us -
[30:21] Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquility and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think.
The purposes of heterosexual marriage can be derived from the following verses of the Quran - [16:72] And God made for you spouses from among yourselves, and produced for you from your spouses children and grandchildren, and provided you with good provisions. Should they believe in falsehood, and turn unappreciative of God's blessings?
The homosexual marriage is a gross sin as understood from many verses of the Quran -
[7:80] Lot said to his people, "You commit such an abomination; no one in the world has done it before! [7:81] "You practice sex with the men, instead of the women. Indeed, you are a transgressing people." [7:82] His people responded by saying, "Evict them from your town. They are people who wish to be pure." [7:83] Consequently, we saved him and his family, but not his wife; she was with the doomed. [7:84] We showered them with a certain shower; note the consequences for the guilty.
[26:160] The people of Lot disbelieved the messengers. [26:161] Their brother Lot said to them, "Would you not be righteous? [26:162] "I am an honest messenger to you. [26:163] "You shall reverence GOD, and obey me. [26:164] "I do not ask you for any wage; my wage comes only from the Lord of the universe. [26:165] "Do you have sex with the males, of all the people? [26:166] "You forsake the wives that your Lord has created for you! Indeed, you are transgressing people." [26:167] They said, "Unless you refrain, O Lot, you will be banished." [26:168] He said, "I deplore your actions." [26:169] "My Lord, save me and my family from their works."
[27:54] Lot said to his people, "How could you commit such an abomination, publicly, while you see? [27:55] "You practice sex with the men, lustfully, instead of the women. Indeed, you are ignorant people." [27:56] The only response from his people was their saying, "Banish Lot's family from your town; they are people who wish to be pure." [27:57] Consequently, we saved him and his family, except his wife; we counted her among the doomed. [27:58] We showered them with a certain shower. It was a miserable shower upon people who had been warned.
[29:28] Lot said to his people, "You commit such an abomination, no one in the world has ever done it before you. [29:29] "You practice sex with the men, you commit highway robbery, and you allow all kinds of vice in your society." The only response from his people was to say, "Bring to us GOD's retribution, if you are truthful." [29:30] He said, "My Lord, grant me victory over these wicked people." [29:31] When our messengers went to Abraham with good news (about Isaac's birth), they also said, "We are on our way to annihilate the people of that town (Sodom), for its people have been wicked." [29:32] He said, "But Lot is living there." They said, "We are fully aware of everyone who lives in it. We will of course save him and his family, except his wife; she is doomed." [29:33] When our messengers arrived at Lot's place, they were mistreated, and he was embarrassed by their presence. But they said, "Have no fear, and do not worry. We will save you and your family, except your wife; she is doomed. [29:34] "We will pour upon the people of this town a disaster from the sky, as a consequence of their wickedness." [29:35] We left standing some of their ruins, to serve as a profound lesson for people who understand.
Please examine the above verses. None of them advocates punishment or compulsion against homosexual people by heterosexual people . The punishment comes only from God!
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in God has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. God is Hearer, Omniscient.
Can we discriminate against homosexual couples ? Absolutely not!
[60:8] God does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. God loves the equitable. [60:9] God enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.
But, God Almighty suggests us the following -
[13:22] They steadfastly persevere in seeking their Lord, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), spend from our provisions to them secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good. These have deserved the best abode. [23:96] Therefore, counter their evil works with goodness; we are fully aware of their claims. [28:54] To these we grant twice the reward, because they steadfastly persevere. They counter evil works with good works, and from our provisions to them, they give. [3:104] Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners.
This life is a test. For example, some men or women may never marry in their life. As per the Quran, they have to maintain a chaste life and avoid any sexual contacts outside of a marriage. Since God condemns homosexuality, we have to believe that a man or a woman with homosexual feelings is expected by God Almighty to behave like any other human being and follows God's laws He/she shall maintain abstinence, use all available resources of help including medical, social and behavioral therapies to overcome their behavior and feelings. They should pray to God to help them getting over it and submit to God's laws that views homosexuality as gross sin.
[53:32] They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous.
We know that God is Merciful and Just (16:90) and He will give each one of us a fair test. He assigns the tests to each one of us and we believe that He will never burden any soul beyond its means (23:2)
Thank you and may God guide us,
Muhammed Irtaza [33:62] God's Sunnah is unchangeable [39:23] The Quran is the best Hadith http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/ --- On Tue, 10/13/09, Mike Ghouse wrote: From: Mike Ghouse Subject: MuslimAgenda :: Re: What a way to celebrate Nobel! Obama bows before Gays To: worldmuslimcongress@yahoogroups.com, indianmuslims@yahoogroups.com, muslimindians@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2009, 3:28 PM WARNING: Please do not read this, if you are not open to learning another point of view, if you read it stick to the subject to carry on the discussion. AA, Max, Thanks for the references from the Scriptures As an Individual, I do not understand the gay and lesbian norms, but hatred, ill-will and malice towards them bothers me and the violence against them is pathetic and inhuman.
Qur’aan, Torah and the Bible have condemned that practices as we read the given translations and interpretations. It is time for the Muslim Scholars and critical thinkers to re-visit these verses. Don’t misquote me please, the word of God is final, there is no dilly dallying around it, however is that the legitimate understanding of the verses? we need to understand the circumstances that led to such condemnation, was it specific or universal, is it applicable now. A call of Ijtihad is in the order. Let me cite a few examples, though not perfect may give an idea for us to mull over, i.e., if we are open to it. In the other thread we have touched upon the issues that we have not resolved for over 1400 years, such as the punishment for apostasy, wife beating and other issues. Scholars have researched which is yet to be universally accepted that there is no punishment for apostasy, as our faith is about free will, and on the issue of wife beating we have literally been given to believe that it is what it is. Even though a majority of men treat and act equal with women, there are a significant number of those who have abused that verse for over 1400 years. Even our ( U.S. ) constitution called for equal rights of all men in 1776, but it took nearly 150 years for the women to get those rights and the minorities got it in the 1960’s. No words were changed in constitution but finally we understood what the founding fathers meant. It is our responsibility as a society that values life, to understand if that’s what God meant in the verse quoted below. Qur’aan is always the final word of God, but our understanding of it is not final on many an issues including the inhuman attitudes towards Gay and Lesbians. The practices of Gay and Lesbian goes against the existence of human race, if the entire population becomes gay or lesbians, the world will end in 100 years or less, it is against creation and continuance. But God also has built in exceptions, look at the universe and its diversity. In a perfectly balanced planet earth Tsunamis are built in, in the precise universe falling meteorites are built in. God’s creation is perfect with diversity built into it. Likewise, God has intentionally created male and female, and has created healthy bodies in general that can survive over fifty, yet there are differences built into genetic codes. There is research going on that suggests that Gay and Lesbian tendencies may be genetic, no conclusions drawn yet, research continues. God may have created Gay and Lesbians by nature, and allows them that nature, while condemns those who were not built into be Gay or Lesbian to choose that life style. We have a choice to be open to learning if we are comfortable with it, or we can just live with a simple belief and live a life that makes one happy. But if we are in public and live in the United States or any where in the world except Saudi Arabia , Afghanistan and Iran , we cannot escape the realities of life. I believe knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to appreciation of another point of view. The Muslims Scholars need to get on it and do the consulting. May Allah open our hearts and minds to respecting his creation, as he has created. Amen. Mike Ghouse Message #38267 - Indian Muslims "max100ae" max100ae@... wrote: Re: What a way to celebrate Nobel! Obama bows before Gays Hello Mike, Can you please elaborate as to how the interpretations of the muslim scriptures need to be verified... Mike wrote: Discrimination has no end, today it is them and some day it is us. The Christians, Muslims, Jews and others whose scripture have been interpreted to condemn the gays and lesbians, need to verify if those interpretations were short-sighted and time-suited. As God has gifted as with the ability to think,we need to employ it. Thanks to the variations in translations, it shows us the limitations of human understanding, and challenges us to strive to grasp the whole truth. What was hitherto cut and dry is no more. May be it is Allah's hint to us to get closer to understanding the truth. The focus ought be on the essence rather than literal meaning. Presently there are 21 translations of Quraan available. also appreciate which translation do you prefer to read? pickthall... .? i am pasting from the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement. http://www.usc. edu/schools/ college/crcc/ engagement/ resources/ texts/muslim/ quran/ this should be acceptable to you. 007.080 YUSUFALI: We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? PICKTHAL: And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination such as no creature ever did before you? SHAKIR: And (We sent) Lut when he said to his people: What! do you commit an indecency which any one in the world has not done before you? 007.081 YUSUFALI: "For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." PICKTHAL: Lo! ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk. SHAKIR: Most surely you come to males in lust besides females; nay you are an extravagant people. 007.082 YUSUFALI: And his people gave no answer but this: they said, "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" PICKTHAL: And the answer of his people was only that they said (one to another): Turn them out of your township. They are folk, forsooth, who keep pure. SHAKIR: And the answer of his people was no other than that they said: Turn them out of your town, surely they are a people who seek to purify (themselves) . 007.083 YUSUFALI: But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind. PICKTHAL: And We rescued him and his household, save his wife, who was of those who stayed behind. SHAKIR: So We delivered him and his followers, except his wife; she was of those who remained behind. 007.084 YUSUFALI: And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! PICKTHAL: And We rained a rain upon them. See now the nature of the consequence of evil-doers! SHAKIR: And We rained upon them a rain; consider then what was the end of the guilty. al-Tirmidhi (1456), Abu Dawood (4462)and Ibn Maajah (2561) narrated that Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever you find doing the action of the people of Loot, execute the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.". Ahmad (2915) narrated from Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "May Allaah curse the one who does the action of the people of Loot, may Allaah curse the one who does the action of the people of Loot," three times. This was classed as hasan by Shu'ayb al-Arna'oot in Tahqeeq al-Musnad. for more details..... .. http://www.islamqa. com/en/ref/ 38622/homosexual in view of the above, one more question... it is plain and simple do you consider homosexuality to be illegal or legal ? --- In indianmuslims@ yahoogroups. com, "Mike Ghouse" mike_ghouse@ ... wrote: AA, Dr. Jameel, your comments are appreciated. Indeed, Dr. Manmohan Singh is visiting the USA now, his three Muslims on the press entourage were denied the visa, and one of them is still left behind because he was a Muslim. It is a shame on the US and India . The Tariq Ramadan case is also shameful. Full story at: http://mikeghousefo rindia.blogspot. com/2009/ 10/manmohans- team-subjected- to-ameri\ can.html If you were given 15 minutes and asked to speak about Prophet Muhammad's Hujarat from Mecca to Madinah, would you speak about Bibi Khadija,Bibi Ayesha, Hazrat Umar and others? Or would you focus on what you were asked to speak? Obama just did that, he was there to speak about one topic and not other issues. Focus should be one item at a time. Obama represents the interests of every American, that is 301 Million of us, he is elected to protect the rights and ensure safety of every citizen, that includes Gays and Lesbians. Many of us disagree with their sexual orientation and even hate them, but that is not the role of the president, to hate. I would not want Manmohan Singh of India to mistreat India 's minorities even if 80% of the majority want otherwise. As we live in civil societies, we may not agree with some one's practices, but we have to defend the civil rights of every member of the society who are minding their own business. Discrimination has no end, today it is them and some day it is us. The Christians, Muslims, Jews and others whose scripture have been interpreted to condemn the gays and lesbians, need to verify if those interpretations were short-sighted and time-suited. As God has gifted as with the ability to think,we need to employ it. Thanks to the variations in translations, it shows us the limitations of human understanding, and challenges us to strive to grasp the whole truth. What was hitherto cut and dry is no more. May be it is Allah's hint to us to get closer to understanding the truth. The focus ought be on the essence rather than literal meaning. Presently there are 21 translations of Quraan available. Religion is about justice, inclusiveness and common goodness. Islam is for Aalameen. Jazak Allah Khair Mike Ghouse --- In indianmuslims@ yahoogroups. com, javed jamil doctorforu123@ wrote:
What a way to celebrate Nobel!
Obama bows before Gays The very next day after he got the Nobel for Peace, Obama was delivering a “historical†speech to an organization of gays telling them that they would no longer need to hide their sexual preferences in order to serve the US military. No statement on redoubling the efforts to take its armies out of Muslim countries. No pledge never to invade other countries again. But gays must be reassured of his total unconditional support. What a way to celebrate the coveted honour: Do something which despite the growing corporate and political support to homosexuality still shames and worries the overwhelming majority not only of the world but also of America . (Democratic norms don’t work here.)What an ideology of freedom! Prostitutes and wives must be equal, straights and gays must be equal, and criminals and law-abiding must be equal. But the rights of those denying and accepting Holocaust, those criticizing and supporting America , those entering America with Muslim and non Muslim names cannot be equal. Visas have been denied to people (like Prof. Tariq Ramadhan) on the grounds of their views, their religion and political alignments. What a sad commentary on the modernity that human rights today have come to be equated with the rights of gays. This despite the fact that homosexuality has proved to be the most dangerous of all forms of sexual relationships, and the life expectancy among gays has been found to be at least 25 years less than the average. This despite the fact that homosexuality has been proved to be one of the biggest factors (along with promiscuity and prostitution) in the spread of AIDS that has already consumed more than 45 million lives. Interestingly, you are not supposed to make public your religious and cultural preferences; but you are egged on not to hide your sexual preferences. Go ahead Obama, your concession of greater rights to gays will perhaps be a fitting tribute to the ideology of those who have chosen you for Nobel.  Dr Javed Jamil |
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