Homosexuality in Islam: Quran and Hadith View

All praise is for Allah (SWT). He sent prophets and messengers throughout the ages to clarify what is lawful (halal) and forbidden (haram). They always called people to the oneness of Allah and urged them to abandon evil deeds. However, the cunning schemes of Shaytan have always been active. He presents one evil act after another to humanity. Among the various evil deeds Shaytan proposes, one of the most heinous is homosexuality. The topic of homosexuality in Islam is not new. In the Holy Quran, Allah informs humanity about the ancient history of this sin. He also describes in detail how He punished and wiped out the community that engaged in it, so we may learn a lesson. This sin is so filthy that its perpetrators received their punishment in this world.

The Quranic Account of Homosexuality in Islam

Allah the Almighty says:

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ

“And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, ‘Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.'”

[Surah Al-A’raf (7): 80-81]

The people of Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) lived in the city of Sodom. They committed robbery and practiced shamelessness in their public gatherings. They were the first to commit a heinous sin that no child of Adam had ever committed before. The sinful people of Lot initiated homosexual acts. When Lot (peace be upon him) called them to Islam, they wanted to exile him and mocked him, saying, “Indeed, they are people who keep themselves pure.”

The Punishment from Allah

The Tafsir (exegesis of the Quran) states that the angels Jibril (Gabriel), Israfil, and Mikail (Michael) visited Prophet Lot’s area as handsome men and became his guests. Lot secretly gave them shelter, but his own wife told the sinful community about them.

The sinful people then attacked Lot’s residence to satisfy their perverted desires. In the final moments, Lot prayed to Allah to protect his guests’ honor. Then the angels declared:

قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ ۖ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ ۖ إِنَّهُ مُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ ۚ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ

“The angels said, ‘O Lot, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [so] they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any of you look back – except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?'”

[Surah Hud (11): 81]

Commentators say Jibril (peace be upon him) then struck the sinners with his wing, blinding them all. After Lot moved to safety, the angel lifted the entire city of Sodom from its foundations. He raised it so high that the guardian angels of the first heaven could hear the city’s dogs barking and roosters crowing.

Next, the angel turned the entire populace upside down and slammed it violently into the earth. Then, Allah rained down a volley of hard clay stones, with each stone marked with a sinner’s name. These stone fragments even struck residents who were outside the city. Afterward, Allah caused a stream of contaminated water to flow over the ruins.

فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِّن سِجِّيلٍ مَّنضُودٍ

“So when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay, layer upon layer.”

[Surah Hud (11): 82]

Rulings on Homosexuality in Islam from Hadith and Law

Regarding this matter, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“The thing I fear most for my Ummah (community) is the action of the people of Lot.”

[Ibn Majah, Mishkat, Hadith No. 3421]

Another narration further clarifies the position on homosexuality in Islam. Ikramah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“Whoever you find doing the action of the people of Lot, kill the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.”

[Ibn Majah, chain is Hasan, Mishkat, Hadith No. 3575]

Based on this hadith, Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) and other scholars state a clear ruling. They say authorities must execute the one who commits sodomy, regardless of their marital status. Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that authorities should throw such a person from a high place and then stone them, just as Allah punished the people of Lot.

The Modern Challenge of Homosexuality and What Muslims Can Do

In today’s world, many people widely accept and even promote homosexuality as a human right. Many Western countries have legally recognized it, while media and schools often present it as normal. As a result, many Muslims, especially youth, face confusion and pressure. They hold Islamic beliefs but live in a culture with opposing values.

Navigating the modern challenge of homosexuality and what Muslims can do requires firm faith. Gaining correct Islamic knowledge and staying in spiritually nurturing environments is essential. Islam does not teach hatred; it calls for compassion, correction, and sincere concern for everyone. To handle the modern challenge of homosexuality and what Muslims can do, we must seek Allah’s guidance. We must also strengthen Islamic education in our families and build supportive communities to protect ourselves from this trial (fitnah).

Conclusion

Therefore, this despicable act is a curse for any community. The ultimate consequence of this filth is destruction, and the people of Lot (peace be upon him) serve as a great and clear sign of this truth. Understanding that Shaytan’s instigation is behind this problem helps clarify the firm stance on homosexuality in Islam. For this, Islam provides a solution that is both clear and just.

May Allah grant us Islamic knowledge, clarify the lawful and forbidden for us, and create in us a respect for His rulings. May He guide us to the straight path. Amen.