Further, God calls on humanity to respect His wisdom in creation (see, e.g., Quran, al-Nisā’: 119). Yet, he (peace be upon him) explicitly condemned imitating the appearance of the opposite gender. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) referred to women as equivalent counterparts of men. Islam affirms that men and women are spiritually equal before God, even though each has different characteristics and roles. God defined humanity as consisting of males and females and declared that He “… created from a male and a female and made into peoples and tribes so that you may come to know one another” (Quran, al-Ḥujurāt: 13 see also al-Najm: 45). As a result, they have gained the status of religious consensus ( ijmā‘) and are recognized as integral components of the faith known to the general body of Muslims. These aspects of Islam are unambiguously established in the Quran, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and a chain of scholarly tradition spanning fourteen centuries. It is truly an immoral deed and a terrible way ” (Quran, al-Isrā’: 32). As God explains, “Do not go near fornication. Moreover, premarital and extramarital sexual acts are prohibited in Islam. In the Quran, God explicitly condemns sexual relations with the same sex (see, e.g., Quran, al-Nisā’: 16, al-A‘rāf: 80–83, and al-Naml: 55–58). Islam’s Position on Sexuality and Genderīy a decree from God, sexual relations are permitted within the bounds of marriage, and marriage can only occur between a man and a woman. None can alter His words, and He is the All-Hearing, the All- Knowing” (Quran, al-An‘ām: 115). As God asserts, “And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice. However, particular principles that are explicitly stated in revelation, known to be necessary elements of Islam, and unanimously agreed upon by qualified scholars are deemed immutable and not open to revision by any person or entity, including the highest religious authorities. Islam enjoys a rich tradition of jurisprudence that allows for diverse perspectives and accommodates various cultural norms. Therefore, it follows from this submission that the ultimate source and basis of morality is Divine guidance, not just reason or societal trends. By submitting to God, we declare that only He possesses absolute knowledge and wisdom. God says, “It is not for a believing man or woman-when God and His Messenger decree a matter-to have any other choice in that matter” (Quran, al-Aḥzāb:36). The most essential requirement for accepting Islam is to submit to God completely, voluntarily, and lovingly. We affirm our right to express our beliefs while simultaneously recognizing our constitutional obligation to exist peacefully with those whose beliefs differ from ours. As a religious minority that frequently experiences bigotry and exclusion, we reject the notion that moral disagreement amounts to intolerance or incitement of violence. Below is our collective, non-partisan articulation of Islam’s position on sexual and gender ethics. We are Muslim scholars and preachers representing a diverse range of theological schools. Such policies subvert the agency of Muslim parents to teach their children their religiously grounded sexual ethics, violate their constitutional right to freely practice their religion, and contribute to an atmosphere of intolerance toward faith communities. More troubling still, there is an increasing push to promote LGBTQ-centric values among children through legislation and regulations, disregarding parental consent and denying both parents and children the opportunity to express conscientious objection. At the same time, public disapproval of LGBTQ practices, beliefs, and advocacy is increasingly met with charges of intolerance and unwarranted accusations of bigotry. Today, Islamic sexual and gender ethics are at odds with certain recently popular societal views, causing tension for Muslims between their religious beliefs and societal expectations. Public discourse on sexuality over the past few decades has presented challenges to faith communities.
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