“BAGI lelaki mahupun perempuan diharamkan, dilaknat dan dikutuk oleh Allah dan rasul jika mereka menyerupai lawan jenisnya dalam pelbagai penampilan, lakonan, perbuatan, perkataan, pakaian, cara berjalan atau dalam kegiatan seharian walaupun dengan alasan dakwah.”
Al Islam edisi Jun 2009Nauzubillah. Inilah kata putus Penasihat Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Johor, Datuk Noh Gadut, seperti yang dilaporkan dalam artikel Sekalipun tujuan dakwah, ia tetap haram!, dalam majalah Al Islam edisi Jun 2009.
Noh memetik hadis “dari Abu Hurairah yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Abu Daud, Ahmad, Nasaie dan al-Hakimi, [yang] menyebut, ‘Bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. mengutuk, melaknat lelaki yang mengenakan atau memakai pakaian perempuan dan perempuan yang mengenakan atau memakai pakaian lelaki.'”
Noh telah diminta oleh Al Islam untuk mengulas tentang pementasan teater Patung Kertas 2, yang memaparkan kehidupan lelaki lembut dan mak nyah. Pementasan tersebut menggandingkan barisan pelakon hebat termasuk Datuk Jalaluddin Hassan dan Asyraf Muslim. Asyraf sendiri berkata, “Apa yang ingin disampaikan melalui watak ini ialah supaya masyarakat tidak menghina mereka kerana kejadian lembut itu adalah kejadian Tuhan.
“Bukannya niat kami untuk lebih menggalakkan atau meramaikan lagi golongan ini dalam masyarakat apabila kami melakonkan watak tersebut.”
Walau bagaimanapun, Noh menegaskan adalah haram bagi mereka yang melakonkan watak berkenaan sekalipun mesejnya untuk tujuan berdakwah.
Perkataan kegemaran
Apabila membaca artikel ini, saya merasakan seolah-oleh perkataan kegemaran Noh ialah “haram”.
Saya bukannya nak pertikaikan soal hukum, tapi saya tetap kagum bahawa di kalangan alim ulama di Malaysia, rata-ratanya senang sangat menyebut perkataan “haram”. Tentang NGO wanita Sisters in Islam? Haram. Tentang penggunaan perkataan “Allah” dalam penerbitan gereja Katolik? Haram. Konsert artis wanita? Haram. Amalan yoga? Haram. Golongan pengkid? Haram. Tak setuju dengan keputusan majlis fatwa? Haram.
Dari Al Islam, edisi Jun 2009
Dan perkataan “haram” bukan hanya digunakan untuk isu-isu yang berkaitan langsung dengan aqidah atau iman orang Islam. Ia juga digunakan untuk apa saja yang nampaknya menggugat kedudukan pemerintah di negara ini. Mogok lapar oleh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Pakatan Rakyat di Perak? Haram. Pakai baju hitam di depan bangunan DUN Perak? Haram. Hindraf? Haram.
Dan menurut logik ini, kalau anda tidak setuju anda memang mencari nahas. Tetapi betulkah ini merupakan pendekatan ketika zaman kegemilangan Islam?
Kita ambil contoh fuqaha dari mazhab Maliki, al-Qurtubi (meninggal pada tahun 1273 Masihi). Dalam tafsir al-Qurannya, al-Qurtubi menegaskan bahawa perbuatan liwat di antara dua orang lelaki adalah jenayah hudud. Maka sesiapa saja yang melakukannya patut direjam sampai mati.
Jelas, bukan? Tetapi sekarang kita kena kupas pula pendapat fuqaha dari mazhab Hanafi, al-Jassas (meninggal sekitar kurun ke-10 Masihi).
Noh Gadut (dari Al Islam, Jun 2009)Al-Jassas bersetuju dengan al-Qurtubi, bahawa perbuatan zina di antara lelaki dan perempuan mengundang hukuman bunuh. Akan tetapi, dia bertentangan pendapat tentang isu liwat.
Liwat, kata al-Jassas, bukannya merupakan jenayah hudud. Malah, dalam Ahkam al-Qurannya, al-Jassas tidak bersetuju dengan hadis Rasulullah dari Abu Hurairah, diriwayatkan oleh Ibn Majah, yang berbunyi: “Rejam kedua-dua pihak yang melakukan [liwat].” Al-Jassas menegaskan bahawa dua perawi untuk hadis ini “tidak boleh diharap langsung, dan tiada hukuman undang-undang yang boleh dikenakan berdasarkan riwayat mereka”.
Benar, al-Jassas masih menegaskan bahawa liwat di antara dua orang lelaki adalah berdosa. Dan benar, al-Jassas dan al-Qurtubi bersetuju tentang apa itu “haram”. Tetapi adalah jelas dari sini bahawa di kalangan fuqaha ketika zaman kegemilangan Islam pun terdapat perbezaan pendapat, walaupun tentang benda yang dipersetujui haram. Dan ini bukannya sesuatu yang remeh — al-Qurtubi dan al-Jassas bukanlah calang-calang ulama.
Kepelbagaian pendapat dalam Islam
Malah, ini belum lagi kita mendalami perbezaan pendapat di antara golongan penulis tafsir, dan golongan sejarawan yang menulis tentang riwayat hidup Rasulullah, atau sirah.
Menurut pengumpul sirah, tidak ada pun bukti bahawa Rasulullah telah menghukum kaum lelaki ataupun perempuan kerana menjalinkan hubungan sejenis. Malah, Professor Madya Dr Everett K Rowson dari New York University telah mengkaji sumber-sumber ini dan mendapati bahawa terdapat ramai golongan khunsa dan mukhannas (lelaki lembut) yang wujud pada zaman Rasulullah.
Tetapi Rowson mendapati bahawa Rasulullah tidak bertindak pun untuk menghukum atau melaknat golongan ini. Rowson mendapati bahawa yang mula menghukum golongan mukhannas ialah khalifah empayar Umayyad pada kurun kelapan Masihi, Sulaiman ibn Abdul Malik.
Kaum Nabi Lut
Saya tidak mempertikaikan apa yang difirmankan oleh Allah dalam kitab suci al-Quran. Benar, dalam al-Quran disebut terang-terang tentang hukuman yang dikenakan ke atas kaum Nabi Lut. Kaum Nabi Lut kini dianggap sinonim dengan lelaki gay, baik di kalangan umat Islam atau umat Kristian. Akan tetapi, kisah Nabi Lut telah diuraikan dengan berbeza di kalangan penulis tafsir dan penulis qisas al-anbiya pada zaman kegemilangan Islam.
Menurut sarjana Islam dari Amerika Syarikat, Dr Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle, melalui eseinya Sexuality, diversity and ethics in the agenda of progressive Muslims dalam antologi Progressive Muslims, al-Tabari (meninggal pada tahun 923 Masihi) mentafsirkan kisah Nabi Lut sebagai hukuman Allah terhadap lelaki yang bernafsu sejenis.
Akan tetapi, Kugle berkata menurut tulisan al-Kisai (sekitar kurun ke-12 Masihi), kisah Nabi Lut lebih bertumpu kepada perangai kaumnya yang rakus, biadab, tamak, dan mahu memperkosa kaum sejenis. Dengan erti kata lain al-Kisai, seorang pengarang qisas al-anbiya yang terkemuka, mengkaji kisah Nabi Lut dalam konteks sejarah dan budaya zaman tersebut. Al-Kisai membuat kesimpulan bahawa dosa kaum Nabi Lut bukannya kerana mereka tertarik kepada golongan sejenis, tetapi cara mereka memuaskan nafsu mereka — dengan menggunakan kekerasan.
Kekayaan ilmiah
Saya sendiri sentiasa tertarik kepada kekayaan ilmiah dalam tradisi Islam. Sebagai seorang Muslim, saya sentiasa dahaga untuk membaca dan mendalami kepelbagaian pendapat di dalam naskhah-naskhah ini.
Dan lebih banyak yang saya baca, makin kurang kecenderungan saya untuk membuat kesimpulan yang terburu-buru tentang apa itu “Islam”. Yang pentingnya, saya cuba mendalami pengetahuan dan penghayatan saya terhadap agama saya sendiri.
Akan tetapi, apabila wacana Islam di Malaysia hanya berpaksikan perkataan “haram”, amatlah susah untuk kita semua menghayati hikmah yang terkandung di dalam karya-karya Islam yang agung ini. 
Shanon Shah amat menghormati pemimpin seperti Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali dan Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud dari PAS, dan Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil dari Umno, yang tidak takut dengan kepelbagaian pendapat dalam Islam.
Karcy says
I always love your articles on Islam, and this is very well done. I learn a great deal.
With regards to theater, I wonder what this alim Noh will have to say about stage performances by IIU students? I have been told that in IIU, men and women are forbidden to act on stage together, so in order to play female roles male actors dress up as women. Very Shakespeare-like!
nadia ali :-) says
Very bold article abang Shanon. Personally I think Muslims in general are not interested in your arguments simply because they are too comfortable living in the realm where there can only be one interpretation.
When I was in school our ustazah would always warn us against “evil” books with different interpretations of the religion. We were never encouraged to read or research on our own. If you did, you were a heretic. We were also discouraged to ask questions in class. My ustazah used to remind us that God’s least favorite word is “what ifâ€.
My point is, many Muslims will not feel comfortable if you start questioning what they have been conditioned to believe. This method of social conditioning has proven to be successful not only in Islam but in other religions too.
Juana Jaafar says
Hi Shanon and TNG,
Thanks for this article. Would it be worthwhile you think, to publish a reading list on progressive/alternative views re: Islamic jurisprudence? A lot of people don’t know where to start looking for such books and are not sure which authors to pick up. It’s not enough to sift through the Malaysian Banned Books list because you might accidentally pick a mitos-dongeng fiction which really doesn’t do anything to one’s brain.
Just a thought.
Din Haron says
Ada baiknya anda berbincang tentang isu ini dengan para cendiakawan Islam. Terdapat banyak orang Islam yang pakar tentang hukum/Islam mahupun di dalam dan luar negara. Kenapa tak himpunkan mereka dan bincang. Janganlah hal sebegini dijadikan forum menerusi internet yang mana saya lihat banyak komen yang datangnya dari orang bukan Islam. Wajarkah perkara berkaitan hukum dalam Islam menerima kritikan atau komen dari orang bukan Islam yang tidak pakar tentangnya? Kalau ditanya orang India, Cina mahukah mereka menerima komen tentang hukum-hakam ugama mereka dari orang Islam yang tidak pakar dengannya? Salam.
John Bastille says
Din Haron is very correct. Non-Muslims should not comment on Islam the Religion. As the Free People profess beliefs and have value systems that are different, and at times, opposite to Islam, we should not freely give our comments, which on occasions are often disparaging. Thus, commenting here in this article with regards to the contents could be deemed to be impolite.
However, we the Free People will stand by our right to talk about Islam – the Political Ideology. As long as there are groups of people who harbour the idea of converting Malaysia into an Islamic state, we will have to comment.
Jun says
Saya tertarik dengan petikan ini:
“Al-Kisai membuat kesimpulan bahawa dosa kaum Nabi Lut bukannya kerana mereka tertarik kepada golongan sejenis, tetapi cara mereka memuaskan nafsu mereka — dengan menggunakan kekerasan.”
Who is Al-Kisai?
Wah! Nampaknya segala perlakuan seks, sama ada sesama jenis ataupun berlainan jenis adalah tidak haram di sisi agama Islam melainkan dijalankan dengan cara KEKERASAN.
Saya pilih Al-Kisai lebih daripada isi kandungan Quran dan Hadis. Ia memberikan saya kebebasan seksual.
Terima kasih dengan artikel ini. Saya akan terus menjadi bottom, asalkan tidak dilakukan dengan kekerasan. Saya tidak akan berdosa.
pragalath says
Hujahan yang baik oleh saudara Shanon. Saya tertanya-tanya sama ada golongan yang mengharamkan itu dan ini sanggup berdebat dan menerima kepelbagaian dalam agama Islam.
Aneh sekali jika Islam menggalakkan kepelbagaian tetapi penganut agama Islam melakukan yang sebaliknya.
Nadia says
Pada pendapat saya, artikel ini bukanlah bertujuan untuk memberi kata putus tentang liwat atau isu-isu lain. Cuma satu perbincangan tentang perbezaan pendapat di antara ulama2.
Shanon tidak pun memaksa kita untuk bersetuju dengan isi-kandung artikel ni.
Nadia says
I think its time for us to grow up and realize that there will always be differing opinions in every issue in the world. To completely reject ideas that are different or alien to us will not take us anywhere. I think before making up our minds we should at least listen to these ideas. Give it a chance. Why do we have to be so afraid? Isn’t it a learning process? (And please don’t tell me I don’t have the right to learn about my own faith just cause I don’t hold a PhD in Islamic Studies.)
You know, the pathway to knowledge starts with an open mind 🙂
Juana Jaafar says
Lanjutan dari komen Encik Din Haron [di atas]:
Ramai ilmuan Islam mempunyai terbitan masing-masing dan kebanyakannya boleh diperolehi di toko buku atau melalui internet. Justeru, mana-mana penulis berhak untuk merujuk kepada karya mereka, termasuk karya para ilmuan Islam yang mengamal tafsiran progesif mahupun liberal.
Sebagai pembaca, kita mendapat manfaat kerana kita dapat mengetahui lebih lanjut kepelbagaian pendapat yang wujud dalam ilmiah Islam — tidak kiralah apapun komen atau pendapat golongan bukan Islam; tidak kira juga jika kita setuju atau tidak dengan pendapat ilmuan yang dirujuk.
Jika timbul soal benar atau tidak benar, bukankah menjadi tanggungjawab umat Islam sendiri untuk menggunakan akal; mengambil inisiatif untuk menyelidik lebih lanjut; dan mengamalkan sifat peradaban yang tinggi dalam menangani diskusi di mana ada perbezaan pendapat [di laman internet mahupun di forum tertutup sesama Muslimin dan Muslimat]?
Cadangan menjemput para ilmuan Islam dari dalam dan luar negara untuk berdialog amat penting dan bermanfaat. Sebenarnya ini pernah dilakukan oleh pergerakan antarabangsa Musawah tidak lama dahulu tetapi mendapat tentangan hebat dari umat Islam di Malaysia sendiri kerana antara ilmuan yang dijemput adalah Muslimah kontroversial, Dr.Amina Wadud.
Jika di internet dan di forum tertutup pun kedua-duanya menyisih pendapat yang tidak “status quo” atau “mainstream”, maka tiadalah dialog intelektual sepertimana yang kita harapkan.
Tanpa dialog terbuka dan kepelbagaian pendapat, peradaban Islam akan hilang dinamiknya. Sebuah peradaban yang tidak dinamik pula lambat-laun akan statik.
Peradaban yang statik adalah peradaban yang sudah mati.
Azizi Khan says
Hi Shanon,
An excellent article from you.
I think the problem with our learned ulama is they have “deviated” from the Islamic educational excellence from the scholars of yesteryear. Those days we had Islamic scholars learning from their regional counterparts such as the Greeks. We excelled at science and mathematics and were globally recognised for our intelligence.
These days our ulama are more than happy to regurgitate documents and texts without so much of asking why. Fits very well into the Malaysian educational system, no?
Without asking why – we will never learn. Even the Quran establishes the learning process is never ending and it’s mandatory for every Muslim. And it’s not about “not questioning” something. But far from it. It’s about challenging and questioning what is there.
I don’t mind non-Muslims questioning about Islam and the Quran. Especially when it involves their livelihood.
The Malays and the Muslims these days are a confused lot. Why? They have no intention of learning. They are happy to follow. I for one believe this is conduct unbecoming of a teacher. If you don’t learn, you can’t teach.
One fine example is, every Muslim knows that like every other religion, Muslims are broken into various denominations. Each group is more than happy to label the other as deviants. That’s it, call them deviants so long as they have a different perspective of the same thing.
To be honest I don’t have much respect for our local ulama. They have forgotten their own religion and responsibility. They brought themselves down to the level of mere moral guardians. That’s it. They are mere “Muslim Police”. We might as well give them a uniform.
I grew up in a small town surrounded by Indians and Chinese. My dad’s close friend was a Sikh who spoke Tamil fluently. When you grow up learning customs, traditions and religions of various ethnics it’s something very precious. You learn that respect is the most important thing we can offer one another.
Now I live in Sydney. Again it’s the same thing. I meet Muslims from various countries. Countries labeled as “deviants” by our ulama. I talk to them and they are no different than us.
Do you know what I learned? I learned that our local ulama and people like MP Zulkifli Noordin don’t really know Islam as they claim to. They protect Islam because their mind is closed. You run away from what you are afraid of. Why? They never question, and they never learn.
To my non-Muslim brothers and sisters, fear not. There are many of us moderate Muslims around to support you. We will not impose our religion on you and neither will we make you second class citizens. Together we’ll make a better Malaysia.
AK.
Karcy says
To Din Haron:
Actually, these articles are what help me learn more about Islam. I realize that Shanon’s views are not exactly traditional so I usually balance them out by visiting other online forums on Islam that tend to be more mainstream. The only difference is that I’m not commenting there.
It is inevitable that those learning and commenting may offend believers, but most of us are not just reacting to a political force (like what John Bastille says), we are also genuinely interested in the religion academically.
Nora says
nadia ali remarked :
[1] Very bold article abang Shanon. Personally I think Muslims in general are not interested in your arguments simply because they are too comfortable living in the realm where there can only be one interpretation.
Precisely, so does that mean it should be left as it is … to continue as it should be? This whole idea of not doing anything is the greatest mistake for one to make. By the time you want to do something about it, its too late. Then the regrets come in “I should have done something about it etc.†What’s for?
Isn’t it this whole attitude of “one Interpretation†that leads to a lot of misconception and narrowing of the mind, rejecting this whole notion that “there’s many rivers out there, and all rivers lead to the one big oceanâ€.
Yes! You are correct Nadia, when they are too comfortable living in such a realm, why need to change. Because change will bring forth a whole lot of things that they can never handle. Like slavery. In America, after the civil war, when the slaves were told that they are free, many of them didn’t want to be free. Question asked: why wouldn’t they want to be free? It’s the same with the birds, being caged for too long that they have become crippled and forgot how to fly. Even if you remove the cage, they will not fly. Why should they in the first place? They are accustomed to being fed. Even though they may be treated badly, they are being looked after. Freedom brings forth a set of consequences. They have to fend for themselves, they have to work hard and be strong. Do they want to? It is easy to be a slave. Any form of dependence is slavery: Spiritually. Emotionally, psychologically and physically. Amongst these, spiritual slavery is the worst form of slavery.
[2] When I was in school our ustazah would always warn us against “evil” books with different interpretations of the religion. We were never encouraged to read or research on our own. If you did, you were a heretic. We were also discouraged to ask questions in class. My ustazah used to remind us that God’s least favorite word is “what ifâ€.
Yes! You see that is the main reason why I move away from Islam. You see Nadia, I’m that young inquisitive little Muslim girl who just liked to ask questions … trying to find an understanding to a lot of confusing things that were happening, but what do I get in return? Rebuttal and the “shut up … you do not ask questions … you are just to take in what we taught you†response. So I decided to find my own answers and I have found them … a path that is more peaceful and accommodating. Do you know what I learn from this experience: If a child comes to you with a question, don’t tell them to shut up, but try to listen and find a way to make this innocent mind understand. It’s a challenge for a parent. How are we to make such complex question simple so that such simple, inquisitive minds could grasp it. Once you start to tell the child to “shut up and just follow” they are more likely to turn to another, and whomever is able to provide them what they are looking for is their savior. I do not blame the child but the parent for not opening up their mind. We are dealing with a different situation right now. Before, yes! You do not have the internet or the ever evolving mass media, so if the parent could not give me the answer, I go to the internet and find them.
[2] My point is, many Muslims will not feel comfortable if you start questioning what they have been conditioned to believe. This method of social conditioning has proven to be successful not only in Islam but in other religions too.
Depends which religion you are referring to. I know there’s other religions that encourage their devotees to ask and to question. I met a tantric from India who told me, in our spiritual practice, if you are not comfortable with the suggestion given, you should not follow. You must question when you are in doubt.
And yes you are right people, who are mentally condition will feel uncomfortable when their beliefs are being questioned, then again I would like to ask: then should we leave it as it is as it should be? How are people to change when they do not want to make that first move? It’s like living in a cocoon, am I right? The cocoon is our habitual pattern that we embed ourselves in, choosing not to leap into fresh air or onto fresh ground. The cocoon is that darkness that we create within ourselves. It’s our personal jungle and cave where we can hide from the world and we feel secure. We have so much fear that we make ourselves numb with fear. We surround ourselves with our own familiar thoughts, so that nothing sharp or painful can touch us. We are so afraid of our own fear that we deaden our hearts.
A real leader who is a wira is a person who dares enough to take that first step, to challenge, to question, and to lead the people out from this darkness.
Nurol says
Saya rasa, tidak wajar jika orang bukan Islam tidak diberikan hak untuk memberi komen.
Mereka yang menganuti agama Islam setelah benar-benar mempelajari dan memahaminya adalah lebih bagus dari mereka yang hanya dilahirkan di dalam agama Islam tetapi tidak faham secara menyeluruh.
Saya harap masyarakat pembaca lebih berfikiran terbuka untuk menerima pelbagai pandangan dari setiap aspek dan sudut. Kita tidak semestinya benar, walaupun pendapat kita juga bukan salah.
Terima kasih saudara Shanon kerana menulis artikel ini.
Main says
Persoalan yang akan membawa kepada persoalan furuqiah apabila mengupas apa dan kenapa serta bagaimana. Akan ujud perselisihan bila ada pendapat yang cuba menerangkan asas persoalan dengan meletakkan contoh-contoh yang rapuh e.g. persoalan tentang doa qunut suatu ketika dulu yang diasaskan pada persoalan amalan-amalan sunat dalam ibadah, amalan wajib ditinggalkan begitu sahaja.
Bezanya di sini, persoalan yang sudah nyata haram dikaitkan dengan contoh perbuatan yang dizahirkan melalui persembahan. Asas yang dibawa ke depan terserak dengan begitu mantap sekali hingga sukar menentukan mana satu persoalan yang patut dijawab. Secara asasnya, yang haram tetap haram. Lagipun, Islam mempunyai asas untuk menilai keujudan manusia sebagai ciptaan Allah, khunsa contohnya. Wallahualam.
arah says
Interesting article.
Since in Malaysia there are also many Christians, let’s check what the Bible said about homosexuals.
“If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.” (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)
Karcy says
To arah:
You can’t just quote the Bible like that lah. Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God, but we do not believe that every part of the Bible is the literal instruction of God. To understand the Bible you must take into context its historical context, literary form (poetry? letter?) , and how it connects to other books that are considered Scripture as well as Church teaching passed down from generation to generation. Our Bible is not one book, at its basic form it is 66 books, plus the deuterocanonical and apocryphal books.
Anyway, regarding your quote, Levitical laws do not apply to Christians, but they have symbolic meaning for us (for an example, the blood sacrifices in Leviticus all foreshadow the sacrifice of God for us). When Jesus died, the old Jewish covenant was replaced with a new Christian one. Following the old laws is no longer necessary (see the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15). Regardless, St Paul still lists homosexual behaviour as a sin in the Book of Romans, and how it applies to Christians today is a subject of very active and rife debate. It would be too much to explain all of them in a single comment.
But I don’t see what is the connection with talking about Christianity in this context, it’s just so out of topic. I’m guessing you are upset at the idea of Christians commenting on Muslim territory, but in Christianity there is no reason why non-Christians cannot comment on Christian matters since we are told to contend / argue for the faith when non-believers question us (St Paul debated openly with the Greek philosophers).
Back to the subject of Islam, not every non-Muslim interested in Islam or who comments on it wants to attack it. Relax lah. I never said I agreed or disagreed with Shanon’s stance, just that his article showed me that there is a rich intellectual and interpretive tradition in Islam.
A says
I REALLY don’t care what people decide to stuff into their or their partner’s favorite orifice. As long as they do it in private. However, I don’t enjoy watching two men getting it on on stage or TV. Two women, fine, break out the beer and cheer – that’s hot. So perhaps all can be solved if you had a warning that there was going to be some gay stuff on the stage show/movie poster or ad.
A says
Can someone explain the difference between race and religion to Din Haron?
arah says
My dear Karcy,
Don’t be upset la. I just quoted what is written in the bible without making any single comment. In Islam, anything clearly written in the Quran cannot be questioned by those who call themselves Muslim and no hadiths or ulama can overrule the laws in the Quran. If there is no clear statement in the Quran, Muslims have to check the hadith, if not in the hadith then we can accept the consensus of the ulama. There are many laws that are not implemented by Muslim governments, but to disbelieve or question the Quran or hadith, a Muslim will become an unbeliever.
Why? Because Islam is derived from the Arabic root “Salema” – peace, purity, submission and obedience to Almighty God the Creator.
I remember in the bible where Esa or Jesus clearly mentioned these statements.
Matt 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Karcy says
To Arah:
Christians believe that the fulfillment of the Law means Jesus’s death and resurrection, which we believe is foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. An acquaintance of mine who reads the Bible in Hebrew and Greek has written a 17-part essay on the subject and addresses the very verses you quote. You can read it here: http://community.livejournal.com/_ljchristians/tag/fulfillment+of+the+law
The point being, I don’t see the point in bringing up a (very haphazard) take on the Christian view of the homosexuality problem since it has no relation to the Islamic view discussed in Shanon’s article. If this is an attempt to make Christians uncomfortable by having Muslims comment on Christian matters, I will have to say it’s done in bad faith. Firstly, Christians are encouraged to debate for their faith, and secondly, none of the non-Muslims in this thread have attacked Islam in any way. The closest thing might be me commenting about IIU cross-dressing actors, but this is not me simply saying something for the heck of it, I really heard that this is true. And in my case, I am sincere when I say that I am interested in learning more about Islamic theology.
alif lam mim says
Dear arah,
re: “In Islam, anything clearly written in the Quran cannot be questioned by those who call themselves Muslim and no hadiths or ulama can overrule the laws in the Quran.”
That conviction you aspire to, so bold and adamantine, can only be arrived at by a lifelong study and dedication to the knowledge enshrouded in the Qur’an. To claim such conviction, whether explicitly or otherwise, with neither the toil as proof nor the will to start, is a big boast at best. To ram that conviction down another’s throat is evil, plain and simple.
There are two meanings in the expression “to question the Qur’an.” One is to dispute vainly, to argue prejudicially. The other is to investigate, to assay, to ascertain, to understand, wherein stands in the backdrop the quest for knowledge.
Would that more Muslims question the Qur’an every minute of their existence. With the steady encroachment of ignorance every minute in this fair country, it is a wonder that God does not allow its destruction.
Oh wait …
Karcy says
To Arah:
As a second thought, I’d like to add this.
Basically, I feel uneasy because if we engage on the topic of Christianity vs. Islam here, it would just end up as a massive back-and-forth between the two of us, and I predict that it will get very, very ugly. Christians have been debating with Muslims since the time of the Prophet and the amount of stuff in the debate is massive.
If you are interested in listening to what Christians believe, how we interpret the Bible, how we view Jesus, as well as some parts of our praxis (including homosexuality and the relationship with the Judaic laws), you can e-mail me at chibikarcy AT gmail DOT com. I extend the invitation to any other non-Christian reading this comment.
And as a Christian participating and commenting in discussions about Islam, its praxis, and its application to law and legislation, I would like to offer my apologies if I have ever overstepped my boundaries. I am sincere when I say that I am genuinely interested in learning more about the Islamic religion and faith, and I take into consideration all perspectives and viewpoints.
Abdullah says
Terima kasih untuk artikel ini. Banyak info yang ada. Alhamdulillah…
avi says
Salam… saya amat tertarik pada petikan ini:
”Akan tetapi, Kugle berkata menurut tulisan al-Kisai (sekitar kurun ke-12 Masihi), kisah Nabi Lut lebih bertumpu kepada perangai kaumnya yang rakus, biadab, tamak, dan mahu memperkosa kaum sejenis. Dengan erti kata lain al-Kisai, seorang pengarang qisas al-anbiya yang terkemuka, mengkaji kisah Nabi Lut dalam konteks sejarah dan budaya zaman tersebut. Al-Kisai membuat kesimpulan bahawa dosa kaum Nabi Lut bukannya kerana mereka tertarik kepada golongan sejenis, tetapi cara mereka memuaskan nafsu mereka — dengan menggunakan kekerasan.
”Malah, ini belum lagi kita mendalami perbezaan pendapat di antara golongan penulis tafsir, dan golongan sejarawan yang menulis tentang riwayat hidup Rasulullah, atau sirah. Menurut pengumpul sirah, tidak ada pun bukti bahawa Rasulullah telah menghukum kaum lelaki ataupun perempuan kerana menjalinkan hubungan sejenis.”
Saya pikir 100% ini benar. Saya bersyukur kpd Allah tidak sia-sia doa saya selama ini. Saya amat berharapa agar semua ulama2 kita di Malaysia akan memahami tentang isu ini purata bukan sekadar di internet sahaja. Jadi apa yg saya paham sekrang ialah bernafsu pada sesama jenis sperti saya (gay) tidak berdosa. Betulkan? Jika melakukan sex pula hukumnya dosa ke? Jika betul berdosa apakah penyelesaiannya untuk itu? Wajib berkahwin seperti pasangan straight? Jika dikahwinkan sesama jenis yg mereka cintai maka apa hukumnya? Dihalalkan ke untuk bersetubuh? Mesti ada laluannya untuk menghalalkan hubungan pasangan gays. Mohon dapat jawapannya. Terima kasih kpd ustaz kerana menjelaskan hal ini kpd kami. Kami amat gembira sangat. Alhamdullilah. Agar isu ini dapat diperluaskan agar kaum ini dapat kebahagiaan sperti pasangan [straight] yang lain. Ini membuktikan kami (gays) juga adalah kejadian semulajadi yg Allah berikan. Benar kan?? Harap hal ini tidak dilengah-lengahkan lagi..perkara baik harus dipercepatkan. Insyallah. Assalamualaikum.