Benedict XVI claimed that legislation introduced by Labour to end discrimination “actually violates natural law” because it stopped worshippers remaining true to their beliefs. Rather than making society more equal, the Government’s new rules limited religious freedom, he said.

His strongly worded intervention in British politics comes after leaders of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England clashed with Labour over its Equality Bill, which they fear will make them admit homosexuals to the priesthood or face prosecution for discriminating against them.

Last week MPAC.ie pointed out the civil partnership bill being introduced here will also impinge on the ‘freedom of conscience’ of religious adherents by forcing them, under pain of offense, to submit to the repugnance of a union between two sodomites.

We commend the Pope for his courage in this matter, sadly if anyone was waiting to hear any similar condemnations from our so-called representatives in the Muslim community, they will be waiting. Our leaders are not known for their courage or willingness to condemn, after all that’s not ‘hikmah’ in their opinion. What must they make of the Prophet’s condemnations and the punishment enjoined within an Islamic state?

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The Prophet cursed effeminate men; those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners of women) and those women who assume the manners of men, and he said, “Turn them out of your houses.” The Prophet turned out such-and-such man, and ‘Umar turned out such-and-such woman.

Narated By Abdullah ibn Abbas : The Prophet (pbuh) said: If you find anyone doing as Lot’s people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done.

Narated By Abdullah ibn Abbas : If a man who is not married is seized committing sodomy, he will be stoned to death.

It was narrated that Ibn Abbaas said: “The Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “… cursed is the one who has intercourse with an animal, cursed is the one who does the action of the people of Loot.”

Ibn Abbas and Abu Huraira reported Allah’s messenger as saying, ‘Accursed is he who does what Lot’s people did.’ In a version…on the authority of Ibn Abbas it says that Ali [Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law] had two people “burned” and that Abu Bakr [Muhammad's chief companion] had a wall thrown down on them.

As a community we are the ones who lack hikmah when we permit the scurrilous, lily-livered so-called leaders to continue in their positions of responsibility while they refuse to condemn clear kufr. Shame on us.

The Muslim should not doubt, even for an instant, that what Allaah has prescribed is wise. He should know that there is great wisdom in what Allaah has commanded and what He has forbidden; it is the straight path and is the only way in which man can be safe and at peace, protecting his honour, his mind and his health, in accordance with the natural disposition (fitrah) with which Allaah has created man.

Some heretics have tried to attack Islam and its rulings; they have denounced divorce and plural marriage and permitted alcohol. Those who look at the state of their societies will see the state of misery which those societies have reached.

When they rejected divorce, murder took its place. When they rejected plural marriage, men started to take mistresses instead. When they allowed alcohol, all kinds of shameful and immoral actions became widespread.

They (gays and lesbians) both go against the natural disposition (fitrah) which Allaah has created in mankind – and also in animals – whereby the male is inclined towards the female, and vice versa. Whoever goes against that goes against the natural disposition of mankind, the fitrah.

The spread of homosexuality has caused many diseases which neither the east nor the west can deny exist because of them. Even if the only result of this perversion was AIDS – which attacks the immune system in humans – that would be enough. It also causes the breakup of the family and leads people to give up their work and study because they are preoccupied with these perversions.

Since the prohibition has come from his Lord, the Muslim should not wait until medicine proves that harm befalls the one who does that which Allaah has forbidden. Rather he must believe firmly that Allaah only prescribes that which is good for people, and these modern discoveries should only increase his certainty and confidence in the greatness of Allaah’s wisdom.

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

Both of them – fornication and homosexuality – involve immorality that goes against the wisdom of Allaah’s creation and commandment. For homosexuality involves innumerable evil and harms, and the one to whom it is done would be better off being killed than having this done to him, because after that he will become so evil and so corrupt that there can be no hope of his being reformed, and all good is lost for him, and he will no longer feel any shame before Allaah or before His creation. The semen of the one who did that to him will act as a poison on his body and soul. The scholars differed as to whether the one to whom it is done will ever enter Paradise. There are two opinions which I heard Shaykh al-Islam (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrate.”

(al-Jawaab al-Kaafi, p. 115).

2. Lesbianism means one woman doing to another something like that which a man does to a woman. Homosexuality means having intercourse with males in the back passage. This was the action of the accursed people of the Prophet of Allaah Loot (peace be upon him). In sharee’ah terminology it refers to inserting the tip of the penis into the anus of a male.

What is mentioned concerning these actions in the Qur’aan and Sunnah:

A – Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And (remember) Loot (Lot), when he said to his people: ‘Do you commit the worst sin such as none preceding you has committed in the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)? Verily, you practise your lusts on men instead of women. Nay, but you are a people transgressing beyond bounds (by committing great sins)’[al-A’raaf 7:80-81]

B –

“Verily, We sent against them a violent storm of stones (which destroyed them all), except the family of Loot (Lot), them We saved in the last hour of the night” [al-Qamar 54:34 – interpretation of the meaning]

C –

“And (remember) Loot (Lot), when he said to his people: ‘Do you commit the worst sin such as none preceding you has committed in the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)?” [al-A’raaf 7:80 – interpretation of the meaning]

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And (remember) Loot (Lot), when he said to his people: ‘You commit Al?Faahishah (sodomy the worst sin) which none has preceded you in (committing) it in the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)’” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:28]

D –

“And (remember) Loot (Lot), We gave him Hukm (right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) and (religious) knowledge, and We saved him from the town (folk) who practised Al?Khabaa’ith (evil, wicked and filthy deeds). Verily, they were a people given to evil, and were Faasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah)” [al-Anbiya’ 21:74 – interpretation of the meaning]

E –

“And (remember) Loot (Lot)! When he said to his people, ‘Do you commit Al?Faahishah (evil, great sin, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy) while you see (one another doing evil without any screen) Do you practise your lusts on men instead of women? Nay, but you are a people who behave senselessly.’ There was no other answer given by his people except that they said: ‘Drive out the family of Loot (Lot) from your city. Verily, these are men who want to be clean and pure!’ So We saved him and his family, except his wife. We destined her to be of those who remained behind. And We rained down on them a rain (of stones). So evil was the rain of those who were warned” [al-Naml 27:54-58 – interpretation of the meaning]

These verses refer to the punishment that befell the people of Loot. With regard to the rulings on them:

F – Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning]:

“And the two persons (man and woman) among you who commit illegal sexual intercourse, hurt them both. And if they repent (promise Allaah that they will never repeat, i.e. commit illegal sexual intercourse and other similar sins) and do righteous good deeds, leave them alone. Surely, Allaah is Ever All-Forgiving (the One Who forgives and accepts repentance), (and He is) Most Merciful” [al-Nisa’ 4:16]

Ibn Katheer said:

“The words of Allaah ‘And the two persons (man and woman) among you who commit illegal sexual intercourse, hurt them both’ mean, those who commit immoral actions, punish them both. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), Sa’eed ibn Jubayr and others said: By condemning them, shaming them and hitting them with shoes. This was the ruling until Allaah abrogated it and replaced it with whipping and stoning. ‘Ikrimah, ‘Ata, al-Hasan and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Katheer said: This was revealed concerning a man and woman who commit fornication. Al-Saddi said, it was revealed concerning young people before they get married. Mujaahid said: it was revealed concerning two men if they admit it bluntly; a hint is not sufficient – as if he was referring to homosexuality. And Allaah knows best.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/463).

G – It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him): “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘There is nothing I fear for my ummah more than the deed of the people of Loot.’” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1457; Ibn Maajah, 2563. This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 1552).

H – It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “… cursed is the one who has intercourse with an animal, cursed is the one who does the action of the people of Loot.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 1878. This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 5891).

I – It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever you find doing the deed of the people of Loot, kill the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1456; Abu Dawood, 4462; Ibn Maajah, 2561. This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 6589).

And Allaah knows best.

Sourse: IslamQ&A

MPAC.ie Comment: We raise this issue as individuals claiming to be Muslims have recently challenged this Divine ruling on a website purporting to be ‘moderate’ and a true ‘Irish Muslim’ perspective. As Muslims living in a land of unbelief we acknowledge and believe in what Allah has said while leaving the punishment of sinners to Him. We should not and do not give ear to those who would sell the deen of Allah for the dirham and the dinar.

Our Shaykh, Shaykh Muqbil, (Allahs mercy be upon him), had written a book with regards to this matter: ‘Asbaabu Zilzaal’ (The Reasons for Earthquakes) and the likes of this and the calamities. It is a tremendous book. So we thought it would be beneficial after we saw what had taken place, that we could bring about some benefit with regards to this particular matter. Firstly, before entering into the book itself, I wanted to mention some of the brief Kalaam (speech) with regards to the Surah Zilzalah in the Qur’an,(The Book of Allaah), Allaah mentions Surah 99:1-8. (1)

“When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake.”

And the scholars of Tafsir, (those who explain the verses of the Qur’an according to what the Prophet Muhammad, Sallahu Alayhis Salaam, has said with regards to its meaning), from them Ibn Kathir; he mentioned that meaning here of this particular earthquake, that is mentioned in this particular Ayah, that it is the earthquake before Yaumal Qiyyamah, (The Day of Judgement). (2).

“And when the earth throws out its burdens.”

Also Ibn Kathir mentions with regards to the meaning of this particular Ayah at that particular time; the earth will cause that which is in it, to be cast out from the dead in the earth, from the treasures in the earth, from that which is buried in the earth, from ancient civilizations, whenever it may be. That at that particular time, the earth will throw up its burden, meaning that which is held in it.

(3) ”And man will say: What is the matter with it?”

Ibn Kathir mentions, with regards to this particular Ayah, that the people will say “Maa La Ha (What is wrong with it?)”. He said that at one time before this particular event, it was a land that was at rest, at peace, a normal affair, a normal matter and then it began to shake and quake. So this shows us that even at that particular time, because that place is at rest, it is a normal day, people are going about in their normal affairs, normal business and then all of a sudden the earth begins to shake. It begins to move and the people begin to question; what is with the earth? And as I read in one of the meanings with regards to the Tsunami itself, that some of the scientist say that it is as if the earth shook upon it’s axis in this particular Tsunami.

(4). “That day it will declare its information about all that happened good or evil.”

Ibn Kathir explains with regards to this particular Ayah: The earth is from the Shuhood (witnesses) for or against you. That those places that the people committed sin in, then the earth will bear witness against you and as for the places that the person has done righteousness in, then the earth will also be a witness for you. It’s either a witness for you or against you. So this particular matter shows us that the earth itself will testify and it will speak with regards to that which had taken place upon it.

(5). “Because your Lord will inspire it.”

Ibn Kathir mentions with regards to this meaning, that the inspiration here is that Allaah commanded the earth to shake; that it is Allaah that commanded the earth to move. And this is a refutation, as Shaykh Muqbil will get into against those who attribute these calamities to the nature. They call them natural disasters. And as we will see from the speech of Shaykh Muqbil: If one actually says this believing that it is the earth or the nature itself that causes this matter, then he is a disbeliever. He disbelieved that it is Allaah who has caused this matter and caused this affair to take place with His infinite Wisdom.

(6). “That day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds.” (7). “So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom or a small ant, he shall see it.” (8). “And whoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom or a small ant, he shall see it.”

So on that day brothers, Yaumal Qiyyamah, after this particular earthquake, the great earthquake that is mentioned in these particular Ayat, every person will be shown that which he had done. If its something that is good, then he will be shown that and if it is something that is evil, then he will be shown that. And Ibn Kathir, recording on some of the Salaf, they mention that this Surah itself should be an encouragement for the people to do good even if it is a small, minor affair. Even if it is a small thing, something minute in your sight, it is a great encouragement for you to do.As Allaah mentioned that if you did the smallest amount of good you would see it on Yaumal Qiyyamah. Ibn Kathir also went on to mention that also the opposite is true. That this also should be a discouragement from even doing the smallest amount of evil. As Allaah mentioned in this Ayah that even if it is an atoms weight of evil, it will be shown to the individual. So this particular Ayat or Surah we should mention, shows the tremendous encouragement.

Firstly, the doing of good even if it is a very small or minute matter and it is also a discouragement from doing evil again, even if it is from the most small or minute matters of evil. And we mentioned before in some of the lessons from the statements of the Salafis Salih with regards to this particular matter. And we mentioned that from what the Salaf has said: Do not look at the smallness or minuteness of the sin that you are committing, but rather look at the greatness of the one you are disobeying. This is the reality of the matter my brothers. May Allaah bless you.

And as the Shaykh began this particular book, he began to bring different Ayat to mention some of the matters that had happened throughout the earth in the past. And Inshallaah, I selected a portion of those particular Ayat, as the book is a bit long, not long. It’s a small Risalah, the meaning is that there are many Ayats and had we read the entire thing, it may have taken quite a few lessons. So I selected some of the Ayat from the different chapters or the different pages that the Shaykh had mentioned to read. And then bring the speech of the Shaykh in the conclusion.

The Shaykh mentions from the Qur’an the statement of Allaah,

Al-A’raf 7:94-99, “And we sent no Prophet unto any town, any village or any place and they denied him, except that We seized it’s people with suffering from extreme poverty or loss in wealth or loss of health and calamities, so that they might humiliate themselves and repent to Allaah. Then We changed the evil for good, until they increased in number and wealth. And said: Our fathers were touched with evil, loss of health and calamities, and with good prosperity.”

So they were touched with the both of them. They were touched with calamity, disease, death and what is like it. And they were also touched with some prosperity. So Allaah mentioned;

“So We seized them all of a sudden while they were unaware. And if the people of the towns had believed and had Taq’wa (piety), and (fear of Allaah), certainly We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they denied the messengers. So We took them, with punishment, for what they used to earn. Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep? Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing? Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allaah? None feels secure from the Plan of Allaah except the people who are the losers.”

If you pay attention to these particular Ayat brothers, you see that from the reasons for destruction and from the reasons for these calamities that have takes place, is disobedience to the Messengers of Allaah. The people go about as Allaah mentions, in the day and in the night and some of them go to sleep in disobedience to Allaah. Not having any awareness and not being aware of that which Allaah has in plan for them in punishment and in seizing them.Or those who go about in the forenoon playing and going about their normal business in the day and not concerning themselves with that which they have done from disobedience, until Allaah takes and sends a tremendous punishment and calamity upon them and calls them to account for that which they had done. So clearly we see, and do not be mistaken, that which we have seen from destruction, and that which we have seen from death, is from the punishment of Allaah; for those who have belied the Messengers, and those who have disbelieved in the Messengers, and for those who have disobeyed the Messengers of Allaah.And then he brings the Ayat from the book of Allaah, Al_Isra’ 17:58-59. Allaah mentions in these particular Ayat;

“And there is not a town, population, but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. That is written in the Book (of Our Decress). And nothing stops Us from sending the Ayat, (proofs, evidences, signs) but that the people of old denied them.”

So Allaah, He sent signs, Messengers, and Prophets. But the people belied those Messengers, they denied those Ayat, those signs and the likes of them. And He said;

“We sent the she-camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. And we sent not signs except to warn and to make them afraid (of destruction.)”

So Allaah sent many signs to the people of the earth, past and present.He has sent them Messengers with revelations to their people to call them to that which is correct, and to that which is good, and to Tawheed, and to obedience to Allah. But these people belied the Messengers, and they denied the signs of Allaah, and therefore Allaah took them, as we mentioned, with terrible punishment. And then he mentioned the Ayat from the book of Allaah,

Surah Fatir 35:44-45, “Have they not traveled in the land, and seen what was the end of those before them- though they were superior to them in power?”

Here, Allah is mentioning that there were many nations that came before. Mighty nations, powerful nations, nations of technology, or civilization or like this that had built up great buildings, and great affairs and like this.

And have the people not looked through the earth and seen these matters and seen what was the punishment of those people? Volcanoes had taken some cities, earthquakes had destroyed some cities, floods had destroyed other cities. Great calamities had come to these nations who were powerful, who were mighty but it is Allaah, Glorified and Exalted is He, who is All-Mighty and All-Powerful and it is Allaah who takes to account for these particular matters.And then the Ayah continues:

“Allaah is not such that anything in the heavens and the earth escapes Him. Verily, He is All-Knowing, All Omnipotent. And if Allaah were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth.”

Listen to the people when they talk about how they question their belief in the Creator. As if they do go about in the day and in the night sinning and transgressing against Allaah, causing all affairs of Kufr and disbelief; calling to all that is evil and wicked and corrupt. And then when Allaah takes them with a punishment, calls them to account for that which they did, they don’t remember their sins; they don’t remember their transgressions against Allaah.

All they can say is that they question their faith in the Creator. If Allaah had taken the people to account for what they had really done, there would remain a microbe upon the earth, not a living creature, not walking, not crawling, not swimming, not flying. There would not remain upon the earth a single creature had Allaah not given His infinite Mercy to His creation.

“But He gives them respite to an appointed term: and when their term comes, then verily, Allaah is Ever All-Seer of His slaves.”

Allaah knows best that which they had done. Shaykh Muqbil, after mentioning these particular matters, he begins to make some comments with regards to these particular Ayat and the issue of the Zilzaal, these earthquakes. The Shaykh said that Allaah is telling us the story about these particular Ayat; about the condition of those who opposed the Messengers and what Allaah did to those people. And Allah did not oppress them, but rather they oppressed their own souls. Let us know for certainty, that which Allaah has done whether it be in this particular affair, this earthquake, that if you look at the evil of the people, how can one compare the likes of the evil of the people to that which has taken place. And it’s clear, that when Allaah mentions in that Ayah, that He had taken the people to account for what they really had done that we wouldn’t remain. But it is only by the Mercy of Allaah and these calamities are from the Signs of Allaah. And then the Shaykh said in the Sahihain (Bukhari and Muslim), on the authority of Jaabirthat, when the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, brought the Ayah from the Qur’an: Say! He, Allaah, has Power, that He can send to you a punishment from above you. And when the Prophet recited it, he said; I seek refuge in your face, meaning Allaah, and then he said; or from beneath your feet. Allaah can send a calamity from above you or from beneath your feet and the Prophet said; I seek refuge in your face, again. Allaah says: or I can send a party of you against another so you can taste the punishment of one another. And sometimes Allaah sends a people strong in the affairs of war and killing and like this and He will send them over another people as a punishment.And this is from the punishment of Allaah, that He causes another people to humiliate another people.

As we mention that from the affairs and the matters as mentioned from the book of Adaa Wa Dawaa by Ibnul Qayyim, that from the punishment of Allaah, again Bani Isra’eel, is that He sent a people against them strong in warfare to humiliate them and like. But when this was recited the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, said: As to this last affair, then it is the easiest of those matters.As for the punishment from the heavens, or as for the punishment from beneath the feet of you, then this is the most severe of the punishment of Alaah. So Allaah may send, as we mentioned, He may send down rain from the heavens to cause floods in the earth as we saw during the time of Nuh, peace be upon him. Or He may send down fire from the heavens, or as we see in this particular matter, Allaah may send destruction from beneath your feet from the shaking and the quaking of the earth from beneath you.

So it is Allaah that has Power over this matter. The Shaykh continues: And these affairs of teaching, these things that show you, these admonitions and like this, they continue to happen. They continue to take place ever since Allaah created the heavens and the earth until this day of ours.And in the second portion of this particular lecture or class when we continue and finish it up next week Insha-allaah, we will continue when Shaykh Muqbil brings in the last portion of this book chronologically different earthquakes and different calamities that have taken place in the earth.Whether it be famine, or it be hunger until the point where the Shaykh mentions in some instances in the history, that the hunger became so much that the people began to eat one another.

This again is from the punishment of Allaah and from His infinite Wisdom. And then the Shaykh goes on to mention: And these particular Ayat are a severe warning for those who would oppose that which the Prophets and Messengers have come with. And we continue in our time to hear about these admonitions, these calamities. We just heard about this calamity, this Tsunami that took place last week 147,000 people killed. The Shaykh said: And we continue to hear about these signs from Allaah. And we continue to hear about these calamities that shake or bring fear to the Muslims, but the disbelievers, the enemies of Al Islaam, they try to make these calamities, natural disasters.

They call them natural disasters. Why do they call them natural disasters? So as to deny the Messengers? We just recited the Ayat about those who belie the Messengers, those who deny the signs of Allaah. So after 147,000 people die, a way for them to belie the Messengers, to deny the Ayat and the signs of Allaah, is to merely call it a natural disaster. The earth itself just did this. The earth itself began to quake naturally, for no reason, just began to quake like this.So they themselves try to belie the Messengers and deny the truth of Allaah, that which He has sent down, the claiming, alleging that these are natural disasters. And they also try to deny the help of Allaah and the victory that He gives to His Prophets.

And then the Shaykh says: The abundance of the earthquakes in the last days is considered a sign from the signs of Prophethood.Why? Because the Prophet, Sallahu Alayhis Salaam, clarified as we will mention in the next lesson from the different narrations from Adallal An-Nubu’a, from the Proofs of Prophethood, that the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, had mentioned the coming of these earthquakes and that in the last days there would be tremendous loss of life due to earthquakes and the likes of this. So this is from proofs of Prophethood. And from signs of Prophethood is that the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, was able to mention that which was going to take place from the unknown at the particular time, or the un-seen at that particular time.

And then the Shaykh goes on to mention: As the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, mentioned in the narration of Salim Al Nufail, Radiullaahu Anhu, and other narrations that we will mention Insha-Allaah, there is also a narration in the Sahih of Imam: Bukhari and Imam: Muslims on the authority of Abu Hurairah, Radiullaahu Anhu,of the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, mentioning in the last days the coming of these earthquakes.

The Shaykh continues and says: And the question or that which needs to be considered; Have we taken account of that which has taken place? Have we repented to Allaah? How many of us when we heard about this earthquake, or this Tsunami that took place in the Asian Continent, how many fell and repented to their Lord? How many remembered their reckoning with Allaah, and knew that it could have taken place with them? The Shaykh is asking how many took account that 147,000 people have died. But how many of us have taken account from those who remain?

How many of us rushed to Taubah to Allaah. How many of us left off sin immediately, how many felt the fear, Might and Power of Allaah? Or did it become a mere matter of mentioning the death toll. How many people actually took account of that which had taken place in their own lives, and their own family. This is the reality of what the Shaykh is asking us here. Or are they like those who Allaah mentioned in His Qur’an. Allaah said: A

t-Taubah 9:126, “Do you not see that they had been tested with calamities at least once or twice a year.”

Calamities happen quite often, earthquakes and floods. And then He, Allaah, says:

“And then they still don’t repent.”

The people still don’ repent, they see the calamities, they see the Might of Allaah. They see Allaah seizing the people of their sins and their transgressions and they still don’t repent to Allaah. And they still don’t remember or take thought. They do not think. So this is what the Shaykh is clarifying for us. Yes, this calamity took place and it was a tragedy, yes. How many of us repented to Allaah. How many of us rushed to leave off the sins and transgressions against Allaah. That is a tremendous Ayah in Surah At-Taubah.

Then the Shaykh spoke about some of the earthquake that had actually taken place in Yemen and some of the calamities in Yemen. He said, after these earthquakes in Yemen, he said: Did the people then begin to get rid of the places that produce whiskey and alcohol. After the earthquake, did the people rush to remember their Lord and to tear down those places of whiskey and like this? Did they repent from Hisbiyyah. How many people repented from Hisbiyyah after these particular affairs. And how many people repented from democracy, that some of the people have the nerve and the audacity to call to and to claim this democracy is from Al-Islaam. A system that makes a faggot equal to the righteous, that gives the same matter to the drunkard to the man who is upon nobility.

How can the people even claim to clarify this matter, rather they should repent to Allaah from the democracy and understand that the affair is that which Allaah had legislated and sent down. Then the Shaykh said: Had they repented, had they freed themselves from the corruption and the sin that is in front of us. He said, again, speaking about the affair in Yemen: Rather, had they repented and freed themselves from unison with the likes of the communists. The matter needs Taubah. This matter needs repentance to Allaah. When we see the likes of these calamities, the likes of the destruction, the likes of the loss of life that we have seen before us, it needs Taubah. It needs people to repent to Allaah to leave off that which they have done from sin. To feel sorry for that which they have committed, to leave it off immediately and to desire within themselves never to return to that particular matter.

Then he mentions the Ayah from the book of Allaah, Qur’an, An-Anfal 8:25,

“And fear the Fitnah, a trial, a calamity, that will not just strike those who were obstinate amongst you but rather, it will take all of you in a general punishment.”

All of us should fear this. From amongst those who died, we are sure that there were those from among the Saliheen, righteous.But here, we see that Allaah has mentioned beware of a punishment from Allaah that will not just get the sinners from amongst you, but rather it will take the general people. And we will mention some points of benefit with regards to that matter. The Shaykh said: And some of the disbelievers they say; don’t say that these earthquakes are from the reasons of the sins of the people; don’t try to claim that the reason why the earth shook is because the people were sinning and transgressing against Allaah.And therefore the people continue to sin. Then he mentioned the Ayah from the book of Allaah, Qur’an,

Ash-Shura 42:30. “And no calamity has reached you except from the deeds of your own hands.”

Allaah is just and no calamity has reached the people except that it is from the sins of their own hand, the corruption of their own hands, that which they had put forth from their own sins is the reason for their destruction.And then Allaah mentions; Qur’an:

Al-Hadid 57:22-23, “And there is no calamity that has taken place in the earth or within yourselves except that it is in a book that is recorded before we, Allaah, caused it to happen. And indeed this is easy for Allaah. So you will not feel sorrow for that which has missed you and you will not be happy about that which has come to you. And indeed Allaah does not love the obstinate braggard.”

And then he mentioned the statement of Allaah, Qur’an,

At-Taghabun 64:11, “And no calamity has reached you except by the permission of Allaah, and whosoever believes in Allaah, He guides his heart.”

As we mentioned the true believer, when he sees his matter that had taken place with the Tsunami, it increased him in belief. It increased him in the fear of Allaah, as we will see from some of the coming narrations.

And the Shaykh, he continues: He said that earthquakes also could be from a test from Allaah. He first mentioned a punishment and it could also be a test from Allaah. He says: Qur’an:

Al-Baqarah 2:153-156, “O you who believe! See aid in patience and prayer. Truly! Allaah is with the patient. And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allaah, They are dead, rather they are alive, but you do not understand or you do not reason. And indeed, We will test you with something from fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient. Those who when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly! To Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”

They understood this was a test from Allaah, as Allaah will test us with loss of life. Yes! You will be tested with loss of life as those who came before you were tested with the loss of life. Do you believe that the affair will only be good for you? Do the people now question the Creator because people had died? Yes! There was a calamity, no question it was an affair of sorrow but do the people believe that the affair will only be good for them? Qur’an,

Al-‘Ankabut, 29:2-3, “Will the people be left alone saying that we believe and will not be tested?”

This is the test of Allaah for His believing servants. He test the believers with loss of life, the loss of wealth, “To see those from amongst you who are truthful, and to see those from amongst you are the liars.”

Then the Shaykh goes on to say: Are we free from sin to where we have the audacity to believe we don’t deserve the punishment of Allaah? And he goes on to mention: Do we put ourselves in the place of the Angels, those who do not disobey Allaah in that which He commands them and they do as they are told?

Do we put ourselves in that particular position? And when the Angels are told to do a matter, then they do so. How many times in the day and the night that we know an affair that Allaah has commanded us to do or forbidden us from and we still make that particular move? We still do that thing. How many times in the day and the night do we sin and transgress against Allaah and then we see the calamity before our eyes and we still don’t repent to Allaah.Instead of that affair making them question their belief in the Creator, it should have made them rush to belief in Al-Islaam. It should have made them rush to believe in the Creators of the heavens and the earth.

But indeed, as Allaah mentions at the end of this particular Ayah,

Al-Baqarah 2:156, “Truly! To Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”

It is those who are upon them, the Peace of Allaah and His Mercy and it is those who are guided.So the guided ones are those who when the calamity comes, they know that it is from Allaah and they know we come from Allaah and to Allaah we are returned. The corruption and Fasad is present in the land of Yemen and other than the land of Yemen. Everyday it increases, every generation as we know gets worse and worse. Everyday the evil is increased in abundance. And some of the deviants may say: What is the sin of the babies. What is the sin of the young children or the young ones who died in this particular calamity, what is their sin?

The Shaykh said: They were taken because of the sins of their fathers and the sins of their families. This narration in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari on the authority of A’isha, and this narration gives us a tremendous look into this particular matter of the children; where she said that the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, said that an army will come to attack the Ka’bah and they will reach Baydah and Baydah, as Ibunl Hajar mentions in Fath Al Bari is a well know place that between Mecca and Al Madina, and when they get to that particular place the earth will swallow them up, the first of them and the last of them. And in one narration, even the middle from amongst them. So A’isha said: O Messenger of Allaah, the earth will swallow them up but they will be from them or with them, and those who are from them but not with them. Those who are not actually with them to come and fight against the Ka’bah and who are innocent of that particular matter? The Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, said: The earth will swallow up the first of them, and the last of them and then they will be raised up on Yaumal Qiyyamah and each person will be judged according to their intentions. In other words, those innocent who died with regards to this particular calamity, they were taken to account because of a general punishment.And the scholars had mentioned that this is a proof of not placing yourself amongst the people of sin, of removing yourself from the people of sin.

As is mentioned in Fath Al Bari, this is a proof that even if a person is not drinking but he sits among those who drink, then he is likely to be punished amongst them. Just like if a person was standing on the corner and there were a bunch of people selling drugs. If the police raid the corner, even if you weren’t there selling drugs, you were amongst those people who were selling drugs. You will be taken account amongst those who were taken to account from those who were selling drugs. Guilty by association. But as for the children of those people who were killed in these particular calamities, they will be raised on Yaumal Qiyyamah and each one will be taken account according to his own intention. So they will not necessarily be punished for the sins of their fathers or like this, but they will be taken to account in a general punishment and this is also from the signs of Allaah.

And from the Hadith of Zaynab, it is mentioned in this particular narration that the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, entered upon Zaynab and he said; Woe to the Arabs and an evil or a punishment is going to take them that is coming soon. And she said; O Messenger of Allaah, will we be destroyed and there are amongst us the righteous? He said; Yes! Once the corruption becomes rampant. The Shaykh said; and the evil has become much.

The factories of alcohol, and the women coming out uncovered, and Allaah knows best what evil is about to come or take after this. So as for the one who tries to ascribe these matters to the nature, natural disasters, and he calls them natural disasters, if he intends by this that the nature itself is that which is causing these matters, then he is a Kaafir, a disbeliever. The Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam, mentioned in this Hadith Qud’si: That one night when it had rained, Allaah mentions that the worshippers of Allaah will become believers and disbelievers. As for the one who says that the rain was from the bounty of Allaah and from His Mercy, then he is a believer in Me and a disbeliever in the stars. As for the one who says the rain is because of such and such from the creation, then he is the one who has disbelieved in Me and believed in the stars. So Allaah has clarified here, the one who ascribes these matters, whether it be rain, lightening, thunder, the Tsunami, whatever it may be, if he attributes that to the creation, then he has disbelieved in Allaah.If a person says, for example, in describing an earthquake that the earth begins to do this and they begin to explain the actual way that the thing takes place, then this is a scientific explanation but we understand that it is Allaah that caused all of that to take place. That it is all from the Might of Allaah. So he does no ascribe that matter to the nature itself.

On the authority of A’isha and Ibn Abass, Radiullaahu Anhu, And then she mentions the statement of the Prophet, Sallaahu Alayhis Salaam: that indeed the sun and the moon are from the signs of Allaah and they do not eclipse for the death of anyone from amongst you nor the life of from anyone amongst you but rather, they are from the matter which Allaah brings fear to your heart by them. So if you see them, solar or lunar eclipse, then pray and make supplication to Allaah. So don’t attribute these affairs to anything from the creation but rather, attribute it to Allaah.

The Shaykh says: So all these people from amongst the disbelievers, are they able to repel the earthquake, can they cause it to stop, can they settle the earth when it begins to shake? And he says: Are they able to stop the floods when they come, are they able to stop the rain when it comes and causes these matters? Rather, are they able to do that which is weaker than that? Are they able to cure the likes of A.I.D.S of which Allaah sent as a punishment for the people?

Source

To begin: Undoubtedly the problems faced by Muslims, men and women, in kaafir countries are many; their situation in those countries is heartbreaking and brings tears to the eyes.

We have all heard and read about the hardships they are facing, especially the women. We have seen the falseness of these countries which claim to be civilized and free, but they impose hardship on the Muslims in their jobs and in their homes, and on women with regard to their hijab and their work. They allow complete freedom for same-sex marriage and sexual perversions, and freedom to abuse Islam and Muslims, but they impose restrictions on Muslims with regard to their practices and rituals.

Everyone who is able to leave such countries must not fail to do so, before there comes a day when he will regret missed opportunities and will have no control over his family’s affairs or his own affairs or be able to leave, after having lost his children to that permissive society which is devoid of all morals and virtues, where he lives his life working and striving, then he gives his children to the street and the church, and loses out in this world and in the Hereafter.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Settling in a kaafir country poses a great danger to the Muslim’s religious commitment, morals, behaviour and etiquette. We and others have seen how many of those who settled there went astray and came back different from when they went; they have come back as evildoers, and some have come back having apostatized from their religion and disbelieving in it and in all other religions – we seek refuge with Allaah – denying it completely and mocking the religion and its people, past and present. Hence we must take measures to guard against that and stipulate conditions which will prevent people from following this path which leads to doom and destruction.

How can the believer be content to live in the land of the kuffaar where the rituals of kufr are proclaimed openly and rule belongs to someone other than Allaah and His Messenger, seeing that with his own eyes, hearing that with his own ears and approving of it, and even starting to feel that he belongs there and living there with his wife and children, and feeling as comfortable there as he does in the Muslim lands, even though he and his wife and children are in such great danger and their religious commitment and morals are in such peril? End quote.

Secondly:
It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to shed her chastity and hijab in the face of these temptations. The devils among mankind and jinn are forever trying to tempt women to join the ranks of the misguided. Whoever follows them will find this world attractive in his eyes and he will be distracted from thinking of the grave, the Hereafter and the meeting with Allaah, may He be exalted.

Unfortunately some of the muftis on satellite channels have contributed to women taking off their hijab on the grounds of study or work. There is nothing good in study or work that incurs the wrath and anger of the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted. Whatever worldly benefits can a woman get with her certification or salary, knowing that it is at the expense of reward in the Hereafter and the pleasure of Allaah? No one would do this except one to whom evil has been made to look attractive so he thinks it is good.

It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to uncover her face (there is a difference of opinion on this and the issue of choice is paramount, for Shaikh Al Albani’s treatise click here), let alone her hair, even on the basis that it is for study or work. That which is with Allaah is better and more lasting. Every Muslim should hasten to leave that darkness, and the scholars should help Muslim families to adhere to their religion and obey their Lord instead of helping them to accumulate wealth and worship dirhams and dollars.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

It is not permissible for you or for any other women to uncover in the kaafir lands, just as it is not permissible in the Muslim lands. Rather it is obligatory to observe hijab in front of non-mahram men whether they are Muslims or kaafirs, and indeed it is more essential in the case of kaafirs, because they have no faith to keep them from doing that which Allaah has forbidden.

It is not permissible for you or anyone else to obey parents or anyone else in doing that which Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden. Allaah says in His Book (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts” [al-Ahzaab 33:53]

In this verse Allaah explains that for women to observe hijab before non-mahram men is purer for the hearts of all. And He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands…”

[al-Noor 24:31]

Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam (p. 529).

Thirdly:

Husbands should help their wives to remain chaste, covered and modest. It is not permissible for them to tell them to take off their hijab for the sake of worldly matters such as study and work. If they have no choice and it is not possible and it is not easy for them to keep their women in full hijab, then it is permissible for them to uncover the face due to this necessity, such as in airports and passports, but they should make sure that the one who examines them is a woman.

As for those who want their womenfolk to take the hijab off altogether or unnecessarily, it is not permissible for them to do that. They should be proud of belonging to this religion and they should be proud of their wives and daughters being covered, especially when they see how the kaafir women dress, baring all and going to the extreme in wearing all kinds of fashions and colours. (Admin: Any man who permits his wife to uncover is a dayooth and accursed – such a person is not permitted to lead the prayers or sit in counsel over Muslim affairs, any woman who discards her hijab under force should divorce her husband and seek the pleasure of Allah)

It is not permissible for a woman to obey her husband if he tells her to go against the rulings on covering and hijab. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“There is no obedience if it involves disobedience towards Allaah; obedience is only in that which is right and proper.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4085) and Muslim (1840).

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

There is a man who is married and has children, and his wife wants to wear hijab but he is opposed to that. What advice can you give him, may Allaah bless you?

He replied:

We advise him to fear Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, and to praise Allaah for having given him such a wife who wants to dress as Allaah has commanded, in clothing that will protect her from temptation. Allaah has commanded His believing slaves to protect themselves and their families from the Fire, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded”

[al-Tahreem 66:6]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stated that men are responsible for their families, as he said: “The man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock.” So how can it be appropriate for this man to try to force his wife not to wear hijab and to dress in a haraam manner which will be a cause of temptation for her and others? Let him fear Allaah with regard to himself and let him fear Allaah with regard to his family, and let him praise Allaah for blessing him and giving him this righteous wife.

As for his wife, it is not permissible for her to obey him by disobeying Allaah, for there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator.

Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah (1/442, 443).

Fourthly:

With regard to a woman going out of her house, our sisters should note that the basic principle with regard to women is that they are to be honoured, and part of her being honoured is that her husband and children are to serve her. The husband is enjoined to spend on her. The idea of her staying in the home is only so that she can do a great work which no group of men could do, which is raising the children, serving her husband and house. These are great deeds. Hence she should not go out except in the case of necessity or urgent need, especially if she is in a kaafir country or a land that is not safe.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Undoubtedly for a woman to remain in her home is better and is farther removed from fitnah (temptation) and evil. We are all aware of what happens when women go out in the marketplaces, and they cause temptation and are themselves tempted. If it is possible for her not to go out, this is what is required. If she must go out, then she should go out as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Let them go out looking scruffy,” i.e., not adorned or wearing perfume. But they should not go out except in the case of need. … What I think with regard to this issue is that women should stay at home in all cases, and not go out except in cases of necessity, and if they go out in cases of necessity, they should not wear perfume or any adornment.

With regard to taking a mahram with her, undoubtedly that is better, but it is not essential so long as the matter does not involve travel. But unfortunately you see some people bringing their families to the tailor or shopkeeper, then the man stays in the car and the woman is the one who goes and speaks to the men, and fitnah may affect his family as a result. The man should be a real man, protective towards his family, and not do such things. If it is essential, then he should go with her and stand with her when she speaks to the man or the man speaks to her, or he should speak to his wife and then speak to the man.

Liqaa’aat al-baab il-Maftooh (117/question no. 2).

Fifthly:

For the one who wants sincere advice, the Islamic ruling is that one should not stay in kaafir countries.

Source: Islam Q&A

MPAC.ie Comment: Wise words from the Shuyook of Al Islam, spending your time, resources and wealth in dar-ul-kufr only benefits the kuffar IF you are not involved in Dawa’ah or seeking to establish Allah’s authority in this land. The vast majority of Muslims do nothing but lick the boots of the kuffar and at the same time place obstacles in the way of sincere Muslims, such ingrates should return (or be returned) to the lands from whence they came. Their harm will be reduced and the work of the Islamic Awakening here can continue unabated. And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Related articles: Living among the kuffar
Women going out for leisure and shopping
Women going out to markets and shops
Advice for Muslim women who live in the west
Islamic education in the West

There was a time in Ireland when men and women respected the necessary barriers between the sexes. That was a time when sex before marriage was frowned upon, dates were chaperoned, marriage was extolled and deviant lifestyles such as homosexuality were punishable.

That was then, this is now. Children are now taught in Irish schools about safe sex and exploration, they are encouraged to consider alternative lifestyles, they mix freely in classes and take part in sports activities together and all this while they are still learning about themselves as individuals. With this sexual revolution, we’ve seen a rise in STDs, abortions, teen moms, HIV/Aids and a complete breakdown of morality.

In fact, in modern day Ireland, talk of morality will have you relegated as a loon, extolling virginity before marriage is enough to cast you as an extremist and condemning homosexuality as unnatural is deemed bigotry. Welcome to the topsy-turvy world of 21st century Irish morality.

There was one other time when morality was essentially turned on its head and the righteous (Vid 1, Vid 2), those who didn’t succumb to the prevalent evil, were considered strange. Allah soon showed the people whom He considered right when he rained down upon the heads of the evil doers rocks that removed them and their evil from the face of the earth. Our Prophet also spoke about a time when the good will be considered bad, and the bad considered good – this narration was recorded in a book by Ibn Al Kathir titled ‘Signs before the Last Day’.

Indeed, we are entering this difficult time brothers and sisters, a time when holding fast to the religion will be like holding on to a hot coal. Only those who stand the test will be worthy of entering the righteous kingdom. May Allah help us remain firm upon the truth and grant us paradise.

Most countries after a period of societal upheaval have employed some measure of harshness to restore order. And while Europe can now look on with smug indignation as developing countries struggle through this difficult and often dark period, we should remember that some of the harshest measures in re-establishing a semblance of normality have been utilized in the west. Consider then the added difficulty of implementing a moral dimension to the mix.

In seeking to establish Allah’s authority in the land, those who have tried face extraordinary difficulties both from internal and external enemies, more especially as the first measure, of necessity, to be implemented is that of law and order and the relevant punitive punishments – after all what law and order can be enforced in the absence of a penal code.

As mentioned earlier, Islam also seeks to introduce a moral code that guides the populace toward righteousness and away from sin. Naturally as Islam demands so much more of its adherents in terms of morality, its punitive code will also include elements that are at odds with a liberal sexualized society such as Ireland.

So for example, immorality, adultery and homosexuality are all considered to be detrimental to the moral excellence of an Islamic society and are consequently discouraged with the threat of severe punishment. In an emerging Islamic state, where people have previously run riot, morally speaking, we might expect a brief rise in the application of punishments as society adjusts to the new moral order. And as is witnessed in Saudi Arabia, the prompt dealing with breaches of the law have resulted in a society free of the moral corruption now plaguing Ireland and Europe.

At the inception of the first Islamic state under the Prophet in Medina, we read of only a few instances of capital punishment. Yet when the concept of the rule of Allah settled in the hearts of the people, the need for such punitive measures gradually waned. The Taliban were well on the way to establishing such a society, and given time we are sure that the pace of punishments would have dropped significantly – though there are always some who will break the law regardless of the consequences.

Today we heard of another stoning in Somalia, and as repugnant as it may seem, this severe form of punishment simply highlights the importance Islam places on a moral society. If given time to develop, without outside interference which unnecessarily prolongs the metamorphosis to an upright society, we are confident Somalia will emerge as a virtuous example of Islam – may Allah grant her success.

Here’s what could happen:

“Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.” Qur’an 7:80-81

Tariq Ramadan, the well-known Muslim academic, has fittingly identified Islam’s condemnation of homosexuality as the liberals’ litmus test for successful integration in ‘modern’ Europe, a position he rightly ridicules for its obvious hypocrisy. After all, Christianity, the oft-proclaimed cornerstone of western culture, itself takes a fairly dim view of same-sex relationships.

The Pope, as recently as last year, intonated the need to save humankind from self-destruction, a reference many felt was specifically directed at homosexuality. Indeed, as many have noted, all the world’s major religions and spiritual traditions—from the majority view in Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism to Christianity and Islam—condemn and forbid homosexuality.

Islam did not introduce anti-homosexual literature to the world, both the Jewish and Christian scriptures which preceded the final message given to Muhammad are replete with condemnation.So why single Islam and Muslims out for special criticism?

Unfortunately, some misguided Muslims, having succumbed to the pressures of liberalism like their Christian counterparts, have now begun to engage in shameless semantic contortions of the scriptural texts in an effort to present a view that will find acceptance among non-Muslims in the west, namely that Islam does not condemn homosexuality. However, a cursory glance at the relevant texts will highlight the worthlessness of their futile assertions. Islam does indeed condemn homosexuality and it does so because it considers homosexual behaviour a choice, and therefore an act of disobedience.

While the punishment for the act of homosexuality within an Islamic state and under the direction of the Muslim ruler is well known and rehearsed by all haters of Muslims, what is less well known, or indeed discussed, is how a Muslim should act in a liberal society that encourages behaviour at odds with revelation. How should a Muslim relate to homosexuals?

In general, kindness is enjoined upon Muslims in their common relations with non-Muslims. The Quran says, “Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you in the matters of your religion and those who did not expel you from your homes, that you show them courtesy and kindness and act justly with them because Allah loves those who are Just.”(Al-Mumtahanah: 8). So it would appear that it’s perfectly acceptable to disagree with someone’s behaviour and life choices while still showing them a degree of kindness, fairness and courtesy – in other words, demonstrating respect for the individual, despite shunning the sin.

And that perhaps might provide some guidance in how Muslims relate to such people. After all, repugnance and open revulsion are hardly likely to entice someone toward Islam and away from disobedience.

Ibnul Qayyim, the famous Sunni jurist, said: “If person who has committed this sin truthfully repents and does well, becoming more upright as he grows older, replacing his sins with virtuous deeds, washing himself of shame and sin by being obedient and sacrificing, he will be forgiven and will be admitted to Paradise, Allah willing. As for the person whose sins increase as he gains age, he will not be guided to repentance or good action and will not be able to make up for what has passed, or replace his sins with good. He is far from dying with deeds that will lead him to Paradise. As a punishment for him, Allah gives him a sin to match each of his sins.”

Source: MetroEireann (Print edition)

MPACie Comment: Showing respect should not be considered as endorsement of a lifestyle. Practicing Muslims consider homosexuality an abomination before Allah, an affront upon decency and a means to moral decay and roundly condemn it as such.