A FEW days ago I received an e-mail from a friend which contained a short article on homosexuality and population control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The writer presented the idea that homosexuality could be a means to control the exponential growth of the human population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He wrote that homosexuality was instituted by nature to slow down the expansion of the human race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The article reminds me of another e-mail I received a few years back, also on homosexuality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The writer said he was a homosexual and never regretted leading his life this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, he strongly believed what had happened was god-given. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, his well-off parents, who did not know their son was gay, wanted him to marry and raise a family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To satisfy them, the man decided to find a ‘wife’ and was willing to pay her an attractive amount of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He asked whether I could help him find such a woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was shocked and took a few days to answer his e-mail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I told him in my e-mail that what he intended to do was morally unacceptable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But most importantly, homosexuality was against Islam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides that, I believed his plan would be an injustice to the woman he planned to marry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I ended the e-mail hoping that Allah would guide him to the way of truth and I thought everything ended there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surprisingly, the man replied to my e-mail and this time he was very furious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said what had happened to him was fated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was not the life he planned to live, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, nobody had the right to judge him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, he wrote that as I was a Muslim researcher, I should understand and accept him as he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do these two stories tell you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe, for some people, they are of no significance at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, I have two strong reasons for sharing them with the readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Firstly, they made me wonder about the human tendency to create reasons to justify wrongdoings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going back to the first story, using homosexuality as a way to control population growth is definitely unacceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homosexuality is contradictory to human nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It jeopardises the marriage institution and creates gender bewilderment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In short, homosexuality threatens the five objectives of shariah to protect religion, life, intellect, progeny and wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Islamic condemnation of homosexuality is based on the Quranic story of Prophet Lut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This story is repeated several times in the Quran such as in Surah al-A’raaf (verses 80-84), Surah Asy-Syu’ara (verses 160-173) and Surah An-Naml (verses 54-59). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The repetition of Prophet Lut’s story and the prohibition of homosexuality in the Quran prove that this type of lifestyle is detested and must be avoided by all Muslims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The life of a Muslim is regulated by a set of rules and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These rules and regulations are intended not to distress him but to guide him to lead a better and harmonious life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every law created in Islam was formulated with strong reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, as Muslims, we should be thankful that we are able to lead a guided, peaceful and promising life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second point with regard to the stories I mentioned earlier is that people also tend to focus on the different sides of an issue but not the core of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By referring to homosexuality as a means to control population growth, we are neglecting the main issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many Western scholars believe overpopulation is a major problem in the world today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is believed to have caused intense pressure on the environment, society and the economy of nations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Muslim scholars rejected this theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They argued that the main problem was not population growth but the unbalanced distribution of wealth between rich and poor countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twenty percent of the world’s richest population is consuming 80% of the world’s resources while the remaining 80% is left to use only 20% of the resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To survive, citizens of poor countries use whatever means they have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, in Burkina Faso, the people are so poor that they cannot afford to buy wood for cooking purposes and to heat up their homes at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So they cut down the forest for wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This has contributed to desertification in Burkina Faso which, in turn, has affected the livelihood of its citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We must focus on the underlying problem of population growth and look for better solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Encouraging homosexuality as a method to control population growth is not one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Islam believes every child is a gift and blessing from Allah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parents should not worry that their children will live in hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, Islam, which rejects any rigidity, allows family planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But birth control must be practised with the intent of spacing out pregnancies or to delay a pregnancy for a specific amount of time based on mutual consultation between a husband and his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another reason for birth control would be a proven medical problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The above explanations show Islamic laws are true and clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The laws were practised and followed by the earlier Muslim community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until now, the laws remain unchanged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are not intended to inconvenience Muslims but to enhance the quality of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the earlier Muslim community could obediently follow the laws, why can’t we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, we must not attempt to claim as right what is obviously wrong because Islamic laws are clear and beneficial to mankind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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