Homosexuality is a threat to the
society.
Saturday, 21st December 2013
Islamic Centre, Mira Road
The issue of
homosexuality is raising its ugly head again and this time the mainstream media
is going overboard to support it. Arguments against this appalling trend are
being either ridiculed or brushed beneath the carpet by calling them primitive
or orthodox. It is very important that the other side of this debate is also
looked into and judged by its merits.
Realizing the
gravity of the situation, the Mira
Road chapter of Jamaate Islami Hind (Mumbai) had
organised a PowerPoint presentation on the topic- Homosexuality… an Analysis in
Islamic perspective. The programme began with a recitation of a few ayaat from
Surah A’araf where Allah has recounted the pervert inclinations of prophet
Lut’s community. Thereafter, Dr. Parvez Mandviwala spoke at length on the topic
of homosexuality, excerpts of which are presented below.
History:
Homosexuality,
to start with, is not a new concept. It has been here since thousands of years
and finds mention in the Bible and Qur’an, where the story of Prophet Lut’s
community and the divine punishment meted out to it is narrated. Towards the
end of the last century, homosexuality was raised up as a human rights issue
and started getting legal status in the ‘developed’ world. When this profane
wave reached Indian shores, it was de-criminalised by the Delhi High Court in
2009. Fortunately, the Supreme Court lived up to expectations and reinstated
its criminal status. However, just a week later, the Central Government has
once again filed for a review of the SC verdict.
Epidemiological
data suggests that this vice is more common in the wealthy crust of society,
for whom social norms are irrelevant; and that it is prevalent in about 2-13%
of modern western population.
Arguments in
support of homosexuality:
The arguments
raised in support of homosexuality are rather frivolous. Their lives are not
their own, contrary to their claim. They forget that it has been granted to
them by Allah and they would be held accountable for it in the Hereafter. This
act is not natural either, as it does not fulfil the basic purpose of sex… propagation
of species. Crime also comes naturally to some people, but that does not make
it legal in any way, does it? Any deviant nature noticed in this regard seems
more as a result of environmental or psychological disturbances. When man’s
carnal desires don’t get a vent in the natural way, the perverted mind vents it
out on whoever he can lay his hands on- be it man, child or animal. Man’s basic
nature is to be attracted to women and vice-versa. It is for this reason alone
that one partner in any gay union is always masculine and the other feminine.
People who call
it an act of love should refrain from defaming the word, because homosexuality
is pure lust. The act being consensual also does not vindicate it, because it
would still remain unnatural and pollute society. There are some who present
the example of western tolerance towards this act. These people better take a
look at the sorry state of society in the same western countries, where the
very concept of family is getting elusive. There are some others who argue that
others have no right to interfere in their private affairs. This argument is
both naïve and rebellious at the same time as it pays no attention to the
severe repercussions of their ‘private’ act.
Social
repercussions:
The social
balance of society gets upset because of this trend. Man and women have some
well defined roles in a society and family. Same sex unions violate these
rules. The much venerated family system would be dismantled and we will witness
a negative population growth. Society in all would be driven by base desires
instead of values and morals. Again, legalising homosexual unions today would
open the floodgates for euthanasia, incest and what not!
Medical
repercussions:
There is a host
of infectious diseases like HPV, Hepatitis B and C, Herpes simplex, gonorrhoea,
syphilis and HIV/AIDS. AIDS, as a matter of fact, was first detected in San Francisco in
homosexual patients. It’s no wonder then that South Africa, where homosexuality
enjoys legal status, is home to the largest density of AIDS patients. Physical
ailments like haemorrhoids, fissures and anal cancer are also most likely to accompany
acts of sodomy. Psychological problems abound in homosexuals. They are patients
of reckless sexual behaviour, depression, sadism etc.
Ultimate
repercussion:
Religious
scriptures tell us that any person who practices this blasphemous act will have
to burn forever in hell if he does not repent before he dies. The Holy Prophet
has also cursed the ones who practice homosexuality. Mass punishments in the
form of plague and destruction can also be expected as has already happened in
the case of prophet Lut’s community. The arrival and pandemic spread of AIDS
can also be counted here in this regard.
Preventive
measures:
Counselling and
education can help in the long run to root out this social menace. Islam has
stressed on early marriages so that the youth can satisfy their sexual desires
through legal ways. For those who cannot marry early, regular fasting is
prescribed. Also, people are prohibited from undressing in front of others,
even if they are members of the same gender. Cross-dressing is also strictly
prohibited in Islam.
Punitive
measures:
Islam recommends
capital punishment for those convicted of homosexuality so as to cleanse the
society and make it pure. Section 377 of the IPC also recommends jail term up
to 10 years for those convicted of this crime. The fear of punishment is a
strong detriment, and just as it helps to prevent other crimes, it is very much
needed to pull the reins on this crime as well.
Despite all
these negative points, why is this obnoxious movement gaining so much momentum?
Let’s have a look at these factors as well.
Contributing
factors:
The mainstream
print and electronic media has acted rather irresponsibly in this regard.
Objective journalism has been shown the door and most news reports are now a
reflection of the media house’s own ideologies. This is a betrayal of
time-honoured journalistic principles. Also, the double standards employed by
the media in covering social issues are quite out in the open now. Using terms
like freedom of expression in one case and using terms like moral policing in
the other speaks a lot about their bias.
The political
top-notch has also come out to support homosexuality for reasons best known to
them alone. Intellectuals like Kapil Sibal and P. Chidambaram have also stood
behind gays, in an apparent contempt of the SC verdict. Talks of legalising
this crime through legislation are now doing the rounds.
There is a huge
commercial lobby with vested interests in homosexuality like the pornography
industry and the tourism industry. It is a shocking revelation that 10% of the
tourism market caters to gays!
The religious
fraternity has also bowed down before this disgusting uprising. It’s a matter
of great shame that Pope Francis has also hinted at legitimizing homosexuality
in Christendom. It is all the more disturbing to note that Muslims, who were
once instrumental in pulling out medieval Europe
from the dark ages, have foregone their responsibility of leading and reforming
society.
Our
responsibility:
Our
responsibility in this regard is two-fold. First and foremost, it is essential
that we refrain from supporting the gay right movement in any form, as
participation in promoting or supporting any vice is akin to perpetuating it.
Secondly, it is our duty to pull the plug on this disaster-in-the-making before
it receives legal sanction by all the possible means that our constitution
empowers us to use.
The presentation
was followed by a prayer asking Allah to keep us steadfast in these deceptive
times and the programme thus concluded with a firm resolution on the part of
everyone present to fight this social menace tooth and nail.
