Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
- You are not allowed in Islam to attend a so-called marriage ceremony between homosexuals.
- However, this does not mean that you stop dealing with your brother on compassionate terms in all other worldly matters.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Homosexuality is sinful and shameful. In Islamic terminology it is called fahsha’ or an atrocious and obscene act.
Islam teaches that believers should neither do obscene acts, nor in any way indulge in their propagation. Allah says, “Those who love (to see) obscenity published broadcast among the Believers will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and you know not.” (Al-Nur: 19)
There is consensus among all Muslim scholars both in past and present times that homosexuality is a prohibited act because it is an assault on the humanity of a person, destruction of the family, and a clash with the aims of the Divine Legislator, one of which is the establishment of sexual instincts between males and females so as to encourage the institution of marriage and procreation.
You are not allowed in Islam to attend a so-called marriage ceremony between homosexuals. By “marrying” so, those people are waging an open war against Allah Almighty.
Remember, homosexuality is the most heinous sin because of which Allah destroyed an entire nation. So, never mind your good relationship with your brother. You should never attend such a ceremony.
However, this does not mean that you stop dealing with your brother on compassionate terms in all other worldly matters. You should let him know that your decision to boycott this ceremony has nothing to do with hatred against him personally, but you are only opposing the grave sin he is committing, which is akin to consuming poison to kill himself.
So, it is your compassion for his welfare that has compelled you to take this stand, as no one can stand witnessing one’s own brother killing himself by drowning or taking poison.
Also, use every persuasive means to expose him to the truth of Islam, and continue to pray to Allah Almighty to guide your brother to the right path.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.