Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sex Reassignment Technology: The Dilemma of Transsexuals in Islam and Christianity

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The birth of people with confused or ambiguous sex makeup as a biological fact since the annals of history has posed the challenge of accommodating them within the binary gender of sociocultural systems. In this process, the role of religion as a defining factor in social engineering has been paramount. Major religions, such as Islam and Christianity, have addressed this issue within the frame of their God-ordained laws by devising a set of moral and legal imperatives specific to the “third gender.” Modern developments in medicine and biology, however, have made sex reassignment possible for this category of people, today called transsexuals. The question is: How do Islam and Christianity respond to it. After presenting an analytical view of both Muslim scholars and Christian religious authorities on the legitimacy of sex reassignment for transsexuals, this paper attempts to explore if such a dilemma can be resolved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. It is to be noted that some authors do not distinguish between the intersex and transsexuals. We, however, agree with sociological configuration as advanced by social scientists. For example, see Sheik Mufti Allie Haroun 2008, 260.

  2. Abraham carried out some kind of sex reassignment surgery in 1931 in Germany, followed by the case of a team of doctors having it done in 1953 in Denmark which has proliferated since then both in terms of research and currency at least in the developed and the developing worlds. See ibid, 4.

  3. Ibid.

  4. This section has been adopted from the above web page with minimal adaptation, see Ibid.

  5. However, another procedure involves using a piece of the rectosigmoid colon instead of skin grafts, or inverted penile tissue. This technique allows for the creation of a deep and lubricated vagina but is a more invasive and dangerous procedure and rarely the technique of choice. See ibid.

  6. The jurists discussed various rehabilitative measures which the state can initiate if such mukhannath people do not want to conform, such as exile, imprisonment. see al-Sarakhsi, al-Mabsut, 27:205; al-Shirbini, al-Mughni al-Muhtaj, 4: 192; al-Bahuti, Kashshaf al-Qinà, 6:128.

  7. This is held by Ibn Taymiyyah who even doubted the permissibility of greeting them. See Ahmad ibn Abd al-Halim , Mujmuàt al-Fatawa (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-ìlmiyyah, n.d), 15: 321.

  8. Al-Hattab, Mawahib al-Jalil, 3: 342. But this is not upheld by the majority. See Ibn Qudamah,al-Mughni, 11:36.

  9. This held to be a ruling base on a Prophetic tradition. See Al-Tirmidhi, Muhammad ibn ìsa (1988), 4:62.

  10. Anonymous lady medical doctor, Marad Idtirab Hawyah al-Jinsiyyah wa Àmaliyyat Tahwil al-Jins, accessed May 15, 2011, from http://www.amjaonline.com/ar_f_details.php?fid=22813. Kamali seems to express similar sentiment by invoking some general provisions of the Quràn on human nature, human dignity, prohibition of oppressing other fellow humans and Islamic fraternity to address the legal limbo faced by the transgenders and transsexuals in Malaysia. Nevertheless, such a simplistic treatment of the issue cannot rebut the rigor of arguments by the opponents. See Kamali, Muhammad Hashim (2011).

  11. Karimi Nia, Muhammad Mahdi (2011). It is to be noted that Imam Khumayni reportedly did not distinguish between psychological and biological transsexuals as he predicated his fatwa (verdict), 47 years ago, on the caveat, “a woman feeling trapped in the body of man or vise versa.” See Anonym, Àmalyat Taghyir al-Jins fi Iran, accessed May 29, 2011, from http://transshelp.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-post_28.html.

  12. The Fatwa of the Permanent Fatwa Committee of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America, accessed May 16, 2011, from http://www.amjaonline.com/en_f_details.php?fid=21701. The same view was upheld by the Conference of Rulers in Malaysia in 1983 and Conference of Jurists in Al Azhar in 1988. See Anonymous, Gender Identity and Islam, accessed May 18, 2011, from http://www.safraproject.org/sgi-genderidentity.htm.

  13. Anonym, Àmalyat Taghyir al-Jins fi Iran, accessed May 29, 2011, from http://transshelp.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-post_28.html.

  14. I would rather die than be a man, says singer, April, 21, 2011, accessed May 27, 2011, from http://thestar.com.my.

  15. See Man seeks a woman’s name, May 26, 2011, accessed May 28, 2011, from http://thestar.com.my. The courts even in the case of non-Muslim transsexuals have made conflicting decisions in Malaysia. For instance, the Court refused it in the case of Wong Chiou Yong v. Pendaftar Besar/Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara, but allowed it in the case of J.G v. Pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara. Wong was born with two sex organs and registered as a female but according to psychiatrist was mentally a man and physically a woman. He changed his sex and wanted to alter his NICR but the court held that there is no law to re-register a transgender. Nevertheless, in the second case, where the plaintiff, a born male, became a female after sex reassignment was granted his plea as the court held that his appeal was supported by sufficient medical evidence. For full analysis, see JEFFREYJESSIE, RECOGNISING TRANSSEXUALS, November 17, 2005, accessed May 29, 2011, from http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/.../jeffrey_jessie_recognising_transexuals_by_honey_tan_lay_ean.html. The same position was reiterated by Justice Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa, in the case of Mohd Ashraf who after undergoing sex change operation wanted his name changed into Aleesha Farhana. Among others, He contended that “plaintiff did not satisfy three other criteria for being declared a woman—chromosome count, and exterior as well interior organs.” See FARIK ZOLKEPLI, “Man fails in bid to be legally declared a woman,” July 18, 2011, accessed on July 18, 2011, from http://thestar.com.my/.

  16. Tasha was one of such case of cross-dresser in 2007. See Malaysia’s transsexual left in limbo, accessed May 28, 2011, from http://beta.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...in-limbo-ss-07. According to Teh, more than half of male transsexuals, called Mak Nyahs in Malayisa “in spite of Welfare Department financial help for them to set up tailoring shops and beauty salons,” are involved in sex industry. See Ong Ju Lynn, Misconception About Transsexuals, October 2, 2000, accessed May 28, 2011, from, http://thestar.com.my. To address these peoples predicament, local civil societies voice their protest under the name of safeguarding the right of sexual minorities. See Religious fundamentalisms in Muslim societies: the impact of the religious right on sexual and reproductive health and rights, accessed may 28, 2011, from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Religious+fundamentalisms+in+Muslim+societies%3A+the+impact+of+the-a0219451132.

References

  • Abramowit, S. I. (1986). Psychosocial outcome of sex. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 183–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Amin, Ammar Muhammad. (2011a). al-Athar al-Qanuniyyah al-Mutrattabah àla Taghyir al-Jins. from http://www.startimes.com/f.aspx (assessed 13 May 2011).

  • Al-Amin, Ammar Muhammad. (2011b). al-Athar al-Qanuniyyah al-Mutrattabah àla Taghyir al-Jins. from http://www.startimes.com/f.aspx (assessed 13 May 2011).

  • Al-Bahuti, Mansur ibn Yunus. (1982). Kahshshaf al-Qin. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.

  • Al-Bar, Muhammad Ali. (2007). Mushkilat al-Khuntha bayn al-Tibb wa al-Fiqh. In Majallat al-Majama’ al-Fiqhi al- Islami.

  • Al-Hattab, Muhammad ibn Muhammad. (1978). Mawahib al-Jalil .Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.

  • Al-Khaqani, Muhammad Kazim. (2006). Al-Khuntha Bayn Al-Tibb wa Al-Fiqh, from http://www.Alkhaghani.Com (assessed 13 May 2011).

  • Al-Mardawi, Ali Ibn Sulayman. (1957). Al-Insaf. Beirut: Dar Ihya Al-Turath Al-Arabi.

  • Al-Qaradaghi, Muhammad Ali. (2010). Ma Huwa Jins Al-Thalith? from? http://www.Qaradaghi.Com/Portal/Index.Php?Option=Com_Content&View=Article&Id=1237:2010 (assessed on 13 May 2011).

  • Al-Qaradawi, Y. (2011) Àmaliyyat Taghyir Al-Jins, from http://www.Qaradawi.Net/Site/Topics/Article.Asp?Cu_No=2&Item_No=75&Version=1&Template_Id=105&Parent_Id=16 (assessed on 15 May 2011).

  • Al-Sarakhsi, Muhammad Ibn Abi Ashal. (1986). Al-Mabsut. Beirut: Dar Al-Ma`Rifah.

  • Al-Tirmidhi, Muhammad ibn ìsa. (1988).Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami.

  • Anonym. (2011a). Sex change surgery, from http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/64/Sex-change-surgery.html#ixzz1JvPh9iUs (assessed on 12 May 2011).

  • Anonym. (2011b) http://forums.understanding-islam.com/showthread.php?10039-Sex-Change-and-Islam&p=150455&viewfull=1 (accessed 15 May 2011).

  • Abu Dawud, Sulaiman ibn Ashàth. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Daud. Beirut: Al-Maktabah al-Ashàriyyah.

  • Al-Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Ismaìl. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.

  • Al-Dasuqi, Muhammad Arafah ibn Abd al-Baqi. (n.d.). Hashiyat al-Dasuqi àla Shark Kabir. Cairo: Ihya al-Kutub al-Arabi.

  • Al-Halim, Ahmad ibn Abd. (n.d.). Mujmuàt al-Fatawa. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ìlmiyyah.

  • Al-Khurashi, Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah. (n.d). Al-Khrashi Àla Mukhtasar Khalil .Beirut: Dar Al-Fikr.

  • Al-Nawawi, Ahmad Ibn Sharaf. (n.d.). Al-Majmu’. Madinah: Maktabah Al-Salafiyyah.

  • Al-Qurtubi, Muhammad Ibn Ahmad. (n.d.). Al-Jami’ Li Ahkam Al-QurÀn.Beirut : Ihya Al-Turath Al-Arabi.

  • Al-Shanqiti, Muhammad. (n.d.). Ahkam Al-Jirahah Al-Tibbiyyah. Riyad: Maktabah Al-Shabah.

  • Al-Shirbini, Muhammad Al-Khatib. (n.d). Mughni Al-Muhtaj. Beirut: Dar Al-Fikr.

  • Al-Tabari, Muhammad Ibn Jarir. (n.d.). Jamì Al-Bayan Fi Tafsir Al-QurÀn. Bierut: Dar Al-Fikr Al-Ma`Rifah.

  • Anonymous lady medical doctor. (2007). Marad Idtirab Hawyah al-Jinsiyyah wa Àmaliyyat Tahwil al-Jins, from http://www.amjaonline.com/ar_f_details.php?fid=22813 (assessed on 15 May 2011).

  • Curran, C. E. (1992). Sexual ethics in the Roman Catholic tradition. In Religion and sexual health: Ethical, theological and clinical perspective. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

  • Galliano, G. (2003). Gender crossing boundaries. Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, R. (2005). Family cooccurrence of gender dysphoria: Ten sibling or parent-child pairs. Archives of Social Behaviour, 29(5), 499–508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griggs, C. (1998). Changing sex and changing cloth. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hargreaves, D. J. (1986). The psychology of sex roles. London: Harper & Row Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harold, R. (2011). Sex change operation—sex change surgery, from http://www.srsmiami.com (assessed on 12 May 2011).

  • Hastings, J. (1908). Encyclopedia of religion and ethics. New York: T & T Clark.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibn Hajar, Ahmad ibn Ali. (1985). Fath al-Bari. Beirut: Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.

  • Kamali, Muhammad Hashim. (2011). Transgenders, from Islam’s perspective from iais.org.my/en/publications/articles/item/download/55.htm (assessed on 15 May 2011).

  • Karim, F. (1994). Mishkat al-Masabih. Delhi: Islamic Book Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karimi Nia, Muhammad Mahdi. (2011). Taghyir al-Jins fi al-Fiqh al-Shiì, accessed 29 May 2011, from http://www.iqna.ir/fa/news_detail.php?ProdID=586808.

  • Kasule, O. H. (2011). Islamic medical ethics with special reference to Maqasid al Shari’at, from http://i-epistemology.net/medicine/813-islamic-medical-ethics-with-special-reference-to-maqasid-al-shariat.html (assessed on 15 May 2011).

  • Levine, S. B., & Lothstein, L. M. (1981). Transsexualism or the gender dysphoria syndromes. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 7, 85–113.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bushiah, Muhammad Shafiì Miftah. (n.d.). Jirahat al-Dhukurah wa al-Unuthah fi Dawàl-Tibb wa al-Fiqh al-Islami. Beirut: Dar al-Falah.

  • Ibn Hazm, Ali Ibn Muhammad. (n.d.). Al-Mahalla. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.

  • Ibn Kathir, Ismaìl Abi Fida. (n.d.). Tafsir al-Quràn al-Azim. Riyad: Maktabat al-Riyad al-Hadithah.

  • Ibn Majah, Muhammad ibn Yazid. (n.d.). Sunnan Ibn Majah. Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi.

  • Ibn Manzur, Muhammad ibn Mukrim. (n.d.). Lisan al-Arab. Beirut: Dar Sadir.

  • Ibn Qudamah, Abd Allah ibn Ahmad. (n.d). al-Mughni. Riyad: Makatabah al-Riyad al-Hadithah.

  • Ibn Saìd, Sahnun. (n.d.). Al-Mudawwanah al-Kubra. Beirut: Dar Sadir.

  • Liau Y-Sing. (2007). Malaysia’s Muslim transsexuals battle sex change woes, accessed 29 May 2011, from http://thestar.com.my.

  • Mawlawi, F. (2011). from www.malawi.net (assessed on 14 May 2011).

  • Mellert, R. B. (2000). Prolong life and death: An overview. In Medical ethics. San Diego: Green Press Inc.

  • Meyer, J. K., & Reter, D. J. (1979). Sex reassignment. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48, 129–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansur, Muhammad Khalid., (n.d.). Al-Ahkam al-Tibbiyyah al-Muàlliaqah bi al-Nisa fi al-Fiqh al-Islami. Beirut: Dar al-Nafaìs.

  • Noraini Mohd Nor et al. (2005). Sexual identity-effeminacy among University students. Kuala Lumpur: IIUM Research Centre.

  • The Noble Quràn (trans.) (2001). Riyadh: Darussalam Publishers and Distributors.

  • Rispler-Chaim, V. (1993). Islamic medical ethics in the twentieth century. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C., & Hall, E. (1984). Sexuality. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachedina, A. (2009). Islamic biomedical ethics. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saìd, Ahmad Muhammad. (2011). Taghyir al-Jins Bayn al-Hazr wa al-Ibahah. Egypt: Dar al-Nahdah al-Arabiyyah.

  • Salih, F. (2003). Jirahat al-Khunuthah wa Taghyir al-Jins fi al-Qanun al-Suri. In Majallah Jamiàh. Damascus: Jamiàt Damascus.

  • Sanders, P. (1991). Gendering the ungendered body: Hermaphrodites in medieval islamic law. In N. R. Keddie & B. Baron (Eds.), Women in Middle Eastern history. New Haven: Yale University Press.

  • Sheik, Mufti Allie Haroun. (2008). Sexual issues in modern era. Delhi: Adam Publishers & Distributers.

  • The Fatwa of the Permanent Fatwa Committee of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America. (2007). From http://www.amjaonline.com/en_f_details.php?fid=21701 (assessed on 16 May 2011).

  • The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments. (1989). Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

  • Wilson, G. T., O’Leary, K. D., & Nathan, P. (1991). Abnormal psychology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. D., Green, R., & Fisk, N. (1973). Prenatal exposure to female hormones: Effect on psychosexual development in boys. Archives of General Psychiatry, 28, 554–561.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Studies, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohd. Shuhaimi Bin Haji Ishak

  2. Department of Fiqh and Usul Fiqh, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, 53100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Sayed Sikandar Shah Haneef

Authors
  1. Mohd. Shuhaimi Bin Haji Ishak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sayed Sikandar Shah Haneef
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohd. Shuhaimi Bin Haji Ishak.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ishak, M.S.B.H., Haneef, S.S.S. Sex Reassignment Technology: The Dilemma of Transsexuals in Islam and Christianity. J Relig Health 53, 520–537 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9656-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9656-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation