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The construction of the homosexual ‘other’ by British Muslim heterosexuals

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Abstract

Islam’s explicit condemnation of homosexuality has created a theologically based homophobia which engenders the intolerance of homosexuals by Muslims. In this article I explore Muslim attitudes towards homosexuality and homosexuals as this area has elicited very little research. Based on structured interviews with 68 Muslim male and female heterosexuals I examine the connection between participants’ attitudes towards homosexuality and their understanding of gender and gender roles. I also analyse whether participants’ views are shaped by their religious beliefs and values. Age, gender, education and level of religiosity are analysed to see whether they affect attitudes. Data suggest that participants held negative attitudes towards homosexuals and this is the result of being religiously conservative in their attitudes towards homosexuality and gender roles.

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Notes

  1. Renamed Imaan in 2004, this is a social support group aimed to support Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered. It is a supportive forum for discussing and exploring related religious, cultural and sexual identities. It is the first of its kind in Britain, composed of mainly British/Pakistani Muslims.

  2. The Qaradawi Fatwas: [http://www.meforum.org/article/646] (2004)

  3. Traditions based on reports of the sayings and life of Prophet Muhammad and his companions (pl. Ahadith)

  4. Qur’an: 6: 85-87, 7: 78-82, 11:73, 11: 79-84, 15: 58-77, 21: 70-71, 21: 74-75, 22: 43-44, 26: 160-176, 27: 55-59, 29: 25, 29: 27-34, 37: 133-138, 38: 11-14, 50: 12-13, 54: 33-40 and 66: 10.

  5. Abu Dawud, Prescribed Punishments, Book 33: 4447

  6. Abu Dawud, Prescribed Punishments, Book 33: 4448

  7. Hadd (plural, hudud) is the punishment prescribed by God in the Qur’an or the Sunnah, ‘the application of which is the right of God or haqq Allah’ (El-Awa 1982: 1). The six offences distinguished as offences of hudud are consumption of alcohol, theft and robbery, illicit sexual relations, slanderous accusation of unchastity and apostasy.

  8. MacFarquhar, N. (2007). ‘Gay Muslims Find Freedom, of a Sort, in the U.S.’ November 7, 2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us/07gaymuslim.html

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  1. Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, Adam Smith Building, 40 Bute Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RT, UK

    Asifa Siraj

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  1. Asifa Siraj
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Siraj, A. The construction of the homosexual ‘other’ by British Muslim heterosexuals. Cont Islam 3, 41–57 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11562-008-0076-5

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