Can a Muslim live in a place that legalizes and state sponsors homosexuality?

· 27 Muharram 1436 AH1 min readFatwa 31177English

Question

I LIVE IN A STATE IN NORTH AMERICA THAT RECENTLY PASSED A LAW THAT ALLOWS SAME SEX COUPLES TO GET MARRIED.

THIS TO ME LEGALIZES AND PROMOTES HOMOSEXUALITY.

IN LIGHT OF QURAN AND SUNNAH, WHAT DIRECTIONS ARE MUSLIMS GIVEN:

1.CAN YOU FROM THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE, LIVE IN A AREA THAT LEGALIZES AND STATE SPONSORS HOMOSEXUALITY?

2. WHAT ACTIONS DOES THE QURAN AND SUNNAH ADVOCATE IN SUCH A SITUATION?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is permissible to live anywhere in the world as long as one is able to fulfil the commands of Allah Ta’ala. We must obey the law of the land in which we reside. We may also enjoy the rights given to us by the law provided that they do not contradict the divine law of Islam. Therefore, homosexuality must be completely abstained from regardless of where one lives.

If a person resides somewhere where he thinks he or someone in his family might fall into something which is unlawful in Islam, he should relocate to a place where he feels he is safe from committing that sin.

In any case, it is necessary for one to dislike this action and also to keep his children from believing it to be a morally and religiously acceptable way of life.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Zakariya Memon

Student Darul Iftaa
Chatham, Canada

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Daruliftaa.net

Answered by
Zakariya Memon
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

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