Wednesday, January 23, 2008

This is interesting. Irshad Manji (who can't speak Arabic) is in London to promote a new documentary, "Faith without Fear". I don't know much about her, but I'm surprised to hear that she's a lesbian who also calls herself a devout Muslim. It's a bit like an anti-fur activist wearing a mink coat. Did I mention that she can't speak Arabic? Maybe she can try saying العم توم slowwly.

9 comments:

R.Evolution said...

Is a lesbian a problem for you?
What about gays?
If a devout muslim cannot be gay/lesbian than Islam is the problem. This said Irshad.

Do you know how many gays and lesbians live in arab countries? Widespread or not existing because stoned to death? I would like to hear more.

Maysaloon said...

Hello R.Evolution,
I'm not so sure what more you'd like to hear? I agree with you absolutely, Islam is the problem and it quite clearly condemns homosexuality and many other things. You can certainly try to reform it like Miss Manji can, except for the one thorny issue. Islam is not what people say it is, it is what Allah says it is. You can choose to believe in Him or not, you can do whatever you feel like, but one way or another, if you decide, like Miss Manji, to still call yourself a Muslim, you'll have to answer for why you "followed your desire" and changed "the words" after you received them.

:)

poshlemon said...

I can put this simply. I am still confused about my stance regarding homosexuality but I don't discriminate against it. However, if one chooses to call themselves a Muslim, they should follow *at least* the basic tenets mentioned in the Quran and definitely homosexuality is completely and explicitly refused and furthermore considered sinful. So it would be quite hypocritical for her to call herseld a Muslim. But then again, she is the one carrying this "sin" to her grave and she alone will have to report on it to God.

Yaman said...

To be fair, it wouldn't be correct to say that her being a lesbian disqualifies her from being Muslim. It wouldn't even be correct to say that if she engaged in sexual activities as a lesbian (to which from an Islamic perspective what is most objectionable is the fact that it occurs out of marriage, rather than necessarily the fact that it is same-sex). What is questionable is that she says that said behavior is permissible in Islam, which is a view that I don't think I have heard any jurist conclude before: that adultery is okay in Islam.

Maysaloon said...

Hi Yaman,
I'd be very interested to see how you reached that conclusion! I'm pretty sure the Islamic view on homosexuality as a practice is pretty clear - which I imagine would resolve the matter of same-sex marriage quite conclusively don't you think?

Ibn Bint Jbeil said...

she is a big defender of the zionist state and bush war policy.

Lirun said...

i love it.. gays jews zionists.. we are all the same right? hahahahahah

i love how people can think they know gods word better than others.. i love how people can rank people's validity basedon social norm and blame god..

qunfuz said...

there's an interesting article on gays and Islam in the collection "Progressive Muslims" edited by Omid Safi. I think gays can be Muslim, although they are clearly going to be conflicted. Many non-gay Muslims are also conflicted - their religion may be very important to them culturally and spiritually and politically but they may have problems with specific doctrines, or they may find themselves unable to live up to certain codes of behaviour. Many Muslims drink beer, for example, or fail to pray. I do think there is an interesting and necessary debate to be had concerning the accomodation between religion and individual rights and difference. But I don't like Manji, who seems to be a variation on Hirsi Ali, making a profit from Western desires. As Ibn bint jbeil says, she's a zionist.

Maysaloon said...

You bring up a good point Qunfuz and I think many Muslims are also better off focusing on their own faults before judging others, since that is what they are responsible for. Still, I just can't see how someone could openly choose a particular lifestyle considered conflicting with Islam and yet still expect to justify what they are doing as not relevant to their faith. It's better to have standards and miss than not have any at all I guess.