User:Laurapollack/sandbox

Attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people, and their experiences in the Muslim world, have been influenced by its religious, legal, social, political, and cultural history.

Islam is the second largest religion in the world (over a billion followers) and has a wealth of diversity both culturally and ethnically. Islam was founded by the prophet Muhammed in 622 CE and shares roots with Judaism and Christianity. Islam's main texts are the Qur'an, and secondary texts are Sunnah and Hadith. Without a central governing body, there are no distinct policies on LGBTQ Muslims, and beliefs regarding this topic vary throughout the religion.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is the basis for many Islamic views on homosexuality. The Prophet Lot warned men of immorality if they "approach[ed] men with desire, instead of women." The Quran continues with the narration of the "people of Lot" destroyed by the wrath of God because they engaged in lustful carnal acts between men. Additionally, the hadith collections also condemn homosexual and transgender acts, prescribing death penalty for male homosexual intercourse. However, the hadiths have been questioned repeatedly, by scholars including Imam Nesai, and continue to be discredited by some today. Homosexual acts are forbidden in traditional Islamic jurisprudence and are liable to different forms of punishments -- the death penalty, imprisonment, or corporal punishment-- depending on the situation and legal school.

In some countries there is a higher acceptance today of the LGBTQ community, notably Turkey.