Transgender Act of 2018, Pakistan - How does this jeopardize our Ummah?

Pakistan - Transgender Act 2018 - A dubious attempt to normalise LGBTQ+ 

In 2018, an act was presented to the parliament,  focusing on the rights of the Transgender Community of Pakistan, a consensus of all political parties. It was inherently passed, probably without consideration of what was written in detail. Why would I assert so? Because if a parliament of an Islamic State accepts the law that contradicts the basic moral doctrines of religion, a positive approach would be to assume they hadn't noticed the questionable demands that were included under the appropriate proposition. Firstly, let's understand the truth of Transgender and LGBTQ notions. 

Clear Confusion of Terms

Apparently, our people haven't been educated on the veracities of societal norms, concerns and even religion, in most cases, as the majority has always been either enslaved by culture or liberalism. In regards to LGBTQ, if such a movement is ever presented, the population would obviously reject the acceptance as mostly identify themselves as Muslims. Therefore, there has always been a misinterpretation regarding the terms of Transgenders, Intersex and Khwaja Sira. 

Let us discern the complexity of these terms which has led us to this problematic crisis.

LGBTQ - abbreviation of?

L - Lesbian - A woman with a sexual inclination towards women

G - Gay - A Man with a sexual inclination toward Men

B - Bisexual - People with a sexual inclination toward both genders

T - Transgenders - People who transition to the opposite sex they were assigned at birth

Q - Queer - A person who can be anything but Heterosexual

All these preferences are prohibited by Islam.

Intersex

Islam has given rights to the 'Intersex' community. Who are the 'Intersex Community?

Primarily known as hermaphrodites, people born with biological abnormalities in their genitals, chromosomes etc. However, their sex can be determined by criteria, therefore, according to research, they prefer to live within a binary identity (based on their dominant features). Experts estimate that up to 1.7 percent of the population are born with intersex traits (across the world). As per logical research and fundamental sense, the number of such is minor. According to several hadith and narrations, Islam has given all rights (including inheritance) to these people as their abnormality is objective and natural. They are the most neglected part of every society and are only used as complicity in Muslim majority countries to expand and influence the propaganda of LGBTQ+. They're denied basic rights and are abused even in countries that have legalised LGBTQ+ notions.

Transgender

Transgender people are the 'Adults' that willingly change their gender either socially or medically. They believe they can become the opposite sex by transitioning. These adults are assigned a specific gender at birth, male/female, but they desire to transition. These people exist in all societies and are accepted, and appreciated by liberals and western ideologies under the belief of having the 'freedom' for life. They have a subjective convention to their feelings of not being satisfied; aka confused. Their expression of dissatisfaction is expressed in their appearance, style and conduct. Even, the most extreme expression is doing transsexual or trans reassignment surgery. With the simplest explanation in consideration, Islam condemns such practice and has declared this an immorality due to the confirmation of the creation of only two genders, male and female.

'And by ˹the One˺ Who created male and female!' (92:3)

From another perspective, the transitioning act is a form of altering Allah's creation. At this point, I would quote an ayah from Surah Nisa. The connotation illustrates Shaitan promising Allah (s.w.t) to delude mankind and order them to alter his creation (whether animals or themselves). The questions that arise are, do we support the implementation of Shaitan's promise and the displeasure of Allah (s.w.t)? Does the desire for transition derives from nature (as the transgenders or their supporters cite) when the Creator of nature has evidently despised the deed?

'I will certainly mislead them and delude them with empty hopes. Also, I will order them and they will slit the ears of cattle and alter Allah’s creation.” And whoever takes Satan as a guardian instead of Allah has certainly suffered a tremendous loss' (4:119)

Furthermore, Transgenders act/dress like the opposite gender and demand to be treated as the sex they chose. Many issues incur because of this innovation, such as biologically men mixing with women in places that are confined to protect women, their dignity, and vice versa. That is clearly prohibited according to religious principles. Shall I mention Marriage and sexual affairs, which ultimately lead to same-sex relationships? Homosexuality, the sin of the People of Prophet Loot (Lot), on account they were given the severest punishment ever given to any nation. The Quran has narrated on several occasions the sin of homosexuality being the sole reason for their destructive and shameful end. Anybody claiming otherwise is deluded and amiss.

This issue has existed since the time of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) as we have authentic hadith regarding the matter. Claims that declare Muslims have no evident sources to criticise the movement of LGBTQ+ are mistaken as we can provide authentically accurate and perpetual content/resources to sustain our argument. The hadith stated below refers to 'Transgenders'.

'Ibn ‘Abbās r.a. said: Rasūlullāh (peace be upon him) cursed men who resemble women and women who resemble men. (Al-Bukhārī, 2002, p. 1485) 

According to another narration, these people were exiled by the Prophet (s.a.w) to limit the influence they would have on others in society. Keep in mind, the hadith is directed toward transgenders and not effeminate children/men. This category is physically fine but born with effeminacy that is that they walk, talk, or behave a little like females but they are males. Effeminate children/men are neither transgender nor intersex.

Gender Dysphoria

A mental illness, known as Gender Dysphoria existed on the CDC's list of diseases until the 1980s. It is a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity. Again, questioning the decision of Al-Aleem (All-Knowing)?

In addition, The sense of unease and dissatisfaction may be so intense it can lead to depression, anxiety and a harmful impact on daily life. Transgenders suffer from such illnesses that enforce them to transition. Moreover, western propaganda's appreciation of this disease has instilled confidence in people who are actually in need of therapy and mental health coaching. Instead of providing them with solutions and healthy ways to deal with the illness, it's being celebrated across the world.

How does the Act for the 'Rights of Transgender' jeopardize the Muslim Community?

As discussed previously, transgenderism is strictly prohibited by the laws and principles of Islam, let alone same-sex relationships. The Act passed in 2018, was supposedly concentrated on the 'Rights of Intersex' alleged by Senators who supported it. However, they were aware of the confusion that existed amongst the people about gender terms. Furthermore, the bill states that any transgender person, as a citizen of Pakistan, has the right to get themselves registered per their self-perceived gender identity, on all legal documents. If so, biologically men will become women and biologically women will become men. Contemplating this a little more, a person who has legally changed their sex demands to be treated like so. The repercussions include biological men going to women's private sectors, and mixing with women, therefore harming women's dignity and right to privacy in public places. If the sex identity change labels trans people to specific genders (i.e male/female) this can cause the institution of marriage to collapse, and problems in inheritance concerns. Consequently, invading culture demolishes society's traditions and moral doctrines - The last line, Quoting Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan.

Evidently, we can observe how the 'Intersex Community' is used as complicity, to support and promote the western propaganda of LGBTQ+ to obliterate our religious, and cultural morals and ethics.

Pakistan's parliament passed the bill without noticing the subtle but frail attempt to normalise Transgenderism under the claim of supporting Intersex Rights.

The bill narrates, and as I quote, "Transgender Person" is a person who is

• Intersex (Khunsa) with a mixture of male and female genital features or congenital ambiguities; or
• Eunuch assigned male at birth, but undergoes genital excision or castration; or
• a Transgender Man, Transgender Woman, KhwajaSira or any person whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the social norms and cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at the time of their birth

The only group that has the privilege of all rights by Islam, is the Intersex. The second group refers to biological men, that are castrated. Point to be noted, they're still men. The third group falls under the category of people that proceed against the limitations defined by our Creator. This pursuit is vivid, by taking advantage of the lack of awareness regarding the terms, gaining support by claiming one appropriate idealisation, further adding contradictory conduct to it, and thinking people won't notice the difference. Although the legalisation process hasn't reached the declaration decision by the Parliament, after Pakistan's Islamic Ideology Council gave their judgement of proclaiming the demands to be against Quran and Sunnah (Islamic Laws and Principles). The repercussions are still crucial.

As a matter of fact, more than 30'000 people have registered themselves as transgenders since 2018. If the movement proceeds further, one wrong gives birth to another and the cycle keeps progressing if not broken cautiously and predominantly. Whether same-sex marriages are legal or not, our primary concern is the merger of discrimination between two distinctive groups and their characteristics.

If we continue to turn a blind eye to what has occurred, the situation may eventually deteriorate. We have the example to take heed from of Syria, Turkey and other majority Muslim Countries that legalised/normalized LGBTQ and suffered the consequences. This is the preeminent time to speak against this, raise your voice, use your power, and condemn this act as much as possible for we will be accountable on the day of judgement, even for our response to transgression. Did we choose to raise our voices against iniquities as we're told to? Or were our tongues tied, consoling ourselves with irrelevant excuses of being neutralized and not provoking a dispute? A Muslim is obliged to stand against injustice and malfeasance. Especially when it's jeopardizing the Ummah at a global standard.

A note to those who are objecting to the negation of this act by stating that Pakistan was never an Islamic Republic Country due to democracy, and other crimes/corruption that arise every day. Two wrongs don't make a right. Refusing to condemn a problem just because we have a million of others isn't a sensible decision, with all due respect. I, as a practising Muslim, condemn every act of violence and injustice towards every innocent person. However, when an event contradicts my religion's laws and teachings, I prefer to analyse and decide based on logical reasoning from both religious and social perspectives. My suggestion to every citizen of Pakistan is, please educate yourselves on such matters and use the power you have correctly. 

May Allah (s.w.t) protect us from the fitnas of this era and keep us steadfast on the straight path.

Ameen.

P.S: The discussion on the Khwaja Sira community is vast and important. However, I wanted to keep the focus on the Act and its consequences. Although I will try to publish a separate blog on this topic as soon as possible. However, no promises are made. You may read the thesis of Faris A.Khan, his research on the Khwaja Sira community. If that isn't possible, visit the @birdoflaments Instagram account. He has concluded the basic points in his highlights. They're extremely easy to apprehend and accessible as well.

Content and Research Gathered from:

• Bill passed by the National Assembly
• Youth Club - Rise of LGBTQ - Youtube
• Birdoflaments - Instagram
• MUH Bahrul Afif  (Postgraduate Student of Aqidah Dan Falsifat Islam) - Islam and Transgender
• Thesis of Faris A.Khan - Research on Khwaja Sira Community