Muslim women who dress modestly...

I do believe that socio - economic backgrounds goes some way to explaining the totally different interpretations of Islam. The poster, sonK ( ?sorry, I forgot username) , gave a really interesting, positive insight into how she incorporates religion into her daily life, but it seems at contrast to how Islam is practiced in the inner cities, where I grew up and have witnessed first hand oppressive, restrictive and often intolerant interpretations.

Thankyou. Homosexuality is prohibited for Muslims? How does that work, then, for Muslim homosexuals?

Why? The op was watching a family and wondered why the women weren't joining in. That lead her to wonder whether there were cultural reasons. Pretty normal if you ask me 😅

No. I just prefer it when people talk in good faith and don't sweep problems under the rug.

I live near a running path where two years ago(?) they tried to put up posters for the local Pride event which featured a hijabi woman front and centre two or three times before they conceded that that was not going to be allowed to stay put. Personally? I got the impression when it was all kicking off on Facebook that the chap putting up the posters was being deliberately inflammatory. The local Muslim posters were certainly not quite as tolerant in their responses as pp implied, either, but you know, let's pretend that there is no conflict brewing there.

OK. Off to work. I wish everyone a day free of dickheads. I'm sure we all wish we were at the seaside swimming, be it skinny dipping or in a voluminous black swaddling even Queen Victoria would baulk at.

"we are anti Islam because it oppresses women!"

"We will dismiss and ridicule Muslim women who say something that doesn't support what we already think!"

Ok

Islam is cool with homosexuality yeah. You read it on Mumsnet first. ✌️

There are a few obviously intelligent well educated Muslim women on this thread, stating that interpretation of such statements in the Quran is important these days.

I wonder if the experience of the less educated/ had fewer choices in life woman is the same.
In my experience (inner city life/working in schools) it is very different. Men are in charge, do what the man says, learn the Quran by heart in Arabic as is it the word of God.

I've wondered this too op, it's not odd.

But that seems to contradict what Imans say
https://www.anic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Islams-Clear-Position-on-Homosexuality.pdf

There does appear to be some movement to modernising views on homosexuality in isolated pockets but to say there’s no problem re homosexuality in Islam is a lie. Islam is still interpreted in such a way to see people hung and beheaded for being gay.

The same principle applies; homosexuality is prohibited however it's no one's business to humiliate someone who is gay let alone threatening them.

Also if a parent is concerned with regards to their own child's sexuality, they are not to disown them (it is considered cruel and disapproved off to cut off ties with your own family).

Parents have to always be supportive of their children and still take care of them without causing harm.

Islamically the parents can guide them, ask them to pray more etc. and physically the most a parent can do is encourage the child to work or take up hobbies to occupy their mind.

And that's it - no punishment or humiliation, Muslims are told not to mention it again or anything else; they have to leave the child alone, especially if once grown up they still identify as gay - they have freewill.

Countries imposing the death penalty on people who are homosexual like Iran are being barbaric and most agree that it is repressive powers that use Sharia law on women and the vulnerable.

As for your initial question the threats gay Muslims are receiving, I bet it's mainly from their immediate family who are more concerned about how they will be seen by their community; unfortunately this does happen, but the good thing is it is being talked about more openly now with kindness being the motif.

I also know a lot of Muslims who have actively been supportive of Pride events, even hijab wearing women taking photos during work events and happy for it to be uploaded on social media so there is support as well.

I will be honest, I didn't have my photo taken under a rainbow frame for Pride month, not because of my religion but simply because I am straight and it is not central to me.

We even had an atheist who didn't want to have her photo taken in support of Pride for whatever reason and that's all okay because we all have freewill to do as we please as long as we are not hurting others along the way.

I have tried to answer your question as well as I can based on my own knowledge and personal experience, I hope it helps.

Nice try. 🙄

@SonK - no, again, I did NOT raise this subject of Muslim women having sex during menstruation. Jewish, Christian and Islamic scriptures all have the same sorts of foolish "rules" related to sex and diet, which probably made some sort of sense when they were formulated thousands of years ago before we had good plumbing and refrigeration, but I find them all utterly uninteresting and irrelevant to life in 2025. HTH.

I can see that if you did not choose your own spouse, any excuse not to have sex with them must be a huge relief.

I think comments like this just really display the stereotyping and lack of insight

If it’s rude to ask about people’s sex life in Islam, why are there gay Muslims saying their lives have been threatened due to their sexuality? Genuine question.

You are attempting to police and silence me and others you disapprove of. Get a bit of self awareness… you aren’t minding your own business….AT ALL!

You are most welcome : )

You raised that Muslim women are not allowed to have sex during menstruation - that is brining it up and I responded by telling you that us Muslims do not even discuss this let alone go around interrogating eachother about it so I wanted to know why you bought it up.

Was it to imply that Islam perceives women who are on their period as dirty? I can help you understand this better if you are interested.

Women are not considered dirty because they are menstruating. In fact menstruating women can even go to the Mosque if they want to.

On that note, even if a man has bleeding that is flowing from a cut, he doesn't have to pray or fast similar to a woman menstruating because he needs rest. This reinforces that the exemption due to women menstruating is for her sake and not because she is dirty, otherwise she would be barred from entering a mosque and other holy places when menstruating.

Yes I understand, no such thing as dressing "slutty" - that wasn't my point.

My point is kindness is more important; commenting on someone's appearance or even how they dress is actually the most destructive of major sins in Islam.

@SonK I have not brought up period sex once because, again, I don't care about anyone's sex lives (and don't discuss mine on a perv-infested site like this).

"I am not even allowed to say women are dressed slutty."

There is no such thing as dressing "slutty."

you have explained that beautifully. Thank you for the insight.

Forgot to quote you here @PreciousMomentsHun

That was one example

It's not my scholars who state that; it's science really.

Exactly no one normal cares about couples sex lives, yet you keep bringing up period sex as though this is something Muslims are policing eachother over.

Islamically it's rude to ask people or make assumptions about their sex life

You are welcome!

Well it's all about free will - this is fundamental in Islam and it is about a lot more then following the way of life set out in Quran - yes the provisions are a way of life which cannot be forced - once forced it is meaningless and inhuman.

True Islam is more about good deeds verses bad deeds.

For instance if I am wearing a headscarf, praying and abstaining from eating pork and drinking alcohol but one day I harm an innocent creature for no real necessary reason (for example killing a mouse instead of letting it outside) then I have sinned.

In such a case, Islamically I am a bad person and a lady who is a prostitute, drinks and isn't even Muslim but loves animals and is kind to all is actually better than me and has better morals.

Islam believes we should only judge eachother on our deeds and behaviour.
How we dress, what we do behind closed doors (as long as no one is being harmed or abused) should not be judged or even talked about.

Islamically, I am not even allowed to say women dressed in revealing clothes are slutty - because that would be slander and true Muslims believe slander as one of the deadliest sins due to how it can harm others and it's impact mentally.

@SonK there is some influence, most interestingly to me in the influx of Arabic words brought into English, but those are IMO relatively trivial details and more a reflection of our own tendency to absorb. They are not in any significant way what makes the West what it is, culturally, socially or legally.

As to the acidity of the vagina during menstruation, I shall leave the study of such details to your scholars. No one normal cares how any other couple arranges their sex lives, truly. I can see that if you did not choose your own spouse, any excuse not to have sex with them must be a huge relief.

Firstly, thank you for replying so honestly and reasonably, and not screaming ''racist' or 'islamaphobe!', if anyone dares to raise a question.

It's interesting to see things from your perspective and how you apply practices in your own daily life. You appear far more tolerant with others who choose to not follow ' the rules' in things like alcohol, sex, and prayer practices. I take from your post that you see these rules as more ' guidelines ' that you can choose to accept or not, and which have no bearing on your religious commitment.

I have not downplayed anything; you are the one who said other religions are irrelevant.

Whether you like it or not Islam has influenced the West, a minor example; Islamic architecture influenced European architects during the 12th and 13th centuries, and it has particularly shown in France and England due to the Gothic architecture from Spain under the Islamic 8th-century Umayyad Caliphate within the Iberian Peninsula.

One thing you are right about is your last point; no, I do not completely understand the history here because it is rather complex, I am no way near an expert on the matter, yet I am able and open minded to further my knowledge as with all subjects and matters that interest me or I am concerned about.

However, you do not sound very open minded; I am sorry you hold a grudge over Islam because quite simply all religions have verses and quotes that may shock most - but no need to pick it all apart and use it to segregate people further.