{"_id":"684b2a9fb8ebc9a6cfab6e08","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is sexual orientation a choice in Islamic psychology?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is being gay a choice according to Islamic psychology? Sodomy certainly is, but what about sexual orientation?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Same-sex attraction and feminine mannerisms have been topics of discussion in our religious tradition for centuries. In the past, there wasn't a broad term like \\\"gay,\\\" so these issues were addressed separately.\\n\\nRegarding men who exhibit feminine traits in speech, behavior, and attire, our tradition discusses this under the concept of imitating the opposite gender. The ruling here is straightforward: if these behaviors are natural, there is no sin or reproach, even if one doesn't attempt to change them. However, if these behaviors are learned, they are considered sinful, and one must strive to unlearn them.\\n\\nSimilarly, same-sex attraction is not inherently sinful if one cannot control these feelings. However, individuals must strive to manage and restrain these emotions, refraining from acting upon them. Some scholars even consider someone who diligently deals with this challenge as a martyr in the afterlife (shahīd), akin to someone who struggles with forbidden love for a married person.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668da0460b76658b4c2332e6","tag":"Contemporary Life: Lgbt","count":15}],"createdOn":"2025-06-12T19:29:35.927Z"}