There is a non-Muslim woman in our community who has expressed a desire in becoming a Muslimah. However, she identifies as a lesbian and is "married" to another woman and wishes to remain so after her conversion. She does not see that there is a problem in being gay and Muslim at the same time. She uses as evidence that there is nothing in the Quran or Sunnah that condemns female homosexuality, only male homosexuality. She also says that female homosexuality was common in Islamic and Arab history and uses Ahmad Altifashi's book Delight of Hearts as evidence of widespread lesbianism, homosexuality, and sodomy in the Abbasid caliphate and a great acceptance thereof. So the question is: is it true that lesbianism, homosexuality, and sodomy were widespread and acceptable as evidenced by Ahmad Altifashi's book? And is her Islam valid were she to convert? Lastly, what is the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah that lesbianism and sodomy are prohibited?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is no doubt that homosexuality (sodomy and lesbianism) is a serious disease that contradicts the sound Fitrah (natural predisposition upon which Allaah created mankind). We have already clarified the position of Islam about it in fataawa 88137, 89290 and 86547.

However, there is no correlation between quitting homosexuality and embracing Islam; so if this woman pronounces the Shahaadah (the Two Testimonies of Faith) and abides by the Islamic rituals, then she is considered a Muslim and has the same obligations and rights as all the Muslims. It is not ruled that her Islam is void because of her continuing to be a lesbian.

In our view, this woman should be encouraged to embrace Islam and should be helped in doing so. Because, if she converts to Islam and faith becomes firmly established in her heart, then this may lead her to repent from this sin. Someone who could influence her should try to convince her with his/her good style and strong evidence and logic.

However, her statement is void regarding saying that the Quran did not mention that lesbianism is forbidden, for the two following matters:

Firstly, she is not qualified to look into religious texts and make such a statement; it is the people who are specialized in this field who could issue a fatwa regarding this matter, and she is not one of them.

Secondly, it is confirmed in the Quran and the Sunnah that it is forbidden, and the scholars unanimously agreed about its prohibition.

The evidence from the Quran is the following; Allaah says (what means): {And they who guard their private parts. Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -} [Quran 23:5-7]

By the text of the Quran, she is a transgressor.

As regards the evidence from the Sunnah, then At-Tabarani reported in Al-Kabeer, and Abu Ya’la, and As-Suyooti classified it as hasan (good), from Waathilah that the Prophet said, "Lesbianism among women is Zina (fornication or adultery) between them."

With regard to the book that is referred to in the question, it is not a Quran that is recited, and it is not a hadeeth that was reported; rather, this book included some news of debased people. So are we going to provide evidence of the acts of such people and abandon the pure people among the Prophets and righteous people? Why does this woman not consider the bright history of the era of the Prophet and the rightly guided Caliphs? This is, of course, if we presume that what is in that book is true, otherwise much of the information given in it is doubtful and may be believed or rejected.

Allaah knows best.