Salaam!
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Welcome to the home of the
“I am not Haraam” project - a blog created for
LGBTQ Muslims by LGBTQ Muslims.
Haraam is an Arabic word used in Islam to mean “forbidden”. This project has been started as a way for LGBTQ Muslims to stand up and proclaim that we will not allow our existence as LGBTQ Muslims to be erased any longer.
We are not kafirs, we are not deviant, our existence is not a sin. This is our space to say:
WE ARE NOT HARAAM.
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Call for submissions
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We’re calling for any Muslim who identifies as part of the LGBTQ spectrum to submit to this blog. Allies and supportive families of LGBTQ Muslims are also welcome and encouraged.
The theme for submissions is quite simply,
“I am not haraam”
(or “my son/daughter/lover/sibling is not haraam”).
We’d like you to share what it means for you to be an LGBTQ Muslim. You can tell us about your struggles, your everyday life, anything that makes you, you!
Submissions can take any form; text posts, audio posts, art work, poetry, video etc.
How do I submit? You can submit by clicking on “submit” at the top of the page or by emailing iamnotharaam@gmail.com
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to message us.
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Please note: This is a positive space for LGBTQ Muslims. We will not publish or respond to any negative or hateful remarks. We will not respond to any message asking us to justify our existence as LGBTQ Muslims.
Earlier today, two bombs were detonated at the Boston Marathon. 2 people have been killed, and 100+ injured. Not much else is known.
The only thing we can do now is pray. Right now, I’m making d’ua for the victims and their families. May Allah be merciful with them, and grant them peace. And may Allah enable those responsible to be brought to justice. For Allah is Merciful, and Allah is Just.
And I know it often feels like you’re doing nothing. But du’a, prayer, is something, and it’s something important. There’s no one who can help more than Allah. Your d’ua go to the throne of Allah. And you won’t be drowned out, Allah will hear you. Know that, Allah hears all. And that means you.
So, please make this d’ua. And reblog it so others can do the same. If you’re new to this, here’s what I used as a starting point. But remember, the only d’ua that you Allah for sure won’t answer is the one you don’t make. Peace and Blessing to you all.
IANH Staff
On behalf of the team at IANH, I’d like to extend a massive THANK YOU to each and every one of you who has supported/asked/contributed in anyway since our inception.
When we began we wanted to create somewhere where those who were struggling with piecing together their sexuality or gender identity and their Muslim-ness could come to talk to someone. We didn’t and still don’t profess to having the answers, or having figured it all out for ourselves. We can however empathise and share our journeys.
It’s certainly been humbling for me to work with a group of amazing people who I am proud to call family. I thank them for turning IANH into such an amazing ‘helpdesk’.
We have lots of plans that we’ll share with you as we near our 1 year anniversary in May. We want to get you all involved so keep your eyes peeled.
In peace,
-Naeem
“So surely with difficulty comes ease. Surely with difficulty comes ease.” (Qur’an 94:6,7)
(via ummhuraira)
![“O ALLAH! Bestow On My Parents Your Mercy As They Did Bring Me Up When I Was Small” [Quran, Surah Al-Isra’, Chapter : 17, Verse : 24]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3eqbeTrW11ruad2bo1_500.png)
“O ALLAH! Bestow On My Parents Your Mercy As They Did Bring Me Up When I Was Small” [Quran, Surah Al-Isra’, Chapter : 17, Verse : 24]
(via ummhuraira)
gaychristian Asks:
iamnotharaam Said:
Hi Ian, always wonderful to hear from you!
Exegesis is very important for students of the Qur’an, because the Arabic language used in the Holy Text is not only insanely complicated, it is old and currently unused in normal speech.
There would not be so many historical and contemporary interpretations of the Book— or so many scholars constantly making updated decisions based on their understanding— if this weren’t so.
While many Muslims use the Hadith (which is a collection of anecdotes about the life of the Prophet, as recorded by his companions and the companions of the Caliphs), some Muslims also believe the Hadith to be flawed guidelines.
Even those who abide by the Hadith have a gauge of “accuracy” or “canonical” importance when researching them.
When ignoring Hadith completely, exegesis of the Qur’an is usually referred to as Quranology, and studied by Quranists.
My first personal contact with pro-homosexuality Muslims were Quranists, and many Quranists I know use the language to dissect the condemnation of same-sex relations (or lack thereof) within the context of the Qur’an.
So to offer a shorter answer, yes, exegesis and interpretation are some of the big tools behind supporting homosexuality in Islam.
I pray this answers your question, and I pray that this finds you in good health.
- Nafisah
Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love, captures stories and experiences of being at the intersections of Islam and queerness and its relationship to family, lovers, one’s sense of self and relationship with our faith. Terna Tilley-Gyado and Wazina Zondon utilize traditional storytelling and conversation as the medium for exploring the broad range of their experiences as queer Muslims. The stories Coming Out Muslimtell range from tales about other people’s theories about where queerness comes from, the gifts of being queer and Muslim, the tension between one’s culture and religion, and love—romantic and spiritual. Coming Out Muslimis both funny and poignant.
Find out more by clicking here
