Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

homosexuality as innate raises new questions about the sexual ethics of Islam. Specifically, through the ways
in which the dualistic and patriarchal guidelines regarding same-sex intimacy further perpetuate the notion
of homosexuality as sinful, as well as contribute to the marginalization of homosexuals in Islam.
Ali reflects upon traditional Islamic sexual ethics through the dualistic nature of Islamic culture and through
the male-dominated hierarchy.
Ali’s reflection of homosexuality in Islam is rooted mainly in sexual ethics. She observes a disparity
among intimate practices that are considered legal and divine and those that are considered illegal and
sinful. Although certain sexual practices are considered illegal and sinful according to Islamic law, they may
be ethical in terms of the individuals involved. However, Ali notes that there are various relationships that
are considered legal according to traditional Islamic values that are not ethical. For example, abusive
marriages, serial marriages, and slave concubinage are all considered legal in Islamic culture, however, they
do not possess moral qualities, and certainly cannot be classified as divine. In contrast, same-sex relations
between two consenting adults is perfectly ethical and healthy, however, it is deemed illegal according to
Islam, and therefore, viewed as sinful. It is necessary to observe the dynamics of individual relationships,
rather than the population as a whole in order to better understand the legal and ethical nature of all types
of relations, whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.
Similar to the hierarchical traditions of Judaism, Ali observes the argument for the condemnation of
same-sex intimacy and marriage in Islam through the traditional importance of patriarchal relationships in
Islamic culture. Customarily, “the husband holds control of the marriage tie, and the wife has a claim to
dower and the obligation of sexual exclusivity and availability” (Ali 95). Women are given little jurisdiction
over matters outside of the family. While men, according to Islamic texts, possess legal control of sexual
acts and the relationships that constitute these acts within a marriage. In this way, same-sex relations
challenge the idea of marriage as a male-female contract due to the ambiguity that arises regarding
traditional gender roles in Islamic culture. By permitting same-sex relations, there is a disconnect from the
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