A Jihad for Love...

A couple of days ago, I saw an extremely moving documentary. It discussed the state of Muslim homosexuals trying to reconcile their faith with their sexuality. After going through an exhaustive list of Internet definitions of Jihad (not made any easier by articles on terrorism), I have come to understand that it is misunderstood as "holy war". It literally means "struggle". This struggle can be against the evils of the world or within oneself. This struggle with themselves is what modern Muslim homosexuals face.

The Koran explicitly denounces homosexuality as a crime. And though The Bible, The Old Testament and The Gita don't (in as far as I know), the state of homosexuals is not any better in any other religion. It is termed unnatural and considered in many societies a psychiatric problem that can be helped with either medicines or the guidance of God. Some also consider it contagious and fear that if permitted once, the end result will be the whole world turning gay! Never mind the recent medical revelation that it is influenced by various genetic factors and just as contagious as heterosexuality. As a person cannot choose where he is born, to which family and into which religion, he/she also cannot choose their sexual orientation.

I often fail to understand, which definition of natural is it against in the first place? For believers, God made the world and Adam and Eve and to them only creationism is natural. To atheists, evolution and Darwinism is the only natural truth. Whose definition of "natural" are homosexuals violating in the first place?

One of the results of growing up in the Indian society is that you are surrounded by reverence towards the institution of marriage. It is sacred and once established must remain for life if not for all eternity. In a very basic sense, the Indian society respects and celebrates commitment. Commitment of any form, of a student to his education, of a child to his parents, of a sister to her brother and of a couple to each other is given great respect in the Indian culture. But if this commitment is made by a man to another (or a woman to another), suddenly its importance, its sacredness is found to be non existent.

I personally know some homosexual couples who have been through much together. They have supported each other through parental loss, financial struggles, illness and the experience of having a baby. I see no difference between their joys and sorrows and that of any other heterosexual couple I know. Their laughter is real and so is their pain. Their love certainly does not deserve ostracising by their parents and society and in some severe cases, lashings or death penalty. To me, this kind of treatment is unnatural. Not only unnatural, it is also inhuman.

Perhaps as a result of belonging to what is labeled the new generation, I have never felt any ill will towards homosexuality. To me it is as natural as my heterosexuality. I am religious but I don't let it supersede or overtake my innate sense of humanity. Faith must provide strength and the courage to ride out tough times. It must give a devotee peace and a sense of being one with God. When it begins to dictate how you must live, dress, eat then it is no longer faith but institutional form of religion specifically designed by man to restrain and oppress various aspects of society be it women, homosexuals etc.

Fortunately for me, I was privileged and bestowed by God, extremely loving and progressive parents. While they don't agree with homosexuality, they would never impose on me their choices and decisions. One of the funniest moments of my life was me and my best friend arguing with our mothers about this topic and even if I say so myself, winning it! Discussion and a healthy exchange of views was always encouraged by my mother and her way of bringing up us children makes me respect freedom as the most supreme right.

I believe in the freedom of man. In the freedom to seek one's own happiness. This freedom when accompanied by a sense of taking responsibility for our own failures and successes and the courage to live by our convictions liberates us. The Koran says that Allah created Man in his own image. Then how can the image of God, if it is not hurting anyone else, be committing a sin? All the victims in the documentary agreed that they must follow their truth and that it does not contradict their belief because God is kind, loving, benevolent and ever forgiving. For if he were not, what would be the difference between us mere mortals and him?

Perhaps we cannot fight a culture or a religion. But the jihad of every liberated person is to ensure that their children should be brought up free of such prejudices. They must be given every opportunity to discover themselves and pursue their own happiness, wherever it may lie. Intolerance, and not terrorism, is the real disease killing our world.