GENDER CHANGE OF TRANSSEXUALS IN SHARIAH: AN ANALYSIS

Abstract

In Islamic societies transsexuals live a life of constant negative stereotyping and presumption of guilt, despite being acknowledged by the Qur’ān and Sunnah. They struggle to live their lives in peace as they are subjected to discrimination, arrests, torture, and harassment on a daily basis. This article is aimed at exploring the factors which may mitigate their dilemmas by virtue of the primary sources of Shariah. In this study, verses from Qur’ān and ḥadīth which are used to condemn transsexuals are examined. Interpretations and opinions of several experts are also discussed in this paper. The findings reveal that transsexuality is considered to be an inherent defect and abnormality by the Will of Allah, which implies that transsexuals are not sinners and any surgical treatment to rectify physical defects is not a sinful act.