What Islam says about genders?

Islam has suggested ample of rights and duties for both male and female. Islam has clearly stated that male and female both are designed differently biologically. Islam also says that Allah has made people in pairs (pair made of male and female). Only male and female are designed this way that they need opposite genders to make their family together. This is how nature works and this is how more people born in the world.

Allah says in Quran that He has made everything in pairs (male and female):

“Pure (from every fault) is the One who has created all the pairs of whatever the earth grows and of the humans themselves and of that which they do not know” [36: 36]

Allah says in another verse of Quran:

“And of everything We created pairs, that possibly you would be mindful [51: 49] ”.

Who are transgender?

Transgenders are people who change their gender even though their natural sex is different. For example, people who are born as males sometimes does not like themselves as males, so they change their gender and turn them as females. Similarly, there are some females who claim to be uncomfortable in their female gender and they change their genders into male.

There is another case where a person is neither male nor female but born different naturally. This type is called as “Mukhannas”. Allah says that humankind is created in two ways “male or female’, but due to some abnormality in genitals of some people they are categorized as “Mukhannas”.

Who are Mukhannas?

Mukhannas is entirely a different concept and it is due to abnormality or is to be as a kind of illness but transgender is man-made. Doing anything which is opposite to the nature and which leads to destruction is a great sin. Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) has stated in this regard:

“Ibn ‘Abbās r.a. said: Rasūlullāh (peace be upon him) cursed men who resemble women and women who resemble men” [Al-Bukhari, 2002].

Transforming gender is indeed a great destruction and a Sin

Transforming self into another gender or getting attractive towards the same gender is indeed a great destruction for both society and for an individual. If people will not accept their own natural gender identities then they would never be able to married happily and make a family. If, people get attracted towards same gender then how they will get married; even if such people marry how they become sincere with their husbands and wives?

Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) has disliked this thing so much that he got angry so bad when he has seen such people. Ibn ‘Abbās said that:

“The prophet coursed a man who resemble women and women who resemble men. The prophet said: “Get them out of your house”. Ibn ‘Abbās said: The prophet got a man out and ‘Umar got a woman out [Al-Bukhārī, 2002, p. 1486].

Prophet Mohammad’s anger towards Trans people can also be seen in the following hadith:

From Abū Hurairah he said:

One day the transgender perpetrator who coloured his fingernail and toenail with henna. So, the prophet asked them: “What is wrong with this guy?” They answered: “O Rasulullah, this guy resembled women”. He commanded to punish this guy, and this guy was exiled to the place called Naqī‘. They asked Rasulullah: “O Rasulullah, why do not just kill him?” He answered: “I was forbidden to kill one who prayed”. Abū Usāmah said “Naqī‘ is a place in the suburb of Madinah and it is not Baqī‘ (Abū Dāwūd, 2009b, pp. 288–289).

According to this hadith, transgender sinners will be removed from their relationships, families, etc. Additionally, this exile is intended to stop them from influencing others. According to Al-'Asqal'n, the exile of those who cause others' attention to be diverted continues until they renounce their wicked behaviour and turn to God in repentance.

Quran says:

“You lust after men instead of women! You are certainly transgressors [7: 81] .”

Hence, going against the nature and negating own gender is indeed a big destruction.