Islams Influence in Sexual Orientation

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One of the important lessons that I learned in Morocco is our behavior and the way respect for everyone is practiced through an Islamic lens. Islam here does not feel confined to only mosques or prayers, it is embedded in how people speak to one another, how differences are handled and how dignity is perserved in public life (Faitour et al., 2024).  The Moroccan state itself reflect this deeply, shaped by Islamic teachings that emphasize order, moral responsibility and social respect while still allowing people to move through their own paths. 

And one moment that stayed with me happened while walking through the streets of Fez with Hamza. I noticed two men holding hands as they walked together. As curious as I am, I asked Hamza how same-sex relationships are viewed in the country. His response was simple and deeply rooted in Islam, he explained that while Morocco upholds the teachings of Islam, people are still treated as human beings. In Islam, we are taught to give one another excuses and to assume goodness rather than jumping into judgement. So even if two men are seen holding hands: the response is respect and we assume they are brothers, regardless of whether that is true or not. 

This idea reflects a core Islamic teaching that we are not responsible for policing the inner struggles or journeys of others. And Allah (SWT) gives each person their own test, their own obstacle and their own path. We are taught that Allah (SWT) does not burden a soul with what it cannot bear and that every challenge is given with the trust that we are capable of overcoming it. In Islam, thoughts and inclinations alone are not sins, only actions are (Parrot, 2018) And even though, each individual is accountable only for their own actions, not the perceived actions of others. Rather than confrontation or exposure, there is restraint; rather than judgement, there is distance and dignity. 


Faitour, M. (2024). Morocco’s Distinctive Islam at a Crossroads: The State’s Support for Sufism. Religions, 15(10), 1257. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101257

Parrott, J. (2018). The guiding principles of faith: Sincerity, honesty, and good will in Islam.

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