As Salaam Alaikum,
I am incarcerated, and the Imam here in the prison. A brother has choosen to associated himself with a Homosexual. Where he spends all his time with the Homosexual, even showers with him. He has stop coming to Jumu’ah and stop praying. But he says he has not committed a homosexual act. He says that he is just trying to be a friend to the homosexual because he doesn’t have anyone else to talk to. Brothers have talk with him and explain to that is not the conduct of a Muslim. Other brothers have refused to talk with him. Some brothers think that because the brother has not done an actual is not guilty of anything. Could you give me some guidance. Thank you.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother in Islam.
May Allah Ta’alaa grant you freedom as soon as possible. May Allah Ta’alaa accept your service as an Imaam in prison. InshaAllah your colleagues will benefit from you. Use that opportunity to make tawbah and make a firm determination to be obedient to Allah Ta’alaa and propagate Islam.
Almighty Allah says:
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice”
A person in prison needs love and care. Befriend the brother and use your position as an Imaam to win him over to you. Deal with him with wisdom and diplomacy. Talk to him about Allah Ta’alaa and his Rasool ﷺ. Also befriend his friend and invite him to Islam if he is not a muslim. Talk to them about Islamic values and the need to be obedient Muslims. Allah Ta’alaa says:
وذكر فإن الذكرى تنفع المؤمنين
And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.
You may consider having a Ta’leem and Zikr halaqa to inculcate Allah consciousness in your colleagues.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad Yusuf bin Moulana Abdur Rahim Khan
Student Darul Iftaa
Chatsworth, Durban, KZN, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.