Should I tell my spouse?
It is an honour for us to host Sheikh Mustafa Umar, who is no stranger to discussing the topic of Islam and LGBTQ issues in depth.
In a workshop entitled Navigating LGBTQ Issues in the Muslim Community: Understanding, Policy, and Engagement at the 20th Annual Imams’ Conference The Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America, Sheikh published this paper where he discussed the pressing topic of marriage.
The Sheikh asserts that in Islam, marriage (Nikāh) is a serious contract only valid between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriages or those involving gender changes are not valid. Marrying someone of the opposite biological sex who has same-sex attraction or gender identity issues is technically valid but should be disclosed to the prospective spouse.
However, are our communities ready for this disclosure? Would the reputation of the person disclosing be damaged? What is the correct Islamic perspective for those struggling with sexual or gender identity who are looking to get married? Join us for an interactive session with Sheikh.
Date: Saturday 14th June
Time: 5pm (BST), 9.00am (PDT)
Sheikh Mustafa Umar was born and raised in Orange County, California. He completed his Bachelors in Information and Computer Science from the University of California Irvine while studying Arabic and getting a taste of the various Islamic sciences through personal study and by attending local intensive Islamic classes. His thirst for knowledge led him to study at Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow, India and then in Cairo, Egypt. After two years in the East, he moved to France for another three years and graduated with a degree in Theology & Islamic Law [taught completely in Arabic] from the European Institute of Islamic Sciences. He went on to serve the Muslim community of Southern California as an Imam and activist for about three years.
Sheikh Mustafa left his post of Associate Director at the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco in order to focus more on his studies. He moved to the UK and authored several books on Islam while, in his spare time, he completed an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of Gloucestershire, graduating with highest honors and receiving the Islamic Bank of Britain award for academic excellence. He currently serves as the founder and president of California Islamic University, the Director of Education and Outreach at the Islamic Institute of Orange County, and an executive member of the Fiqh council of North America. Shaykh Mustafa has the rare asset of being able to fuse together the authenticity of a traditional Islamic education with the academic experience of both the Arab and Western worlds, all combined with a deep understanding of modern pop-culture.