What is the ruling regarding the sexual act of sodomy (Luwat) between men?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Ḥudūd (Prescribed Penalties)
Primary text
Sodomy is definitively forbidden by consensus (Ijma') of the scholars, as God has condemned it in His Book and the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, has condemned it. God states: "And [mention] Lot, when he said to his people, 'Do you commit such immorality which no one among the worlds has preceded you with? Indeed, you approach men with desire instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people'" (Quran 7:80-81). The Prophet, peace be upon him, cursed those who commit the act of the people of Lot three times.
Supporting text
There are differing narrations from Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, regarding its prescribed punishment. One narration states the punishment is stoning (Rajm), whether the perpetrator is previously unmarried (bikr) or married (muhsan). This is the view of Ali, Ibn Abbas, Jaber bin Zayd, Abdullah bin Mu'ammar, Al-Zuhri, Abu Habib, Rabi'ah, Malik, Ishaq, and one position of Al-Shafi'i. The second narration states the punishment is the Hadd of the fornicator (Zani). This is the position of Sa'id bin Al-Musayyib, 'Ata', Al-Hasan, Al-Nakha'i, Qatadah, Al-Awza'i, Abu Yusuf, Muhammad bin Al-Hasan, and Abu Thawr, and it is the well-known position of Al-Shafi'i, based on the Hadith: 'When a man approaches a man, they are both adulterers (Zaniyyan).'