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LAHORE: At least 50 clerics affiliated with a little known Tanzeem Ittehad-i-Ummat have issued a fatwa (religious decree) that marriage with a transgender person is lawful.
The fatwa, released on Sunday, said a transgender person having “visible signs of being a male” may marry a woman or a transgender with “visible signs of being a female” and vice versa.
But, the fatwa added, a transgender person carrying “visible signs of both genders” may not marry anyone.
It declared that robbing transgender people of their share in inheritance was unlawful and that parents who deprive their transgender sons/daughters of inheritance were “inviting the wrath of God”.
The clerics called upon the government to take action against such parents.
The decree also dwelt upon societal attitudes towards transgenders. It went to the extent of terming ‘haraam’ any act intended to “humiliate, insult or tease” them.
The fatwa ended with a word on last rites, declaring that all funeral rituals for a transgender person will be the same as for any other Muslim man or woman.
The clerics who issued the fatwa included Imran Hanfi, Pir Karamat Ali, Abu Bakr Awan, Masoodur Rehman, Tahir Tabassum Qadri, Khalil Yousafi, Gul Ateequi, Gulzar Naeemi, Intikhab Noori, Abdul Sattar Saeedi and Khizarul Islam.
Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2016
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Comments (47) Closed
Jun 27, 2016 08:37am
a good start!
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Jun 27, 2016 08:42am
A good step indeed by the ulemas to bring some change in society towards transgenders.
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Jun 27, 2016 08:41am
thanks finally counting them among humans! but , still they need education, the basic right
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Jun 27, 2016 08:44am
There is again some discrepancy in the Fatwa. Why a transgender having a visible sign of both genders (Hansa Mushkil) can not marry?. This is great injustice with him. I think he is the luckiest person. He can opt to marry a person of either gender. The Fatwa may be reviewed and the lacuna removed accordingly. Similarly, in inheritance, such a transgender be given share on the basis of a formula which is: (share of male + share of female) divided by 2.
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Jun 27, 2016 09:01am
I see hope!
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Jun 27, 2016 09:15am
Step in right direction. Thats tolerant Islam. Thank you.
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Jun 27, 2016 09:24am
Appreciated.........
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Jun 27, 2016 09:34am
I didn't get it. when a person possess visible signe of being a female than that person is a female. and that female can marry a man. so what's new that I havnt understood. it's confusing ey
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Jun 27, 2016 09:39am
Really Great to read this news,, These People are the Most Neglected in Entire world and are bullied and shamed everywhere, We must never forget, that a Person is Person no matter what Race, Color, or Gender he is.
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Jun 27, 2016 09:47am
@Roy thats the responsibility of State.
The Ulema can only tell what Islam has allowed or not. Then its responsibility of state
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Jun 27, 2016 10:02am
Great and lntelligent Fatwa. We human beings are the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. We should marry and have children to propagate the human race.
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Jun 27, 2016 10:20am
Well-done :)
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Jun 27, 2016 10:27am
really happy for them
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Jun 27, 2016 10:35am
Awesome, looking forward to visiting a transgender weddings after Eid.
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Jun 27, 2016 10:36am
A welcome move. A good sign of our societial changing.
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Jun 27, 2016 10:38am
Man or woman rather may be imperfect but it's not upto thee to judge or deprive them of their God given rights. That's the fundamentals of early Islamic tradition that dealt with such issues as transgendered people.
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Jun 27, 2016 10:50am
@Shah "Thats tolerant Islam" No that is Islam
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Jun 27, 2016 10:52am
Basic human rights upheld.
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Jun 27, 2016 11:02am
This is a very humane move by the clerics. In this instance one must say that the religious authorities are more progressive than the legal system/government. This ruling is welcome as there are millions of people in Pakistan who are affected by discrimination. With support of society, more and more such people will come out open and not have to hide their gender any more.
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Jun 27, 2016 11:04am
There is a lot of talk abt transgenders in Pakistan what is their population
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Jun 27, 2016 11:20am
Appreciated
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Jun 27, 2016 11:35am
First time, I respect these clerics.
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Jun 27, 2016 11:51am
Awesome! :)
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Jun 27, 2016 11:59am
No wonder they are little known... hope this word spreads and at least people should realise that they are also equal human beings...
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Jun 27, 2016 12:11pm
But th question is who will mary them? Who will accept them? Giving them rights is one thing, accepting them is a major challenge. The entire society needs to be educated.
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Jun 27, 2016 12:21pm
Good moeve..
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Jun 27, 2016 12:26pm
Good job....Now we as society should also respect them as human beings and also support and guide these people with different/special attribute..
Peace
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Jun 27, 2016 12:27pm
A step towards light from dark ages
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Jun 27, 2016 01:52pm
Finally clerics invoking some real wisdom and practical use from sharia.
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Jun 27, 2016 02:03pm
Humans give birth Humans. Discriminating them is a crime against humanity. Their rights must be respected. Great step.
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Jun 27, 2016 03:43pm
This ruling has been around for centuries. People have not read about it and have not followed it.
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Jun 27, 2016 03:45pm
@Ayub: You need to update your knowledge. Either you are too young to understand the complications or may be unmarried. The fatwa given bears some basic needs of human being, transgender having both signs of male & female are not good for marriage, it becomes a gay relationship which is very strictly prohibited in Islam.
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Jun 27, 2016 04:00pm
It is the duty of the government and the parliament to decide and fix the rules that guide the people in their lives, and the different clercs have nothing to say here.
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Jun 27, 2016 04:05pm
Finally the sense prevail in our society, this is a good start folks really happy
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Jun 27, 2016 05:22pm
Good to read this news.
This shows that our clerics have started thinking about social issues rather than thinking about holy war.
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Jun 27, 2016 05:27pm
In other countries, laws are made by the government and judged by the courts.
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Jun 27, 2016 05:46pm
Superb move! Keep going on.
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Jun 27, 2016 06:03pm
that's a right step towards tolerant Pakistan.
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Jun 27, 2016 07:04pm
Step in the right direction....I hope it is properly implemented, followed and respected by the rest of the society.
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Jun 27, 2016 07:25pm
Great job!!!
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Jun 27, 2016 08:09pm
@Xyz "There is a lot of talk abt transgenders in Pakistan what is their population"
It runs into several millions, and with support from the society many more millions will open up.
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Jun 27, 2016 09:53pm
I appreciate this act, such a wonderful news for transgenders, they won't be feeling odd anymore. Better than homo sexual policies of english countries.
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Jun 28, 2016 01:20am
I can't understand what man or female will get after marrying transgenders ...neither they have fertility to become father neither they can get pregnant ...so what is the motive behind ??
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Jun 28, 2016 02:13am
They understand what is transgender ?
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Jun 28, 2016 07:40am
@Frankenstein
Ulema have told what is right in Islam by issuing fatwa so now it is the responsibility of state to legalize transgender surgeries so that they can conform to their desired body gender which will match with the brain gender. State should also give them all basic rights which straight people have.
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Jun 29, 2016 05:37am
for the first time in the history of Pakistan this is the positive step for the transgenfer community.
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Jun 29, 2016 03:04pm
@haider shaikh Good point
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