Biological Truth & Quran

The Quran condemns when individuals attempt to redefine simple biological facts.

Example # 1: Zihar

According to the Quran, Zihar ( ظِهَار ) was a form of estrangement in which a husband would declare his wife as being like his mother’s back, essentially cutting off marital relations and leaving the wife in a state of neither being married nor free to remarry. This practice is mentioned in the Quran in Sura 58: The Debate (Al-Mujaadalah) verse 2, where it is condemned, and specific rules are given for atonement if such a statement is made, emphasizing the importance of proper marital conduct and responsibilities.

[58:2] Those among you who estrange their wives (by declaring them as forbidden in sex) as their mothers know full well that they are not their mothers. Their mothers are the women who gave birth to them. Indeed, they are committing a blasphemy and a falsehood. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.

 ٱلَّذِينَ يُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِهِمْ إِنْ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى وَلَدْنَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنكَرًا مِّنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ وَزُورًا وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ

1	alladhīna	ٱلَّذِينَ	Those who
2	yuẓāhirūna	يُظَـٰهِرُونَ	they declare Zihar (*make forbidden in sex)
3	minkum	مِنكُم	among you [all]
4	min	مِّن	from
5	nisāihim	نِّسَآئِهِم	their wives,
6	mā	مَّا	not
7	hunna	هُنَّ	they
8	ummahātihim	أُمَّهَـٰتِهِمْ	their mothers.
9	in	إِنْ	Not
10	ummahātuhum	أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ	their mothers
11	illā	إِلَّا	except
12	allāī	ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى	those who
13	waladnahum	وَلَدْنَهُمْ	they gave birth to them
14	wa-innahum	وَإِنَّهُمْ	And indeed, they
15	layaqūlūna	لَيَقُولُونَ	[they] surely say
16	munkaran	مُنكَرًا	an evil / blasphemy
17	mina	مِّنَ	of
18	l-qawli	ٱلْقَوْلِ	the word
19	wazūran	وَزُورًا	and a falsehood.
20	wa-inna	وَإِنَّ	But indeed,
21	l-laha	ٱللَّهَ	God (is)
22	laʿafuwwun	لَعَفُوٌّ	surely Pardoner,
23	ghafūrun	غَفُورٌ	Forgiver.

Example #2: Genetic Sons

Verse 4 of Sura 33: The Parties (Al-Ahzãb) further clarifies this practice of Zihar and provides another example condemning those who attempt to go against biological truth. In this example, the Quran commands the believers not to call their adopted sons their genetic offspring.

[33:4] GOD did not give any man two hearts in his chest. Nor did He turn your wives whom you estrange (according to your custom) into your mothers.* Nor did He turn your adopted children into genetic offspring. All these are mere utterances that you have invented. GOD speaks the truth, and He guides in the (right) path.

 مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى تُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ

1	mā	مَّا	Not
2	jaʿala	جَعَلَ	[He] made
3	l-lahu	ٱللَّهُ	God
4	lirajulin	لِرَجُلٍ	for any man
5	min	مِّن	of
6	qalbayni	قَلْبَيْنِ	two hearts
7	fī	فِى	in
8	jawfihi	جَوْفِهِۦ	his chest.
9	wamā	وَمَا	And not
10	jaʿala	جَعَلَ	He made
11	azwājakumu	أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ	your wives
12	allāī	ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى	those whom
13	tuẓāhirūna	تُظَـٰهِرُونَ	you [all] declare unlawful (Zihar)
14	min’hunna	مِنْهُنَّ	from them
15	ummahātikum	أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ	(as) your mothers.
16	wamā	وَمَا	And not
17	jaʿala	جَعَلَ	He made
18	adʿiyāakum	أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ	your adopted sons / children
19	abnāakum	أَبْنَآءَكُمْ	your (genetic) children.
20	dhālikum	ذَٰلِكُمْ	That (is)
21	qawlukum	قَوْلُكُم	your saying
22	bi-afwāhikum	بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ	by your mouths,
23	wal-lahu	وَٱللَّهُ	but God
24	yaqūlu	يَقُولُ	He says
25	l-ḥaqa	ٱلْحَقَّ	the truth,
26	wahuwa	وَهُوَ	and He
27	yahdī	يَهْدِى	[He] guides (to)
28	l-sabīla	ٱلسَّبِيلَ	the path.

Example #3: Man & Women (Pronouns)

This next example is not as direct as the other two, but nevertheless, it calls out those who distort the distinction between a man and a woman. This can be found in verse 102 of Sura 2: The Heifer (Al-Baqarah). The verse informs us that the devils attempted to destroy the concept of male and female and that their tactic of doing this was manipulation.

[2:102] They pursued what the devils taught concerning Solomon’s kingdom. Solomon, however, was not a disbeliever, but the devils were disbelievers. They taught the people sorcery, and that which was sent down through the two angels of Babel, Haroot and Maroot. These two did not divulge such knowledge without pointing out: “This is a test. You shall not abuse such knowledge.” But the people used it in such evil schemes as the breaking up of marriages. They can never harm anyone against the will of GOD. They thus learn what hurts them, not what benefits them, and they know full well that whoever practices witchcraft will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is what they sell their souls for, if they only knew.

 وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَا تَتْلُوا۟ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـٰرُوتَ وَمَـٰرُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَآ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِۦ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِۦ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا۟ لَمَنِ ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

35	fayataʿallamūna	فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ	But they learn
36	min’humā	مِنْهُمَا	from both of them
37	mā	مَا	what
38	yufarriqūna	يُفَرِّقُونَ	[they] differentiate / distinguish / separate
39	bihi	بِهِۦ	with it
40	bayna	بَيْنَ	between
41	l-mari	ٱلْمَرْءِ	the man
42	wazawjihi	وَزَوْجِهِۦ	and his spouse.

Additionally, the meanings of the names Haroot and Marroot derive from meanings that can hint towards genital mutilation, which is a common practice used today to trick vulnerable people into harming their bodies in the false hope of thinking they can change their sex.

The name Haroot ( هَـٰرُوتَ ) can be associated with the root “Ha-R-Ta” ( ه ر ت ) and has the following derivative meanings:

to slit a thing to widen it, to have a wide mouth, to draw the side of the mouth to the ear, have wide sides of the mouth, tear up, wide, ample; to wound a reputation; to cook meat thoroughly; flesh falling off the bone; a serpent or camel or horse or dog with a wide mouth. 

While the name Maroot ( مَـٰرُوتَ ) can be associated with the root “Mim-Ra-Ta” ( م ر ت ) and has the following derivative meanings:

Render a thing smooth, remove a thing from its place, to break a thing, to be without water and herbage (land or tract of land); or a land of which the soil does not become dry, and of which the pasture-grounds or fields do not produce herbage; a waterless desert without herbage; a man that is hairless; a calamity or misfortune. 

A takeaway from this is that, firstly, any kind of genital mutilation, cosmetic surgery, or hormonal therapy that attempts to make someone appear as the opposite gender goes against the truth of God’s design. Secondly, if individuals who are confused about their gender attempt to compel believers to use pronouns that do not match their biological sex, we should inform them that this would be language that goes against the truth per God’s design, and we will not partake in their delusion.

For additional reading on this topic, check out the following articles:

• Gender & Society
• Gender Babel