EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Asep Setiawan, a member of the Central Board of Muhammadiyah’s Council for Religious Opinion and Reform, addressed issues surrounding LGBT and transgender identity during a Friday sermon delivered at KH Ahmad Dahlan mosque at Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta on Friday (15/5).
In his sermon, Asep argued that same-sex relations and gender transition conflict with what Islam considers fitrah, or the natural disposition of humanity as created by God.
He opened the sermon by referring to Indonesian Health Ministry data from 2022, which estimated the LGBT population in Indonesia at approximately 0.44 percent of the population, or around 1.1 million people.
“This is deeply concerning for us as citizens of Indonesia, a country with a Muslim majority,” he said.
Criticism of LGBT Normalization
Asep also criticized efforts to normalize LGBT behavior through the language of human rights and personal freedom. According to him, Muslims should understand that human life and the body ultimately belong to Allah and therefore carry moral responsibility.
He explained that the Islamic phrase inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un—“Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we return”—reflects the belief that human beings and all they possess are entrusted to them by God.
“Allah has only entrusted these things to us, and with every trust comes responsibility and accountability before Him,” Asep said.
Throughout the sermon, he cited several Qur’anic passages that he said establish the Islamic understanding that humanity was created in two sexes: male and female. He referred to verses from Surah Al-Hujurat and Surah An-Nisa concerning the creation of Adam and Eve.
He also cited Surah Ali Imran, which discusses attraction between men and women, arguing that same-sex attraction represents a deviation from sunatullah, or the divine order of creation.
Reference to the Story of Prophet Lot
Asep further referenced the story of Prophet Lot and the people of Sodom, which appears repeatedly in the Qur’an. According to his interpretation, the destruction of the community served as a warning against homosexual acts.
He quoted passages from Surah Al-A’raf describing Prophet Lot’s rebuke of his people for what the Qur’an characterizes as immoral conduct. He also referenced verses from Surah Hud concerning divine punishment upon the city.
According to Asep, Muslims should not remain passive regarding what he described as moral deviation in society. Instead, he encouraged congregants to practice amar makruf nahi mungkar—promoting virtue and preventing wrongdoing.
“Pay attention to your surroundings. If signs of LGBT behavior appear within the community, we should not simply stay silent,” he said.
Remarks on Transgender Identity
In addition to discussing LGBT issues, Asep also addressed transgender identity. He cited a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari from Ibn Abbas, in which the Prophet Muhammad condemned men who imitate women and women who imitate men.
Asep argued that the narration demonstrates Islam’s prohibition against adopting the appearance or lifestyle of the opposite sex.
He concluded the sermon by urging Muslims to preserve what he described as humanity’s natural disposition according to Islamic teachings while strengthening social concern over moral issues within society.
