Revisiting Qur’anic Gender Exegesis: A Critical Analysis of Sexuality Discourses in Islam

Abstract

This article revisits Qur’anic gender exegesis by critically examining Islamic discourses on human sexuality. The discussion is grounded in the assumption that conversations on sexuality—particularly in Muslim societies—are often approached from personal or moral viewpoints rather than through academic and analytical frameworks. This study argues that understanding sexuality through systematic scholarship enables individuals and communities to develop healthier, more responsible, and more informed sexual attitudes. Using a qualitative library-research approach, this article analyzes classical and contemporary interpretations of Qur’anic verses related to heterosexuality and homosexuality, paying special attention to exegetical debates surrounding the story of the people of Lot. The discussion highlights how concepts such as al-fāḥishah, al-sayyiāt, al-khabā’ith, and al-munkar have been employed by exegetes to frame sexual deviance, and how contemporary scholars like Musdah Mulia reinterpret these terms within a broader ethical and human rights discourse. The findings show that while Islamic law traditionally legitimizes heterosexual relations within marriage as part of the divinely ordained order (sunnatullah), interpretive differences emerge when addressing homosexuality, particularly in distinguishing between sexual orientation, coercive acts, and moral transgression. The article concludes that a more nuanced, context-aware reading of Qur’anic gender discourse is essential for understanding human sexuality in modern Muslim societies.