Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

Is it permissible to congratulate LGBTQ neighbors on the birth of their child, or would this encourage sin? How can I fulfill neighborly rights in this situation while maintaining appropriate boundaries?

Answer

Thank you for your question. I empathize with your hesitation, as one’s instinct is to show happiness at the birth of any innocent child who has nothing to do with the parent’s choices.

Well Wishes

The blessing of a child is tremendous and perhaps this child will be the very reason for their guidance. You might say, “Mubarak! What a precious baby God has brought into this world. We pray that Allah protects your child and helps him/her grow into a God-fearing and pious young man or woman who embodies the Quran”, or something to that effect. Try separating the birth from the parent’s lifestyle and focus on the baby like you would any other newborn entering the world.

Distance

At the same time, you should be wary of being too close to this same-gender couple because of their negative influence. Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas, “The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed effeminate men and those women who assume the manners of men, and he said, ‘Turn them out of your houses.’ The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) turned out such-and-such a man (fulan), and ‘Umar turned out such-and-such a woman (fulan).” [Bukhari]

Dua

You may also recite the prophetic dua of the newborn:

بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي الْمَوْهُوبِ لَكَ، وَشَكَرْتَ الْوَاهِبَ وَبَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ، وَرُزِقْتَ بِرَّهُ.

May Allah bless you with His gift to you, and may you (the new parent) give thanks, may the child reach the maturity of years, and may you be granted its righteousness. [Nawawi, al-Adhkar]

Please see these links as well:

• Is It Sinful and Leads to Disbelief to Befriend Homosexuals and Atheists?
• How Should I Go About Having Meetings With My Homosexual Brother?
• What is the Reason for the Prohibition of Homosexuality?
• How Do I Deal with the Growing Trend of LGBTQ All Around Us?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.