What if they were born that way?

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Asalaam alaikum everyone,

I don’t mean this to be a Shia/Sunni bashing thread..or making fun of Hijras..I’m just looking for some information..maybe something that comes from the Quran or some hadeeth.

I was reading one of the threads regarding Iran’s sex change operations..and how the gov’t there is allowing it..and actually encouraging it in some instances. Well..it just got me thinking. Like..we’re all male or female..and we’re equal..yet we are just designed differently..and so our duties, obligations, and behavior are completely different. Both sexes make sacrifices..yet both are able to enjoy life.

Anyways..I went to Mumbai for two weeks…and like the second day..my aunts and cousins decided to take me shopping for some outfits. We took on two rickshaws and started towards the train station..and come to a stop near this flyover/bridge type of thing. So..we’re waiting for the light to turn green..and BAM..a bunch of HiJras come and ambush us. When they see me..they can tell right away..that I am from overseas..i don’t know..but I just don’t blend in..and they take their time clapping their hands and making obscene gestures. I’m like screaming my head off..and they finally leave. My aunts just like..“dont do that..its not their fault they’re like that..and for that..they are shunned too..you just have to ignore them quietly..and they’ll leave.”

I had noticed them before too..and the thought always plagued me..“where do they fit in?” I mean..technically..they’re both female and male. They have both organs..yet they can’t reproduce. However..their behavior is that of a immensely aggressive woman..and their voices sound like a mans voice. Since most people want nothing to do with them..they generally take on the role of a woman and take refuge in prostitution and some mujra type dancing ($$$)..but still it’s like..“what the hell are they?”

So..if a muslim woman gives birth to a hijra..how is the family supposed to raise the child? How is the child supposed to act…like a man or woman? Can the hijra get married..can it adopt children? How do Pakistanis view hijras in their society…what do we do?

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Re: What if they were born that way?

Hijrahs, or at least the ones who by genetic mutation have both male and female sexual organs, are the one case in which scholars of sunni fiqhs agree a sex change is permitted, so as to commit them to one gender for the rest of their lives.

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Re: What if they were born that way?

Read Middlesex...it will become clear to you

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Re: What if they were born that way?

I asked a similar question in the past and following is the reply that I received. It is more or less what Mad_Scientist has said, but has been answered in a little more detail.

[quote]
Dear questioner:

Al-Salâm `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakâtuh.

A person who is physically in between a man or a woman with respect to sex organs may have surgery to make that person according to the sex to which that person is closest. Thereafter, that person will take the ruling of that sex in all matters.

If a hermaphrodite is similar to women by the presence of breasts, a menstrual cycle or urinates like a woman, then he should be treated as a woman and undergo a surgery to remove his male member. But, if he is urinates like men (according to a doctor’s assessment) hair grows on his face, or other signs of masculinity are present, then he should be treated as a male. He should not get married until his predominant gender is clear. This would generally only be clarified after puberty.

Fatwâ Department Research Committee of IslamToday chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî



Please read the following discussion from our archives for further clarification:



By Sheikh Fahd al-Yahyâ

Professor at Imam University



All praise is due to Allah,



The scholars have listed some signs to help determine the sex of a hermaphrodite. Thereafter the rulings can be determined.
  1. Urination. This is the most important and comprehensive indication, since it is the only one that exists before puberty. This is the sign that the people of knowledge agreed on. Ibn al-Mundhir said: “The people of knowledge that we know of have agreed that the hermaphrodite will inherit according to how he urinates. If he urinates in the same way that the male does, then he is a male, and likewise, if he urinate in the same way that the female does, then he will be considered a female.

We can determine the hermaphrodite’s sex by consideration of urine by looking from where he urinates. If he urinates from the male organ then he is a male. If he urinates from female organ then he is a female. Basically, he is urinating from the original organ while the other opening will be determined to be the defect.

If he urinates from the two openings, then the initial one to operate will be considered. This is observed for each time that he urinates and greater frequency will be the decisive factor. If the two openings are exactly the same, then we should look for other signs.

  1. Ejaculation of sperm. If semen comes out from the male organ, he will be considered a male, while if sexual fluids come out from the female organ, he will be considered a female.

  2. Sexual attraction. If he is attracted to women he will be considered a man and if he is attracted to men he will be considered a woman. It is worth saying that this sign will not be taken into consideration unless there is failure in making a determination based on the other signs.

There are other signs that indicate the gender. The beard and, according to Imam al-Suyûtî, bravery and horsemanship. Some signs that indicate femininity are menses, pregnancy, breast size and lactation.
[/quote]

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Re: What if they were born that way?

[quote]
So..if a muslim woman gives birth to a hijra..how is the family supposed to raise the child? How is the child supposed to act...like a man or woman? Can the hijra get married..can it adopt children? How do Pakistanis view hijras in their society....what do we do?
[/quote]

Sadly they are not treated well, and they are looked down upon in our society. I heard that when one such is born, they (hijra comunity ) somehow get the info and they try to take the child with them. Dont know much about the rest of the questions

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Re: What if they were born that way?

Alright...well..nevertheless..I think muslims need to be educated about Hijras..and how it is that Hijras must be accepted into society and not be shunned...after all..they are human too. :(.

Jazakhallah Khair for the info Everyone :)..especially Sadiyah..that information made things much more clear for me.