In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah [The Exalted] said:

فَلَوۡلَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ أُوْلُواْ بَقِيَّةٍ۬ يَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡفَسَادِ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ مِّمَّنۡ أَنجَيۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ‌ۗ وَٱتَّبَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مَآ أُتۡرِفُواْ فِيهِ وَكَانُواْ مُجۡرِمِينَ

If only there had been among the generations before you, persons having wisdom, prohibiting (others) from Al-Fasad (disbelief, polytheism, and all kinds of crimes and sins) in the earth, as did a few of those whom We saved from among them. And those who did wrong pursued the enjoyment of good things of (this worldly) life and were Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers in Allah, polytheists, sinners, etc.). [Surah Hud. Aayah 116]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَاسأَلهُم عَنِ القَريَةِ الَّتي كانَت حاضِرَةَ البَحرِ إِذ يَعدونَ فِي السَّبتِ إِذ تَأتيهِم حيتانُهُم يَومَ سَبتِهِم شُرَّعًا وَيَومَ لا يَسبِتونَ ۙ لا تَأتيهِم ۚ كَذٰلِكَ نَبلوهُم بِما كانوا يَفسُقونَ
وَإِذ قالَت أُمَّةٌ مِنهُم لِمَ تَعِظونَ قَومًا ۙ اللَّهُ مُهلِكُهُم أَو مُعَذِّبُهُم عَذابًا شَديدًا ۖ قالوا مَعذِرَةً إِلىٰ رَبِّكُم وَلَعَلَّهُم يَتَّقونَ
فَلَمّا نَسوا ما ذُكِّروا بِهِ أَنجَينَا الَّذينَ يَنهَونَ عَنِ السّوءِ وَأَخَذنَا الَّذينَ ظَلَموا بِعَذابٍ بَئيسٍ بِما كانوا يَفسُقونَ

And ask them (O Muhammad ) about the town that was by the sea, when they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday): when their fish came to them openly on the Sabbath day and did not come to them on the day they had no Sabbath. Thus We made a trial of them for they used to rebel. And when a community among them said: “Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?” (The preachers) said: “In order to be free from guilt before your Lord (Allah), and perhaps they may fear Allah.” So when they forgot the reminders that had been given to them, We rescued those who forbade evil, but We seized those who did wrong with severe torment because they used to rebel (disobey Allah). [Surah Al-A’raaf. Ayaat 163-165]

Indeed, one of the greatest problems of our day is the misguided people who ascribe to religion, because their unclear and incorrect remarks are mindlessly accepted by the rabble and used by militant secularists to alter the Prophets’ path. They do not approve or disapprove based on clarity, but instead abandon the revelation and speak according to their preferences. In this article, we will make brief observations on Pope Francis’ beliefs, whose aim is to speak on behalf of all in the name of God’s love! However, before we quote and respond to his theological rhetoric, we recall a statement made by Shaikh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon them] about the misguided people of the Scripture.

Shaikh Al-Islam said, “Falsehood does not spread unless it is mingled with some truth, just as the people of the Scripture did. And with the little truth they possessed, they led many astray from the truth and led them to numerous falsehoods”. (1)

Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “These people, whose reasonings against the Book and the Sunnah are in fact tantamount to ignorance, base their matter on ambiguous statements that carry several interpretations. Because of the wording’s generality and ambiguity, it can be used to convey both truth and falsehood; therefore, what is true in it is accepted by those who do not have a thorough understanding of what is false in it for the sake of ambiguity and conflating truth with falsehood; then with the falsehood in it, they oppose the texts of the Prophets. This is the source of the misguidance of those who went astray from the nations before us”. (2)

Let’s now start our observations on the Pope’s thoughts and try to keep in mind the above two quotations from Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim and Shaikh Al-Islam.

Observation I: Pope Frances said the following when discussing buggery: “We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each one of us has to fight for our dignity”. [End of quote]

Response: Certainly, we are all servants of Allah [The Most Merciful], as Allah stated:

وَقَالُواْ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وَلَدً۬ا
لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِدًّ۬ا
تَڪَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ يَتَفَطَّرۡنَ مِنۡهُ وَتَنشَقُّ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَتَخِرُّ ٱلۡجِبَالُ هَدًّا
أَن دَعَوۡاْ لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ وَلَدً۬ا
وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لِلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا
إِن ڪُلُّ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّآ ءَاتِى ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ عَبۡدً۬ا
لَّقَدۡ أَحۡصَٮٰهُمۡ وَعَدَّهُمۡ عَدًّ۬ا
وَكُلُّهُمۡ ءَاتِيهِ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فَرۡدًا

And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as a sect of the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Iesa (Christ)], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels, etc.)].” Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, that they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allah). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent (Allah) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them and has counted them a full counting. And every one of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, protector or defender). [Surah Maryam. Ayaat 88-95]

Regarding the statement that “God loves us,” it is true that Allah is merciful to humanity and Jinn, which is why He sent the Messengers as callers to Tawheed, bearers of good news, and warners of the destructive consequences of unbelief, shirk and transgression. Allah [The Exalted] said:

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةُ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc.i. e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). [Surah An-Nahl. Ayah 36]

Allah [The Exalted] said:

إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَٰرُونَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًا
وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَٰهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ وَكَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا
رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]. And Messengers We have mentioned to you before, and Messengers We have not mentioned to you, – and to Musa (Moses) Allah spoke directly. Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the Messengers. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. [Surah An-Nisaa. Ayaat 163-165]

Second, obedient believers in pure Islamic monotheism are not the same as those who call for Shirk, corruption, sin, and transgression on earth. Allah said:

أَمۡ نَجۡعَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ كَٱلۡمُفۡسِدِينَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمۡ نَجۡعَلُ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ كَٱلۡفُجَّارِ

Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, as Mufsidun (those who associate partners in worship with Allah and commit crimes) on earth? Or shall We treat the Muttaqun (pious), as the Fujjar (criminals, disbelievers, sinful ones, etc)?] [Surah Saad. Ayah 28]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ
وَلَا الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلَا النُّورُ
وَلَا الظِّلُّ وَلَا الْحَرُورُ
وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَحْيَاءُ وَلَا الْأَمْوَاتُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۖ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِي الْقُبُورِ
إِنْ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۚ وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ

Not alike are the blind and the seeing. Nor are (alike) the darkness and the light. Nor are (alike) the shade and the sun’s heat. Nor are (alike) the living and the dead. Verily, Allah makes whom He will hear, but you cannot make hear those who are in graves. You (O Muhammad) are only a warner. Verily! We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner. And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them. [Surah Al-Faatir. Ayaat 19-24]

[وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَىٰ وَالْبَصِيرُ – Not alike are the blind and the seeing]-Meaning, just as it is undeniably established in their midst that the aforementioned things are not equal, they should also be aware that the opposites (connected to beliefs and deeds) are not the same. The believer and the disbeliever are not the same, nor are the guided and the misguided. The inhabitants of paradise and hell are not the same, nor are the knowledgeable and the ignorant. Those whose hearts are dead (because of disbelief) are not the same as those whose hearts are alive (due to belief in pure Islamic monotheism). There is a (significant) difference between these things that only Allah knows. So, if one is aware of their various statuses, distinguishes between the affairs, and it becomes clear regarding the affair that is obligated on you to compete and attain, as opposed to its opposite, then the determined one would choose for himself that which is more worthy and has a greater right to be given precedence.

[إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَن يَشَاءُ – Verily, Allah makes whom He will hear]- Meaning, Meaning, the hearing (which leads to sound) comprehension, and acceptance of truth, because Allah is the guide and bestower of guidance.

[وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِي الْقُبُورِ- But you cannot make hear those who are in graves] – Meaning, those whose hearts are dead (due to disbelief, wicked deeds, etc.); or, just as your supplication cannot benefit the inhabitants of the graves in anything (except by Allah’s will), it cannot benefit the one who turns away – the stubborn one – in anything (except by Allah’s will), but your job is to warn and propagate what you are sent for, whether it is accepted from you or not. [An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]

As a result, those who follow the guidance, obey their Lord, and repent to Him are not equal to those who knowingly reject the guidance, openly defy their Lord, transgress or encourage those who disbelieve, persist upon misguidance, sin, and transgression. The Pope refrains from commenting on the conditions of Allah’s love and the causes of His displeasure out of a desire for sophistry, theological rhetoric, and popular approbation. Here are several verses in which Allah tells us about the reasons for His pleasure and displeasure due to the deeds of His servants.

Allah said:

وَقَٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ

Fight—in the path of Allāh—those who fight against you but do not transgress the limits (by killing non-combatants). Indeed, Allāh loves not the transgressors. https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/2_190

Allah said:

وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

They ask you about menstruation. Say: that is an Adha (a harmful thing for a husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses), therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they have purified (from menses and have taken a bath). And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you (go in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina). Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.). [Surah Al-Baqarah. Ayah 222]

Allah said:

يَمْحَقُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ وَيُرْبِى ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Ayah 276]

Allah said:

قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

Say (O Muhammad): “Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad).” But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers. [Surah Al-Imran. Ayah 32]

Allah said:

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن نَّبِىٍّ۬ قَـٰتَلَ مَعَهُ ۥ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ۬ فَمَا وَهَنُواْ لِمَآ أَصَابَہُمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُواْ وَمَا ٱسۡتَكَانُواْ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَمَا كَانَ قَوۡلَهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسۡرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمۡرِنَا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ
فَـَٔاتَٮٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَحُسۡنَ ثَوَابِ ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

And many a Prophet (i.e. many from amongst the Prophets) fought (in Allah’s Cause) and along with him (fought) large bands of religious learned men. But they never lost heart for that which did befall them in Allah’s Way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. And Allah loves As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). And they said nothing but: “Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.” So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. And Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers). [Surah Al-Imran. Ayaat 146-148]

Allah said:

بَلَىٰ مَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِعَهۡدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ

Yes, whoever fulfils his pledge and fears Allah much; verily, then Allah loves those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. [Surah Al-Imran. Ayah 76]

As for the true believers, they love what Allah and His Messenger love and despises what they despise. Read here about love and hate for the sake of Allah: https://salaficentre.com/2022/01/28/our-re-and-pshe-teacher-says-that-we-should-love-and-not-hate/

Observation II: Dignity: The only way to achieve dignity is to fear Allah, so be it as it may. Allah said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ۬

O humankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has the most Taqwah. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware]. [Surah Al-Hujuraat. Aayah 13]

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “Indeed, Allaah [The Exalted] has removed from you the pride of the pre-Islamic period and its boasting about ancestors. One is only a pious believer or a wretched sinner. You are sons of Adam and Adam (was created from) dust. Let the people abandon boasting about their ancestors, for they are merely fuel in Jahannam; or they will become more insignificant in (the sight of) Allah than the beetle which rolls dung with its nose”. [Saheeh Sunan Abee Dawud 5116]

Indeed, it is evident the Pope’s equivocal remarks on love and dignity simply serve to confuse the issue and encourage people who participate in anal intercourse to continue committing the sin.

Finally, keep in mind what Shaikh Abu Khadeejah (may Allah preserve him) said as follows: “Prescribed punishments can only be carried out by the legal authority in a country that practices Islamic Law (i.e. in a Muslim country), and there must be clear evidence that actual sex had taken place. The Muslim penal code carries out punishments on the basis of the unlawful act that is committed and not on the basis of a person’s inclinations where no illegal act has been committed. This is the view of all of the famous scholars and jurists of Islam in line with the punishment dealt to the people of Lūt (in the Qur’an) and the hadīth of the Prophet. A Muslim, regardless of which country he lives in, is not allowed to physically harm those he regards to be sinners, nor incite others to do so. Vigilantism goes against Islamic teachings because it creates an anarchic, unjust, and disorderly society. https://abukhadeejah.com/lgbtq-homosexuality-gay-muslims-and-islam/

Also read: Why Homosexuality is Prohibited in Islam: https://archive.org/details/islam-homosexuality-book