http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/07/05/a-transgendered-person-goes-umrah.html
Source: The Jakarta Post Author: Prodita Sabarini

A transgendered woman, Maryani, from Indonesia has made the umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia this year after first being rejected by travel agencies specializing in the pilgrimage. After finally being accepted, she was given an identification card which listed her gender as female, which enabled her to go on the pilgrimage wearing the female pilgrim attire.

"The village head in Yogyakarta where Maryani lives offered to issue a card identifying her as a woman, which the head felt was more appropriate. That opened the door for Maryani to get a passport listing her gender as female as well. . . . The flexibility of Maryani's village chief allowed her to perform religious rites as a woman. However, other transgendered woman have not been as lucky as Maryani, and have had to identify themselves as men to perform the pilgrimage —as men."

I find that Muslim religious are divided into two camps: accepting of transsexual and transgender people, and non-accepting. While homosexuality is less accepted, heterosexual transsexuality is more acceptable in present-day Islamic culture.

I pray that they will find a God of Mercy and Beneficence that sees transsexualism and ->-bleeped-<- to be completely normal, natural, and a part of life. And that they will also extend that acceptance of diversity with gay and lesbian people too!

Thanks for the beautiful quote Rahel 

Quote from: LearnedHand on July 24, 2013, 06:14:47 AM
Thanks for the beautiful quote Rahel 

No problem! There are some selections of beauty in the Qur'an, and I love them all! 

Quote from: Catalina on July 24, 2013, 03:46:22 AM
I find that Muslim religious are divided into two camps: accepting of transsexual and transgender people, and non-accepting. While homosexuality is less accepted, heterosexual transsexuality is more acceptable in present-day Islamic culture.

I pray that they will find a God of Mercy and Beneficence that sees transsexualism and ->-bleeped-<- to be completely normal, natural, and a part of life. And that they will also extend that acceptance of diversity with gay and lesbian people too!

"God's alone is the dominion over the heavens and the earth.
He creates whatever He wills:
He bestows the gift of female offspring on whomever He wills,
and the gift of male offspring on whomever He wills;
or He gives both male and female to whomever He wills,
and causes to be barren whomever He wills:
for, verily, He is all-knowing, infinite in His power."

-- Surah ash-Shura, 42:49-50

Most transphobic Muslims don't actually know Islam does not call ->-bleeped-<- haraam, but I think the religion is quite clear in its message to homosexuals, which isn't a positive.

It's all about interpretation.