Homosexuality Has No Prescribed Punishment

Is there a prescribed punishment [حد] for homosexuality?

No.

The scholars unanimously agree that homosexuality is a major sin and whoever allows it commits kufr.

However:

Unlike the Bible – the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah did not prescribe a punishment for it in this world.

Ibn Hazm says that the narrations from the Prophet & from his Companions about punishing this act are ALL WEAK:

وكله ليس لهم منه شيء يصح

ولا يصح أيضا في ذلك شيء عن أحد من الصحابة
“They have nothing authentic on this matter [from the Prophet]… And there is also nothing authentic on this matter from a single companion.”

It is true that many classical scholars held some strong views on this matter, such as burning, killing, throwing people off the buildings, etc. but we cannot endorse death based on opinions.

There has to be authentic evidence.

Abu Hanifah and some other jurists believed that there is no prescribed punishment for this act.

Al-Jassaas Hanafi wrote 1000 years ago:

قال أبو حنيفة : يعزر ولا يحد
قال أبو بكر : قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ” لا يحل دم امرئ مسلم إلا بإحدى ثلاث زنا بعد إحصان وكفر بعد إيمان وقتل نفس بغير نفس ” , فحصر قتل المسلم إلا بإحدى هذه الثلاث , وفاعل ذلك خارج عن ذلك ; لأنه لا يسمى زنا.
فإن احتجوا بما روى عاصم بن عمرو ، عن سهيل بن أبي صالح ، عن أبيه ، عن أبي هريرة ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ” الذي يعمل عمل قوم لوط فارجموا الأعلى والأسفل وارجموهما جميعا ” , وبما روى الدراوردي ، عن عمرو بن أبي عمرو ، عن عكرمة ، عن ابن عباس أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ” من وجدتموه يعمل عمل قوم لوط فاقتلوا الفاعل والمفعول به
قيل له : عاصم بن عمرو ، وعمرو بن أبي عمرو ضعيفان لا تقوم بروايتهما حجة ولا يجوز بهما إثبات حد

Abu Hanifah said: For this act [of homosexuality], there is disciplinary punishment (يعزر), but there is no prescribed punishment (حد).

[Al-Jassaas Hanafi comments]:

The Prophet says: “The blood of the Muslim is inviolable, except in three situations: Adultery after getting married, disbelief after faith and murder without right.”

So it is forbidden to kill a Muslim except in these three situations, and this [homosexual act] is not included, because it is not considered adultery [zina].

If someone were to seek evidence in what has been narrated [chain]: “If you find someone who is doing the deed of the people of Lot, stone both the one on top and the one below, stone them both. “

Or the other tradition [chain]: “If you find someone who is doing the deed of the people of Lot, kill the one who does it and to whom it is done. “

To him it is said: Asim and Amr are both weak narrators. Their narrations are not proof. It’s not possible to establish a prescribed punishment with this.”

[“Ahkam Al-Qur’an”, 5/104].