Transgender Makes Umrah

The adult in the middle is Muhammad Sajjad dressed up as a woman in front of the Kaba. Dressing like the opposite gender is forbidden in Islam.  

Back in 2016, Saudi Arabia caught slack for banning transgender people from obtaining an Umrah/ Hajj Visa. It seemed like an unnecessary ban until this recent event where a transgender man made umrah and posted it for the world to see him dressed in women attire in front of the Kaba.

It seems there is nothing sacred to some people. These are people who have no issue with changing the gender Allah has decreed for them so it isn't surprising that we will find them making all sorts of fitnah in the world.

This transgender Malaysian man who was born as Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman goes by the name Nur Sajat and has a whopping 1.4 million followers on Instagram. He actually is a sort of Instagram model and businessman who creates and sells women's skin care products and female body shaping clothing. 

When I think about the deeply spiritual experience I had walking in the footsteps of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and Muhammad saws, it makes me sad to think that someone transgender could come in and make a huge mockery of it.

What is the Problem With a Transgender Person Going to Mecca? 

Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to full-fill one of the pillars of the Islamic faith. homosexuality, bisexuality and dressing like the opposite gender from which you were born with is all strictly against the Muslim faith. The spiritual rewards for making the pilgrimage are very high and include forgiveness for one's previous sins.

• A woman is not allowed to dress like a man nor is a man allowed to dress like a woman. So if this is a forbid act, how can a person go to the Kaba expecting forgiveness while committing a sin? This is nothing but a mockery of our religion. 

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: Allah's Apostle (Muihammad saws) cursed those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners or dress) of women and those women who are in the similitude of men. - recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 773

• A man dressed like a woman can go into the women's restroom areas and see women uncovered. 

What is the Islamic Stance on Transgender People? 

According to Islam, there is no space for people to whimsically decide they want to change the gender they were born with. There are a few cases in the world where it may be legal Islamicaly to have a gender assigned when the person was born with two genders known as a hermaphrodite or homogamus.

Who Determines Gender of a Person? 

The gender of a person is determined by Allah. Around the 40th or 45th day of a pregnancy, an angel comes to the baby and asks Allah what the gender of the baby will be. Imagine the beautiful experience happening while the mother and baby are totally unaware. It is truly sinful to disturb the natural order that Allah has prescribed.

Even though the modern science has only recently figured out at what time the baby's gender is determined, Muslims have had this knowledge for over 1400 years. There is a recorded statement or hadith from the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) where this information is revealed.

Imam Muslim narrates from Hudayfa that Prophet Muhammad saws said;
The sperm and  and ovum drop falls into the uterus (and remains) for forty nights, after which the angel in charge of fashioning it descends upon it and says, "Lord! Male or female?" Then Allah determines the gender for that baby. 

Where to Complain If You See Something

Even though there is a ban already in place against transgender people going to make Hajj or Umrah, obviously, the travel agencies are still allowing it. So what is left for us to do to ensure the sanctity of our sacred sites? Report strange activity. Spread awareness by sharing this article. Speak to your travel agency to let them know this is a concern and you don't want to see things like this there.

If you are making your pilgrimage and see something wrong, please notify one of the guards/ soldiers  you see. If you are unable to convey your message to them due to a language barrier, then speak to the front desk worker at your hotel.

Here is a link to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah:      Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj
Twitter Account for Ministry of Hajj and Umrah:     Saudi Arabia Instagram for Hajj & Umrah
Facebook Account for Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Official Facebook Account

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