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What are the rulings of Islamic Sharia concerning one who was born with a male body but is dominated by female hormones and is sexually attracted to those of his biological kind, not out of effeminacy, in matters such as prayer, khalwa (private seclusion), looking, and marriage?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a person possesses male characteristics, he is to be treated as a man. He should pray with men and marry a woman. Seclusion with him must be avoided for fear of temptation (fitna). The feminine inclinations he possesses are a tribulation that requires him to be mindful of Allah and to abstain from prohibited acts. These inclinations may be psychological and amenable to treatment through patience, remembrance of Allah (dhikr), and seeking refuge in Him. Consulting a psychiatrist is also an option. People should help such individuals and refrain from ridiculing them.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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