The Koran and the flesh

by Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed

"The renaissance or reformation of Islam will not happen on its own, we have to act. In my opinion, homosexuality, no matter what people say, is not a choice; and one would have to be crazy to choose to be homosexual when one comes from the socio-cultural background from which I come. Fortunately, here in France, it is no longer an offence. I think that it is the representation that some French Muslims have of their religion, not Islam itself, that poses a problem. It is the human being in all his complexity, his knowledge, his freedom of self-determination, his capacity for empathy, which make him a creator of possibilities, the successor of God on earth according to the teachings of the Koran. I understood that homosexuality as we live it today, at least as the French law allows us to live it, does not go against the principles of an enlightened Islam."

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2023

Reviews

[Pieta Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this, and of course it is a feat in itself to write so personally. There was some beautiful writing, for sure. But the text as a whole felt disjointed and not particularly compelling. Though advertised as a memoir it didnt really feel like one, but it wasn’t an essay or literary work either. It felt a bit like a first draft that could’ve benefitted from a more coherent thread.

[David Cutler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal, elegant and moving account, written with sincerity and an attractive calm. Zaheb reminds us that Islam means peace and states he has found his. All the braver after the recent murder of Muhsin Hendricks, the gay Imam in Cape Town where Zaheb married.

[Quinn Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this memoir to be very informative and allowed me to pause and reflect about the intersection between the author's equally important identities in religion and sexuality. I liked the discussion of family and friendship and how it impacted his own life and experience as well.