Fathwa, -

Question:
I think my brother is gay, and I say this because of the way he talks,
the way he does his hair, the kind of clothes that he wears and the
things that he is interested in. One time I used his USB and saw some
pornography on it, including anal intercourse, and I do not know
whether it was between two men, because I closed it quickly and erased
the file. I asked him about it and he said he did not know where it
came from, but in the end I found more in his room. I also checked his
personal computer and I found out that he visits gay websites in the
country where he is studying. My question is: do I have to advise him
and warn him about the bad consequences of this sin?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
Homosexuality, whether it is among men or women, is one of the most
abhorrent of immoral and evil actions that a person may commit, and is
one of the most shameful deeds in this world and in the hereafter. Ibn
al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning the one who
commits this act that he has committed so great an evil that there is
no hope that he will ever be reformed after that; it takes away all
his good deeds and removes all modesty and shyness, because after that
he will not feel shy before Allah or before His creation.
Indeed, Allah, may He be exalted, destroyed an entire town along with
its people, namely the town of the people of Loot, because of this
immoral action. See the answers to questions no. 10050, 38662and
20068.
What you must do for your brother is tell him of the shame in this
world and in the Hereafter that results from this evil, that it will
ruin his spiritual and worldly interests, and that he will become
insignificant to Allah and to other people if he persists in it. Warn
him of the consequences and the shar'i ruling on the one who does
that.
Then you have to block every means that makes it easy for him to do
this immoral action or that calls him to it. If you can move him from
the place where he is studying, where he began to find out about these
homosexual websites, then you should do so. If he is under your
guardianship and you are responsible for him, then you should prevent
him from doing that by all possible means. You should remember that
you are responsible for him so long as he is under your care and
authority.
In fact, even if this sinner was not your brother or you did not have
any authority over him, your duty would still be to strive by all
possible means to remove this evil that you see and prevent him from
doing it, and to advise him for the sake of Allah and warn him of
Allah's punishment.
Muslim narrated in his Saheeh (70) that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may
Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "Whoever among you
sees an evil action, then let him change it with his hand [by taking
action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if
he cannot, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith."
See also the answers to questions no. 52893and 39357
Secondly:
These signs that you see in your brother's appearance, namely his
clothes and outward appearance, and the way he speaks, are all evil
actions that lead to homosexuality and immorality, even if you do not
know that your brother has committed that action. So how about if he
were to exhibit signs indicating that he has committed that action?
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed
effeminate men and masculinised women and said: "Expel them from your
houses."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5436
Al-Mubaarakfoori (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
That is, men who imitate women in appearance, clothing, using henna,
voice, speech and all their movements. Such actions are prohibited
because it comes under the heading of changing the creation of Allah.
An-Nawawi said:
Effeminate men are of two types. One type is those who were created
like that and are not trying to imitate the attitude of women and the
way they dress, speak and move. For such people, there is no blame,
sin, shame or punishment for them because they are excused.
The second type is those who deliberately imitate women in their
attitude and movements, and imitate the way they speak and dress.
These are the ones who the hadeeth says are cursed. End quote.
We ask Allah to make things easy for you and to set your brother's
affairs straight and help you to discipline him.
And Allah knows best.