Aslam

Praise be to Allah.There

is no doubt that homosexuality and lesbianism are forbidden, as mentioned

in the question, and doing these actions is a major sin which deserves the

wrath of the Lord and His painful punishment. The Lawgiver is wise and

does not forbid anything to people unless it is harmful and damaging to

them in this world and in the Hereafter. As far as merely thinking about

such sins is concerned, a person will not be punished for that, so long as

he does not do it or talk about it, as the Prophet

(peace and

blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah will forgive my Ummah for

whatever crosses their minds, so long as they do not act upon it or speak

about it.

But

thinking a lot about something could lead to a person doing it; at the

very least it distracts a person from thinking about something useful that

he could do. The scholars of Islam used to call for reform of one’s

thinking and striving against bad thoughts, because they may gradually

lead one to disastrous consequences. The “doctor of the hearts” Ibn

al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“Ward

off passing thoughts, for if you do not, they will become ideas. Ward off

ideas, for if you do not, they will become desires. Fight them, for if you

do not, they will become resolve and determination, and if you do not ward

them off, they will become actions. If you do not resist them with their

opposite, they will become habits and it will be difficult for you to get

rid of them.” (Al-Fawaa’id

by Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 33).

The

way to repent is clear: give up the sin immediately; regret what has

happened; resolve never to go back to it; do a lot of good deeds, for they

wipe out bad deeds; keep away from the people with whom you used to commit

this sin and shun them if they do not repent; keep away from bad company

and everything that calls you to this sin. And Allaah will accept the

repentance of those who repent to Him.