<![CDATA[This study examines the issue of transgender identities in Indonesian Muslim society as a minority group that often receives discrimination, focusing on the intersection of marginalization, religiosity, and Islamic interpretation. They are perceived as cursed people who are accused of spreading diseases, and frequently encounter discrimination, social exclusion, and negative stigma as part of the social problems. Moreover, Islam, as the religion practiced by the majority of Indonesians, has contributed to the process of discrimination against transgender people. For instance, the Indonesian Ulama Council issued a fatwa on rejecting transgender groups. Hence, this study aims to further explore the lived experiences of transgender people and investigate the possibility of developing a more humanistic reinterpretation of several Qur’anic verses regarding their identities. This study employed a qualitative approach, using in-depth interviews, life-history narratives, and observations conducted at the Pondok Pesantren Waria Al-Fatah in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The elicited data were then examined using cultural analysis. The findings reveal that transgender people encountered multiple challenges throughout their lives, including social exclusion and discrimination. Some were forced to leave their homes in search of refuge, with Yogyakarta being one of their destinations. They actively engage in religious practices and collective Islamic learning as strategies for preserving dignity, spirituality, and social belonging amid persistent marginalization. Furthermore, this study argues for a more humanistic reinterpretation of Qur’anic verses that prioritizes human dignity, compassion, and social justice by acknowledging the presence of transgender people as legitimate moral and social subjects within Muslim communities. This study contributes to contemporary Islamic discourse by offering an alternative framework for inclusive Islamic engagement with gender diversity.]]>
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