female circumcision [Moderator Edited]

This is undoubtably a very contenious topic.  I would suggest anyone considering such a thing as female circumcision, more appropriately called female genital mutilation, really do some homework.

There are tons of opinions on the web, but I would suggest sticking to the opinions of learned scholars of Islam to find the Islamic viewpoint.  It would seem, on reading many fatwas about it, that even the scholars are divided on their opinion about it.  Here are a few examples:

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hF atwaID=87230

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hF atwaID=79655

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/english/FatwaDisplay.asp?hF atwaID=31397

You can find almost as many opinions on circumcision as there are Muslims!!!  The thing is, I think we have to use our knowledge and REASON to come to any conclusion for ourselve on this topic.

As Muslims, we are not supposed to get tattoos, cut our teeth, have unnecessary plastic surgery or even pluck our eyebrows.  Muslims use the following Qur'anic verse to justify not altering one's physical features as Allah created them:

4:118-1:20 Allah did curse him (Satan), but he said: 'I will take of Thy servants a portion marked off;'  'I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah.'  Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes Satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.  Satan makes them promises, and creates in them false desires; but Satan's promises are nothing but deception.

It seems, to my reasoning mind, after reading much on this subject in the past, that it is one of those things we must consider on its merits.  I do not personally believe that a merciful and loving Allah would not allow me to pluck my eyebrows but would expect me to have my genitals mutilated!  This makes no sense at all.  I would not take the word of one who seems happy with her mutilation as justification to do so myself.  I happen to enjoy the Allah given pleasure that my genitals allow me in the form they were shaped by Allah.

I am sure there are many different opinions out there, this is only mine.  I urge anyone out there to seek knowledge from reliable sources.

Peace, ummziba

Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said, in his book al-Mughni: "Circumcision is obligatory for men, and it is an honour for women, but it is not obligatory for them. This is the opinion of many scholars. (Imam) Ahmad said: For men it is more strictly required, but for women it is less strictly required." (al-Mughni 1/70).

Circumcision of the female consists of the removal of a part of the clitoris, which is situated above the opening of the urethra. The Sunnah is not to remove all of it, but only a part. (al-Mawsu�ah al-Fiqhiyyah 19/28).

In this matter, it is wise to follow the interests of the female: if the clitoris is large, then part of it should be removed, otherwise it should be left alone. This size of the clitoris will vary from woman to woman, and there may be differences between those from hot climates and those from cold climates.

A hadith on the topic of female circumcision has been attributed to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him), according to which he said: "Circumcision is a Sunnah for men, and an honour for women," but there is some debate as to the authenticity of this hadith. See Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Da�ifah by al-Albani, no. 1935.

How circumcision is to be performed is mentioned in the hadith narrated by Umm �Atiyah, may Allah be pleased with her, according to which a woman used to perform circumcisions in Madinah. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him) told her: "Do not abuse (i.e. do not go to extremes in circumcising); that is better for the woman and more liked by her husband." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Kitab al-Adab; he said this hadith is da�if).

Female circumcision    
Answered by Sister Shazia Ahmad   

I have a question regarding circumcision according to the Shafi'i school. My understanding is, based on what I have read in the Reliance, that circumcision is obligatory for both men and women. I am clear on what circumcision entails for boys, but what about girls?

I came across an anti-Islamic site whose sole intent is to malign, denigrate, and demonize Islam and on their site, which is called answering-islam.org, they claim that Sheikh Keller's translation of the passage regarding female circumcision is deceptive and incorrect, claiming that the original Arabic calls for the removal of the female�s clitoris, whereas Sheikh Keller's translation, only calls for a removal of a bit of skin from it.

What is the correct meaning? I also ask this question because my wife is pregnant, and in sha Allah, we may have a girl and I want to know that if this procedure is obligatory, how exactly it is done so that my daughter is not harmed.

Female circumcision is it itself obligatory in the Shafi`i school, and Shaykh Nuh Keller�s translation in the Reliance of the Traveler is accurate and defines the meaning well.

It does not call for the removal of the clitoris (badhr), but rather a slight trimming of it (khafad) to increase sexual pleasure. If the removal of the clitoris was intended, the word badhr would have been used alone. See the following link:

Female circumcision

(see next Q&A)

Since the correct practice has become so lost, and has deviated in many cultures to gross mutilation, many opt to take the Hanbali or Hanafi dispensation, because the former considers it a sunna while the latter considers it a courtesy to the husband. [And living Shafi`i scholars in many lands mention that given that the correct practice has become an almost-lost art, the ruling within the school of the prevalent forms of circumcision would be impermissibility - ed.]

And Allah knows best.

Shazia.

Bismillah,

The supporters of this are ethnocentrically bound to their culture's influence on their Islaam.  Many of the statements the supporters have posted here are not well thought out. (What would the woman do if the man who raped her were circumsised?!?)  The woman who says she still enjoys being with her husband but is freed from unwanted sexual thoughts, and the experience is made more spiritual? A confused picture is given by this. The operation was physically very painful, but you would do it again because it was also spiritual?  That is not within Islaamic thought to enjoy pain! That is masochism. Have your heard of the people who pierce their back with a large hook and hang themselves up like meat?  They speak of this euphoric experience you do also.  And neither one of the descriptions of pain ectasy sounds like an action in any way encouraged in our faith. 

(If you have a problem with too many sexual thoughts, prayer and fasting are some Islaamic suggestions.) 

Islaamic circumsion is not intended to kill sexuality.  If Allah, SWT, wanted us to be asexual, Allah, SWT, would have created us that way. 

 Muslims have been much more open in discussions of sexuality than any church meeting I have ever attended.  It is an issue to be discussed based on need for knowledge, and it is.  The Christian tradition for years was that the subject of sexuality was not a religious one, and to be avoided. 

If you want to be bound to cultural practices in this way, it is up to you.  I have my own ethnocetrisms that I just have to keep also. AlHamdulilah, mine hurt a whole lot less than yours.