The topic of female circumcission is an issue that has generated a lot of controversy in almost all societies in this generation and is a hot topic among the feminists both men and women. Well, as a muslim, I know it is a procedure that is encouraged to be carried out on female children but there are prescribed ways and limits to what and how it should be done.
Before I had my first baby, I had it in mind to have it done on my baby if I was blessed with a girl, I knew it was not an obligation and that muslim parents can chose to do it or leave it if they don't want it for their daughters. I was careful not to mention it to any of my friends because I was certain they would try to discourage me based on the negative way it has been represented in the media about its dangers and other problems associated with it. I made a little research on my own and found out that the cases that were reported in which the procedure went wrong and led to all the various tragedies which ranged from infection, bleeding to death in the short run or even those that resulted in complications years later when the circumcised girl wants to have her own baby, was caused by the fact that the procedure carried out on them was not female circumcission but genital mutilation and it is totally different because the reason and method is completely different.
Female circumcission had been a practice in the arab world before the time of the prophet (peace be upon him) and when guidance of islam came unto the Arabs, they still continued with the practice. However, there is a report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) told a particular woman whose profession was to circumcise baby girls to make the cut as little as possible and not overdo it because that would put a light on her face and would be pleasing to her husband. Whereas the other procedure which is mutilation is the pharaonic circumcission in which a lot more of the female part is cut and then she is stitched up and just a small opening is left for the monthly period to pass through when the girl reaches puberty.
Eventually, I was blessed with a boy so the issue of finding a place to circumcise a baby girl did not arise as it is not openly done in the government hospitals in saudi Arabia. Well, when my son was exactly 2 weeks old, there was a not too nice occurrence that made me promise myself that I will never circumcise my baby girl if I ever have one...
*to be continued.
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15 years ago
Salaam,
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, what in the world makes you believe female circumcision is "encouraged" by Islam? It's encouraged by some African cultures, but is essentially unknown by most Muslims.
It's a silly bit of culture, not worth the trouble it causes, and I'd advise you to be very certain and to choose your words carefully before you state that Islam "encourages" a practice.
Islam doesn't encourage this cultural barbaric practice, you are ignorant lady
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the wisdom behind the circumcision of women, it is to regulate their desire so it will be moderate.
ReplyDeleteShaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about whether women should be circumcised or not. He replied:
Praise be to Allaah. Yes, they should be circumcised, i.e., the top of the piece of skin that looks like a rooster’s comb should be cut. The Messenger of Allaah (S) said to the woman who did circumcisions: “Leave something sticking out and do not go to extremes in cutting. That makes her face look brighter and is more pleasing to her husband.” That is because the purpose of circumcising a man is to make him clean from the impurity that may collect beneath the foreskin. But the purpose of circumcising women is to regulate their desire, because if a woman is not circumcised her desire will be strong. Hence the words “O son of an uncircumcised woman” are used as an insult, because the uncircumcised woman has stronger desire. Hence immoral actions are more common among the women of the Tatars and the Franks, that are not found among the Muslim women. If the circumcision is too severe, the desire is weakened altogether, which is unpleasing for men; but if it is cut without going to extremes in that, the purpose will be achieved, which is moderating desire. And Allaah knows best.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 21/114
Ruling on female circumcision
ReplyDeleteIs female circumcision sunnah or a bad practice? I read in a magazine that female circumcision in any form is a bad practice that is harmful from a medical point of view, and that it may sometimes lead to sterility. Is this correct?
Praise be to Allaah.
Circumcising females is sunnah; it is neither a bad practice or harmful, if it is done within moderation. When extreme forms of female circumcision are carried out, harm may result.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/120 -
Circumcision for women is not obligatory
I would like to know more about female circumcision in Islam. I have read the ahadith where the Prophet told a woman how to perform it. I would like to know if it is optional or obligatory, and - if it is obligatory - whether there is a certain way to do it (what part should be cut?).
Praise be to Allah.
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).
The scholars’ opinions cited above should be sufficient explanation. And Allah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Circumcision is one of the Sunnahs of the fitrah, and it is for both males and females, except that is it obligatory for males and Sunnah and good in the case of women. End quote
ReplyDeleteThus it is clear that the fuqaha’ of Islam are agreed that circumcision is prescribed for both males and females, and in fact the majority of them are of the view that it is obligatory for both. No one said that it is not prescribed or that it is makrooh or haraam.
Secondly:
With regard to the criticism of circumcision by some doctors, and their claim that it is harmful both physically and psychologically,
This criticism of theirs is not valid. It is sufficient for us Muslims that something be proven to be from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then we will follow it, and we are certain that it is beneficial and not harmful. If it were harmful, Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not have prescribed it for us.
In the answer to question no. 45528 we have mentioned some of the medical benefits of circumcision for women, quoting from some doctors.
Thirdly:
We would add here the fatwas of some modern scholars who have responded to this war that has been launched against female circumcision on the grounds that it is harmful to health.
Shaykh Jaad al-Haqq ‘Ali Jaad al-Haqq, the former Shaykh of al-Azhar, said:
Hence the fuqaha’ of all madhhabs are agreed that circumcision for both men and woman is part of the fitrah of Islam and one of the symbols of the faith, and it is something praiseworthy. There is no report from any of the Muslim fuqaha’, according to what we have studied in their books that are available to us, to say that circumcision is forbidden for men or women, or that it is not permissible, or that it is harmful for females, if it is done in the manner that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught to Umm Habeebah in the report quoted above.
Then he said:
From the above it is clear that the circumcision of girls – which is the topic under discussion here – is part of the fitrah of Islam, and the way it is to be done is the method that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained. It is not right to abandon his teachings for the view of anyone else, even if that is a doctor, because medicine is knowledge and knowledge is always developing and changing. End quote.
In the fatwa of Shaykh ‘Atiyah Saqar – the former heard of the Fatwa Committee in al-Azhar – it says:
ReplyDeleteThe calls which urge the banning of female circumcision are call that go against Islam, because there is no clear text in the Qur’aan or Sunnah and there is no opinion of the fuqaha’ that says that female circumcision is haraam. Female circumcision is either obligatory or recommended. Even though there is a fiqhi principle which says that the decree of a ruler may put an end to a dispute regarding controversial matters, the decree of the ruler in this case cannot be but either of two things: that it is either obligatory or recommended, and it is not correct to issue a decree banning it, so as not to go against sharee’ah which is the principal source of legislation in our land, whose constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the country. It is permissible to issue some legislation that provides guidelines for performing this procedure (female circumcision) in the proper manner in such a way that does not contradict the rulings of sharee’ah.
The words of the doctors and others are not definitive. Scientific discoveries are still opening doors every day which change our old perceptions. End quote.
In the fatwa of Dar al-Ifta’ al-Misriyyah (6/1986) it says:
Thus it is clear that female circumcision is prescribed in Islam, and that it is one of the Sunnahs of the fitrah and it has a good effect of moderating the individual’s behaviour. As for the opinions of doctors who say that female circumcision is harmful, these are individual opinions which are not derived from any agreed scientific basis, and they do not form an established scientific opinion. They acknowledge that the rates of cancer among circumcised men are lower than among those who are not circumcised, and some of these doctors clearly recommend that circumcision should be done by doctors and not these ignorant women, so that the operation will be safe and there will be no negative consequences. However, medical theories about disease and the way to treat it are not fixed, rather they change with time and with ongoing research. So it is not correct to rely on them when criticizing circumcision which the Wise and All-Knowing Lawgiver has decreed in His wisdom for mankind. Experience has taught us that the wisdom behind some rulings and Sunnahs may be hidden from us. May Allaah help us all to follow the right path. End quote.
Islam Q&A
Islam QA is a sick, deviant site and I recommend you find more reliable sources. Infibulation, the removal of ALL female external genitalia, with the vaginal opening sewn shut, leaving only a tiny hole for urine and menses, is TORTURE and anyone who claims our beloved Prophet endorsed such an act is in need of guidance.
ReplyDeleteWhat was ALLOWED by the Prophet (asws)and mind you, ALLOWED is very different to ENCOURAGED, was a small, purely ceremonial cut, NOT the removal of the clitoris. The removal of all or part of the clitoris deprives women of ALL sexual pleasure and sexual pleasure is the RIGHT of every Muslim woman, thus, performing an act that deprives her of this fundamental Islamic right is HARAAM.
You quoted that circumcision is recommended by self-proclaimed, woman-hating scholars to "regulate behavior." Yes, removing the clitoris "regulates" female behavior by making women hate and fear sex.
A small cut on the clitoris is ALLOWED, not ENCOURAGED, in much the same way divorce is ALLOWED, but not encouraged.
I understand you're a convert and think you have to prove your piety and commitment to Islam to all other Muslims, especially in Saudia, but your desire to fit in and prove how holy you are should not extend to a willingness to torture your own children. Inshaallah, your husband does not need to prove his piety by behaving like a barbarian and will deter you from such abuses.
May ALLAH guide you and protect your female children from your attempts to harm them and deprive them of the rights Allah swt bestowed upon them.
The clitoris doesn't regulate sexual desire--the brain does. so circumcised women still feel desire sexually; they can just never, ever experience the fulfillment of it. And it is indeed one of the rights of Muslim women to have their desires fulfilled. Thus, this cutting away part or all of the clitoris is cruel and unIslamic.
ReplyDeleteAllah yihdikhi
@Ayah, can you please educate me on why islam-qa is a sick deviant site? May Allah reward you.
ReplyDeleteThe Prophet did not circumcise his daughters
ReplyDeletePS
ReplyDeleteSheikh Tantawi and al-Qaradawi have both said that female circumcision is un-Islamic. Do you know better than them?
And since you DON'T know Arabic, listen to people who do.
ReplyDeleteImam Shams-ul-haq Azeemabadi asserts that, "[t]he Hadith of female circumcision has been reported through so many ways all of which are weak, blemished and defective, and thus it is unacceptable to prove a legal ruling through such ways."[61] While some scholars reject ahadith that refer to FGC on grounds of inauthenticity, other scholars argue that authenticity alone does not confer legitimacy. One of the sayings used to support FGC practices is the hadith (349) in Sahih Muslim: Aishah narrated an authentic Hadith that the Prophet said: "When a man sits between the four parts (arms and legs of his wife) and the two circumcised parts meet, then ghusl is obligatory." Dr. Muhammad Salim al-Awwa, Secretary General of the World Union of the Muslim Ulemas states that while the hadith is authentic, it is not evidence of legitimacy. He states that the Arabic for "the two circumcision organs" is a single word used to connote two forms; however the plural term for one of the forms is used to denote not two of the same form, but two different forms characterized as a singular of the more prominent form. For example, in Arabic, the word with the female gender can be chosen to make the dual form, such as in the expression "the two Marwas", referring to the two hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa (not "two of the same hills, each called Al-Marwa") in Mecca.[63] He goes on to state that, while the female form is used to denote both male and female genitalia, it is identified with the prominent aspect of the two forms, which, in this case, is only the male circumcised organ. He further states that the connotation of circumcision is not transitive. Dr. al-Awwa concludes that the hadith is specious because "such an argument can be refuted by the fact that in Arabic language, two things or persons may be given one quality or name that belongs only to one of them for an effective cause." [61] [e.g. the usage in "Qur'an in Surah Al-Furqan(25):53", "bahrayn" is the dual form of "bahr" (sea) meaning "sea (salty and bitter) and river (sweet and thirst-allaying)", and not "two seas".]
Ayah said...
ReplyDelete"The Prophet did not circumcise his daughterS"
kindly provide evidence, JazakAllah khair.
"PS said...
ReplyDeletePS
Sheikh Tantawi and al-Qaradawi have both said that female circumcision is un-Islamic. Do you know better than them?"
Oops! I expect your question would be does shaykul Islam ibn taymiyya and ibn qudama and Shaykh Jaad al-Haqq ‘Ali Jaad al-Haqq, the former Shaykh of al-Azhar and Shaykh ‘Atiyah Saqar – the former heard of the Fatwa Committee in al-Azha- All of whom were mentioned in my quotes above knows more than "them" not do "I" know more than them?
And please I prefer not to rely on fatwas from alqaradawi because of what other notable sheikhs have said about his views and what he considers halaal and haraam. You may check these if you want,
http://www.sahihalbukhari.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=NDV16&articleID=NDV160001&articlePages=1
http://www.sahihalbukhari.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=NDV16&articleID=NDV160002&articlePages=1
http://www.sahihalbukhari.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=NDV16&articleID=NDV160003&articlePages=1
http://www.sahihalbukhari.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=NDV16&articleID=NDV160004&articlePages=1
It is up to you whose opinion you wish to follow. and may Allah guide all of us aright.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete*Way to avoid every point I made.
ReplyDelete*Dislike Qaradawi if you want, makes no difference to me. All but the most ignorant woman-hating sheyoukh have agreed that this practice is *not* encouraged. So even by discarding his opinion, you can't avoid the consensus of scholars.
*Ask *any* scholar; our Prophet's grandsons were circumcised, but he never allowed for his female kin. I don't believe that you didn't know this, rather, you don't want to address what I actually said, so chose to ask a nonsensical question.
*Both ahadith you cited are classified *weak*
(When you can read Arabic yourself and *understand* the fatawa and ahadith you're referring to, then we can have a conversation)
*If you think it's ok to rob a woman of the sexual pleasure that Allah swt has designated her right, please cut off your own clitoris first, then see if you still agree.
*And of course, by practicing FGM, you are only imitating the Christians, as the Copts and other African Christians are also ardent practitioners of this vile, un-Islamic practice.
@Ayah, I don't know your source for saying which hadith is weak or sahih, but the one below was classed as sahih by sheikh albany.
ReplyDelete"Anas RA reported that the Prophet SAW said to a woman in al-madinah who circumised women:
'When you trim (the skin surrounding the clitoris) do it slightly and not excessively. This would bring beauty to a woman's face and please her husband'
Recorded by al-Hakim, at-Tabarani (in al-aswat) verified to be authentic by al-albani (as-sahihahno.722).
I did not say I dislike Qaradawi, try to be calm when reading, and responding to what others write, insha Allah.
I did not say that the prophet circumcised his daughters, because I have not read anywhere that he did, or did not, maybe you have some daleel that he did not to share, insha Allah.
There is a difference between FGM and female circumcision done the way described in the hadith above. It does not rob a woman of her sexual pleasure if done the correct way because the clitoris is not cut off, in fact, YOU DO NOT remove the clitoris or even touch it! All they are SUPPOSED to do is remove a small amount of flesh above the hood, this actually exposes the clitoris hence it makes the woman feel more during intimacy.
If indeed the hadith above is authentic, it means the practice was known and accepted then, it does not make it obligatory. I know many people who accept that it is one of the ways of Islam but chose not to have it done on their daughters. However, they would not say it is an un-Islamic practice and refer to those who do it as barbarians as you do. And as for your calling scholars ignorant people who hate women, Allahu mustahaan.
Alas, you still refuse to address *anything* I said.
ReplyDeleteYou contradict yourself: Is this "circumcision" to "reduce the desire" as you said first, or to "enhance the pleasure" as you claim now? Can't have both.
Abu Dawood, says in commenting on the hadith you use: "It is reported in its general sense on the authority of Ubaidellah ibn Amr ibn Abd al-Malik.lts chain of transmitters is not strong. Besides, it is reported not as a direct quote attributed to the Prophet (pbuh)This hadith is poor in authenticity" (AbuDawood's sunan, XIII, 125-26).
Abu Dawood and Al-Iraqi have classified the FGM ahadith "daif": "It is better to pay no attention to later scholars who sought to classify it as authentic".
It is indeed an un-Islamic practice because a)the ahadith that some people use to try to justify it are daif b)it is a practice of the Christians and c)it comes under the heading of mutilation of the body, which is not allowed in Islam
As for me calling *some* scholars ignorant--what of it? Scholars are human and prone to error, even stupidity, no matter how much converts and the Saudi government want to worship them. And yes, the long-refuted Albani and his ilk were and are woman haters Allahu musta'an indeed. And may he save all Muslims from taqlid.
Allahm3aik and may Allah swt cure you of your convert-itis.