The islamic view on female circumcision sciencedirect. Apr 25, 2014 2 humans being do not need to do circumcision to be muslim. Apr 22, 2007 although circumcision of males is an act regarded as commendable in islam, the scholars have differed in regards to females. According to classical muslim jurists, male circumcision involves the cutting of the foreskin, preferably. In islam circumcision is also known as tahara, meaning purification circumcision is not. The islamic view on female circumcision article pdf available in african journal of urology 193. But if circumcision is an obligation in islam is a good question to me. The approach to male circumcision in islam is somewhat different.
Male circumcision is widespread in the muslim world, and accepted as an established practice by all islamic schools of jurisprudence. Obviously the shafiis havent been interpreting islamic law in kellers corrective manner. Fitrah is an arabic term used to represent the innate disposition and natural character and instinct of the human creation. Caliph of islam ordering that some women who had converted to islam be circumcised.
One of the difficult things for westerners to understand about islam is the muslim view of women, marriage,zawaj, polygamy, female circumcision, and the permissible age for marriage. Female circumcision is prohibited, regardless of whether it is performed in a hospital or a public or private health clinic. Western observers are unable to understand why women would want to practice clitoridectomy, just as they are perplexed at the vocal, if mostly inarticulate, rejection by many muslims of the cairo conference. Circumcision is also important within islam because islam claims to be the truth and the continuation of the old and true message of ibrahimabraham. Reference to the non authenticity of hadith on female circumcision, pp.
Only in the hanafi school is there considerable ambiguity, where some jurists hold that female circumcision is preferred, and others resist a religious prescription and. Many newspapers and magazines are carrying articles on. Not a single muslim scholar as far as we know has said that circumcision is not prescribed. Allahs apostle pbuh considered circumcision as fitra of prophets in the following hadith and many other similar ahadith narrated abu huraira. Male circumcision male circumcision is practiced by all muslims and jews and also by some christians 100% in egypt, 60% in the usa. A woman belonging to the community has sent a petition demanding a firman banning the practice and is also preparing a petition to be filed in the supreme court to get a ban order. A discussion of the notion that female sunnah circumcision, or type i fgc, has an islamic basis.
Noting the lack of doubt that male circumcision is a legitimate practice, the papers largely address common misunderstandings about the islamic ruling in the case of daughters. Five things including nature fitrah is shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, shaving the mustache, plucking the hair under armpits and clipping the nails. It is prohibited by law in most westen countries since it is a horrendous and cruel procedure that women are forced so suffer in many countries, particularly in north east africa. Following the natural disposition to worship his creator, and keeping with his commands, he circumcised himself as a covenant with god.
Lately, some have even stated its impermissibility. There are some opinions about circumcision for women in islam. It is considered a sign of belonging to the wider muslim community. In judaism, religious law orders that baby boys be circumcised on the 8th day after their birth. May 08, 2018 islamic scholars in the country have come out strongly to oppose the notion that the religion supports female circumcision.
Because someone is not cirumcided so he cannot convert is an fantasy. Nov 21, 2016 i recently got into a discussion with a friend who commented on my piece about islam and the discourse around it. The rate of circumcision in muslim nations is between 90 and 100 percent. All these opinions are based upon a number of prophetic narrations. Mutilation of any organ of the body is haraam in shariah. Since circumcision is a surgical procedure for which islamic law does not provide a rule making it obligatory, it should basically not be carried out except with the aim of medical treatment. Such observance can only be for something which is obligatory. It is important to ensure that this procedure is performed as safely as possible in these communities. Penile circumcision of boys is not compulsory in islam, but it is a highly recommended tradit. Male penile circumcision involves surgical removal of some, or all, of the foreskin from the penis. In addition, the liwa alislam journal of june 1951 surveyed the opinions of senior muslim.
In islamic law, preservation of the person the life and. Christianity faith condemns fgm as a harmful and inhuman practice and the human body is viewed as sacrosanct 33. Muslims are still the largest single religious group to circumcise boys. It is one of the three procedures of the regular jewish circumcision process. If circumcision will hinder a person from accepting islam then accepting islam should be given preference over circumcision. Islam adopted the circumcision and changed its status into an islamic ritual. There is a widespread view among practitioners of female genital mutilation fgm that it is a religious requirement, although prevalence rates often vary according to geography and ethnic group. The history of female genital cutting fgc and its types description. The encyclopaedia of the quran says the question of whether circumcision is absolutely required of muslims was addressed by classical. Promoting safer male circumcisions for british muslims diversity. By published on nov 2006 last modified on 19 nov 2006. It is mustahabb commendable for females to circumcise.
In islam the performance of circumcision is one of the rules of cleanliness. Department of health and human services, eldamanhoury explained that fgm is also performed in christian communities, e. Women circumcision in islam circumcision is sunnah by the prophet saw, and it is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated from abu hurairoh. As the demand for democracy and individual rights spreads from the developed world to the middle east and asia, more people are taking up the cry that bodily integrity an entitlement implied in the universal declaration of human rights applies to all parts of the body. Circumcision is a sunnat for males between the ages of 7 to 12 years. Reported male circumcision practices in a muslimmajority setting. Jan 11, 2018 the practice, moreover, was introduced into southeast asia at the same time shafii islam was introduced. The scholars of islam who state that circumcision is a commendable act mainly do so due to a hadeeth in which the prophet, may the mercy and blessings of god be upon him, said. Although circumcision of males is an act regarded as commendable in islam, the scholars have differed in regards to females. A common phenomenon which has been regretfully associated almost exclusively with islam is the various forms of female genital cutting, or fgc 1 although many of those who are involved in this act attribute to the religion of islam, the majority of the forms of fgc present in the world today which are acts truly abominable, acts of which the religion of islam is innocent. Ali gomaa has issued a fatwa with respect to female circumcision in the name of god the all merciful. A 2011 united nations report states that over 4,100 religious leaders have taught followers that fgm is not sanctioned by islam, and nearly 1,000 religious edicts called on muslims to end cutting.
Jan 10, 2018 1 it is to my understanding that circumcision is practiced in islam for mainly hygienic or purity purposes. This is required even if the 8th day after birth is shabbat saturday. Feb 14, 2012 female circumcision came into vogue to restrict womens sexuality, and today women are demanding its abolition. A controversy is raging these days about female circumcision in india among a section of muslims bohras. Jun 19, 2018 male circumcision, also known as tahara meaning purification and cleanliness is not mentioned in the quran but it is highlighted in the sunnah which is the prophet muhammads pbuh recorded words and actions. And as such, it was imposed upon the conquered territories, including iran. Circumcision is not an inherited custom as some people claim, rather it is prescribed in islam and the scholars are unanimously agreed that it is prescribed. By shahid aziz president ahamdiyya association for the propagation of islam ntroduction female circumcision is known in the west as fgm, which stands for female genital mutilation. Islamic law and the issue of male and female circumcision. Pdf reported male circumcision practices in a muslim. I recently got into a discussion with a friend who commented on my piece about islam and the discourse around it he affirmed reza aslans statement of.
There is no need to have functions to celebrate the process of circumcision. It should also be noted that islam does not, in any way, seek to restrict either male or female sexuality but only to ban illegitimate sex outside the marital bond and gives right to woman to seek divorce from an impotent husband if. The prophet said five things are in accordance with al fitra i. Delinking female genital mutilationcutting from islam.
Once more, there are no different styles of circumcision in judaism. It is an ancient practice where parts of a girls genitalia are removed to eliminate sexual desire and pleasure in a woman. Sheikh ali gomaas fatwa against female circumcision. The various types of female genital cutting fgc, its geography, and the different reasons it was performed in various societies.
Reported male circumcision practices in a muslimmajority. Islamic scholars strongly oppose female circumcision youtube. Female genital mutilation is it an islamic problem. Circumcision for males is waajib compulsory according to imaam abu hanifa. Or at least in three of the four branches of sunni islam. They further noted female circumcision was absent in the regions not yet i. Religious views on female genital mutilation wikipedia. Male circumcision, also known as tahara meaning purification and cleanliness is not mentioned in the quran but it is highlighted in the sunnah which is the prophet muhammads pbuh recorded words and actions.
In the jewish faith, circumcision is an important tradition because it represents the newly born baby being. All these opinions are based upon a number of prophetic narrations hadeeths relating to this subject. Islam and female genital mutilation female circumcision. In publishing these treatises, the who regional office for the eastern mediterranean aims to issue an authoritative and conclusive statement about the practice of female circumcision in islamic countries. However, less skin is removed in a jewish circumcision than in those performed in hospitals. It is narrated in an authentic hadith quoted from abu dawood shareef that during the. Female genital mutilation or cutting fgmc means piercing, cutting, removing, or sewing closed all or part of a girls or womans external genitals for no medical reason. With regard to the type of female circumcision which involves removal of the prepuce of the clitoris, which is similar to male circumcision, no harmful health effects have been noted. An analysis of female circumcision according to islamic law. The history, the current prevalence and the approach to a patient jewel llamas april 2017 introduction female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in many countries spanning parts of africa, the middle east and southeast asia. The other tradition tells us that the prophets wife ayisha had her nieces circumcised, suggesting that she believed it to be obligatory or at any rate prescribed. Circumcision simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Apr 27, 2018 theologian opinions about circumcision. Islamic law on female circumcision answering islam.
Researchers estimate more than 5,000 girls and women in the u. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of islam. Female genital mutilation fgm, sometimes referred to as female circumcision or female genital cutting, is a harmful cultural practice without any known health benefit. Answer i gather your question pertains to female circumcision.
In the shafii school its obligatory, and in the maliki and hanbali schools its recommended. There are some forms of female circumcision that in islam are absolutely. According to islam, gods covenant with abraham was passed on to muhammad, whose mission was to continue the covenant. Islamic scholars in the country have come out strongly to oppose the notion that the religion supports female circumcision. There is a lot of controversy on the issue of female circumcision or female genital mutilation fgm. Khitan male circumcision in islam verses, revelation. Circumcision is sunnah for men and an honorable thing for women. Female circumcision the hidden truth muslims in calgary.
Circumcision for muslims signifies a keeping with the covenant of abraham. Female circumcision is an established practice in islam, says sunni yuvajana sangham, sys a feeder organization of the samastha kerala jamiyyathul ulema. Led by the deputy chief kadhi rashid ali omar, the scholars said that. Question is female genital mutilation allowed in islam considering the fact that women face various complications such as infections, bleeding and even death. Periah is not a different type of jewish circumcision style. Female circumcision, apart from some cases in southern areas and kurdistan, is not practised in iran, but the shiite sect considers male circumcision obligatory and tends to lean the extreme. Musnad ahmad from this narration, the scholars of islam understand the. Jul 31, 2014 women circumcision in islam circumcision is sunnah by the prophet saw, and it is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated from abu hurairoh. Female genital mutilation is not an islamic problem, its a central african problem, by linking to this politifacts research piece which rated aslans statement as mostly true. Male circumcision is among the rites of islam and is part of the in arabic. He states that the arabic for the two circumcision organs is a single word used to connote two forms of circumcision. Some scholars have regarded the act as commendable, while others regard it as merely permissible. About twothirds of urban respondents have heard of female circumcision, compared with less than half of women in rural areas 69 versus 45 percent. Early arabic literature also testifies to the fact that female circumcision was thought to.
Delinking female genital mutilation cutting from islam unfpa. Iranian human rights activist criticises circumcision. It is best to circumcise at an early age, even during aqeeqa 7th day as the child heals very quickly and does not suffer much. It is one of the most common procedures in the world.
The international conference of scholars concerning a ban on abuse of the female body was held on 1st and 2nd du alqidah 1427 of the hijri, corresponding to the 22nd and 23rd november 2006, in the conference facilities at alazhar. Circumcision, for them, was a special occasion, and it called for a special banquet. Male circumcision is a recommended practice in muslim tradition. While the female form is used to denote both male and female genitalia, it should be considered to refer only to the male circumcised organ. Islam is a religion that encompasses all aspects of life and circumcision is an act pertaining to the fitrah. There is an ongoing debate about the extent to which the practices continuation is influenced by custom, social pressure, lack of healthcare information, and the position of. According to classical muslim jurists, male circumcision involves.
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