Islam, christianity, nor any other world religion mandates any type of fc or fgm. In past posts, weve attempted to clarify issues around female genital mutilation fgm, female circumcision fc, and their perceived relation to religion and culture. Delinking female genital mutilation cutting from islam unfpa. While many people who hear of the term automatically are disgusted and believe the practice is barbaric, there are some cultures and societies where fgm is practiced and even considered a source of honor. Circumcision is a sunnat for males between the ages of 7 to 12 years. Salam really male circumcision is required in islam for making easy cleansing of penis when he has grown up and he has the obligation to perform wudhu and prayer based on the story,allah commanded ibrahim prophet and his son ismael to be circumcised when ibrahim prophet was about 80years old and ismael was years old that is why practically all jews,christians and muslims should. Minaret of freedom institute the mfi pamphlet series, initiated by the minaret of freedom institute aims to make widely available, at a minimal cost, a summary of authentic islamic positions on important issues of the day.
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. 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. The mfi pamphlet series, initiated by the minaret of freedom institute aims to make widely available, at a minimal cost, a summary of authentic islamic positions on important issues of the day. Mutilation of any organ of the body is haraam in shariah.
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. 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 women in society. Sexual desires and female genital mutilation in islamin the name of allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. Women circumcision in islam circumcision is sunnah by the prophet saw, and it is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated from abu hurairoh. In addition, the liwa alislam journal of june 1951 surveyed the opinions of senior muslim. A controversy is raging these days about female circumcision in india among a section of muslims bohras. 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. According to classical muslim jurists, male circumcision involves the cutting of the foreskin, preferably. Islam is a religion that encompasses all aspects of life and circumcision is an act pertaining to the fitrah. Female circumcision is not associated with any one religious group. Anything that compromises this legal necessity by bringing. Female circumcision is a very important health problem affecting about 140 million people all around the world. Many newspapers and magazines are carrying articles on the issue condemning the practice and many have.
In fact, hindu and buddhist beliefs prevailed in southeast asia before islam and the followers of both faiths reject both male and female circumcision. It is the womans right according to islam to be satisfied by her husband and if he doesnt care about her satisfaction he is doing something against islam. 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. Its global annual incidence is believed to be 3 in one million people. Amongst the scholars that regards it as being recommended were syafii, malik, ibn thaimiyyah, and ibn qudamah. Among other violations of the most basic of human rights, female circumcision is still very much alive in islam.
However, evidence suggests that the practice of circumcision entered 2700 years before prophet ibrahim when sumerians and semites moved into what is today, iraq, 4500 to 4000 bc. Circumcision, clipping or shaving the pubes, cutting the nails, plucking or shaving the hair under the armpits and clipping or shaving the moustache. The men have to clean his bud with water everyday, if we dont do cleaning the bud, the salt from the urine will sediments around the bud and will make itching within 3 or 4 days, if we removed the foreskin it wont allow salt sediment around the. Question is female genital mutilation allowed in islam considering the fact that women face various complications such as infections, bleeding and even death. 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. Circumcision the basis and teachings of islam is based on two foundations the quran and hadith, what ever we need to observe or practice has already been stated in the quran with guidelines, and also the hadith which is the sunnah of the prophet peace be upon him.
This work analysis the various arguments put forward by the supporters of female genital mutilation fgm under islamic law to find out whether this practice is islamic or whether it is a customary or cultural tradition or is a matter of personal preference in different parts of the muslim world where it exists. In this paper, we explore the notion of bodily integrity in islam using male circumcision as the focus of the discussion. Apr 27, 2018 theologian opinions about circumcision. Male circumcision is a recommended practice in muslim tradition. Dissecting the claims of legitimization for the ritual of. If circumcision will hinder a person from accepting islam then accepting islam should be given preference over circumcision.
It was depicted in ancient egyptian writings and pictures 5000 years ago. Circumcision simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It is important to ensure that this procedure is performed as safely as possible in these communities. Circumcision for males is waajib compulsory according to imaam abu hanifa.
The encyclopaedia of the quran says the question of whether circumcision is absolutely required of muslims was addressed by classical jurisconsults with. Though circumcision is a practice in christian and jewish communities as well, the practice is widely followed by the islamic communities throughout the world. He states that the arabic for the two circumcision organs is a single word used to connote two forms of circumcision. Although there is no reference to circumcision at all in the quran, there is a wellestablished tradition of male circumcision in islam as a sunnah act.
Biblically, circumcision is a sign of the abrahamic covenant between god and abraham, and was incumbent on him and each of his male descendents lest they be cut off from his people insofar as theyre descended from ishmael, one could argue that arabs especially the prophet himself and his descendants would be accounted as among abrahams offspring and thus still affected by the. Circumcision the basis and teachings of islam is based on two foundations the quran and hadith, what ever we need to observe or practice has already been stated in the quran with guidelines, and also the hadith which is the sunnah of the. 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. Sep 28, 2012 circumcision in islam circumcision for muslims signifies a keeping with the covenant of abraham. The calls which urge the banning of female circumcision are call that go against islam, because there is no clear text in the quraan or sunnah and there is no opinion of the fuqaha that says that female circumcision is haraam. There are some opinions about circumcision for women in islam. In the jewish faith, circumcision is an important tradition because it represents the newly born baby being included in the covenant. Or at least in three of the four branches of sunni islam.
Circumcision has never been about hygiene in islam. The islamic view on female circumcision sciencedirect. In islam the performance of circumcision is one of the rules of cleanliness. Quranicpath circumcision does the quran approve it. Islam protects the rights of women to sexual enjoyment and health and if the act of circumcision by any chance violates these rights it would be considered haram. Female genital mutilation, also referred to as fgm, is one of the biggest problems many women worldwide face. On the other side are ignorant traditionalists who have ascribed to religious belief cultural traditions involving horrific forms of female genital mutilation fgm, which they defend as a form of female circumcision. 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. Male circumcision is one of the most important rites of islam. An analysis of female circumcision according to islamic law. 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. Our aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the muslim perspective and of the differences and similarities between western and islamic ethical structures, in particular, regarding the concept of bodily integrity. Five things including nature fitrah is shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, shaving the mustache, plucking the hair under armpits and clipping the nails. 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.
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. Islam and female genital mutilation female circumcision. Pdf reported male circumcision practices in a muslim. Circumcision is also important within islam because islam claims to be the truth and the continuation of the old and true message of ibrahimabraham. The perceived islamic requirement is a major justification for fgmc in practicing muslim communities such as the somali. In islamic law, preservation of the person the life and bodily soundness of the person is a legal necessity. Following the natural disposition to worship his creator, and keeping with his commands, he circumcised himself as a covenant with god.
It depicts circumcision and it is the earliest physical record of circumcision in the arabian peninsula 3000 years before the era of prophet muhammed c. Muslims are still the largest single religious group to circumcise boys. Because someone is not cirumcided so he cannot convert is an fantasy. 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. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different.
Although there is no reference to circumcision at all in the quran, there is a wellestablished tradition of male circumcision in islam as a sunnah act i. Not a single muslim scholar as far as we know has said that circumcision is not prescribed. It is narrated in an authentic hadith quoted from abu dawood shareef that during the. 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. Narrated by abu dawud from ummu athiyyah, she said that. And as such, it was imposed upon the conquered territories, including iran. It is practiced by muslims, christians, jews and members of indigenous african religions. Obviously the shafiis havent been interpreting islamic law in kellers corrective manner. Iranian human rights activist criticises circumcision. In islam circumcision is also known as tahara, meaning purification circumcision is not.
The rate of circumcision in muslim nations is between 90 and 100 percent. Journal of muslim minority affairs female circumcision among. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of islam. Hygiene was probably an afterthought after muhammad parted ways with the jews. Female khitan genital mutilation or circumcision in islam. The various types of female genital cutting fgc, its geography, and the different reasons it was performed in various societies. Circumcision is sunnah for men and an honorable thing for women. May 08, 2018 islamic scholars in the country have come out strongly to oppose the notion that the religion supports female circumcision. A collection of three brief scholarly treatises on male and female circumcision as viewed in the body of islamic law. There is no need to have functions to celebrate the process of circumcision.
Answer i gather your question pertains to female circumcision. The history of female genital cutting fgc and its types description. It is considered a sign of belonging to the wider muslim community. In islam and judaism, male circumcision is commonly done for religious reasons judaism edit. Male circumcision is widespread in the muslim world, and accepted as an established practice by all islamic schools of jurisprudence. Promoting safer male circumcisions for british muslims diversity. Religious views on female genital mutilation wikipedia. I would first like to begin by informing the reader of thisdocument that the word shariah refers to the directives of thequran and the sunnah of the prophet mohammed p. There is no mandate at all for female circumcision, however. Abstract a collection of three brief scholarly treatises on male and female circumcision as viewed in the body of islamic law. For those not familiar with this term female circumcision is the cutting off of the. It is mustahabb commendable for females to circumcise.
Jan 10, 2018 1 it is to my understanding that circumcision is practiced in islam for mainly hygienic or purity purposes. Apr 25, 2014 2 humans being do not need to do circumcision to be muslim. Male circumcision is among the rites of islam and is part of the in arabic. In the shafii school its obligatory, and in the maliki and hanbali schools its recommended. Muhammad, more than anything else, considered himself the last of the line of the biblical prophets who taught the. There is a disagreement among islamic scholars on the issue of khitan clitoris mutilation for girls. And although islam does not allow sex outside of marriage, it does give importance to it after marriage. According to the mentioned hadith, islam, if at all, permits the most basic kind of circumcision, which is the removal of the genital prepuce similar to the prepuce of a penis 2. Allahs apostle pbuh considered circumcision as fitra of prophets in the following hadith and many other similar ahadith narrated abu huraira. It is known as khitan or khatna which means removal of the foreskin of the genitals after birth. Musnad ahmad from this narration, the scholars of islam understand the. A discussion of the notion that female sunnah circumcision, or type i fgc, has an islamic basis. Jan 11, 2018 the practice, moreover, was introduced into southeast asia at the same time shafii islam was introduced. There are some forms of female circumcision that in islam are absolutely.
Islamic scholars strongly oppose female circumcision youtube. Apparently, amongst the hadith that was used to argue their position are. Female circumcision in islam all parts the religion of islam. Mar 15, 2012 among sunni muslim jurists, there are some differences in religious rulings on male circumcision. The prophet said five things are in accordance with al fitra i. According to islam, gods covenant with abraham was passed on to muhammad, whose mission was to continue the covenant.
It is important to ensure that this procedure is performed as safely as possible. Feb 14, 2012 female circumcision came into vogue to restrict womens sexuality, and today women are demanding its abolition. 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. Fitrah is an arabic term used to represent the innate disposition and natural character and instinct of the human creation. But if circumcision is an obligation in islam is a good question to me. Sexual desires and female genital mutilation in islam. Reported male circumcision practices in a muslimmajority setting.
This article may be used for research, teaching and private. 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. These pamphlets are directed to a general audience, yet present positions. The islamic view on female circumcision article pdf available in african journal of urology 193. In judaism, religious law orders that baby boys be circumcised on the 8th day after their birth.
Islamic law and the issue of male and female circumcision. Islam adopted the circumcision and changed its status into an islamic ritual. Female circumcision in islam all parts the religion of. Also, since none of the prophets wives and other great women in islam did not get this female circumcision or labiplasty done, this automatically proves this point. Further, some 19 th century syncretist muslims in java rejected fgc as well, considering it an arab custom.
This is required even if the 8th day after birth is shabbat saturday. Polygamist cult founders daughter, rachel jeffs, gives her first tv interview megyn kelly today duration. Although female circumcision is not mandated, one tradition. Khitan male circumcision in islam verses, revelation. Led by the deputy chief kadhi rashid ali omar, the scholars said that. Female circumcision is prohibited, regardless of whether it is performed in a hospital or a public or private health clinic. 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. In the abrahamic tradition this act is understood as a fulfillment of a covenant with god, but there are numerous health reasons for the practice. This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims. Fgm the problem of female genital mutilation in islam. 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.