In the name of Allāh,
the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Peace and Blessings of Allāh on Mohammad.
DEDICATED TO
Allāh–the Glorious and the High,
Lord of the worlds
AND TO
Mohammad–who brought the world
to our feet and eternity to our arms
*
ISLAM AND CIRCUMCISION
Muslims follow the religion of Abraham–(Qur’an 2:130; 3:94; 16:123); the religion of Abraham (and all prophets) is Islam–(Qur’an 42:13), and this religion requires that males be circumcised–(Genesis 17:7-14; Bokhari. Vol; 7, #779; Vol; 8, #312; Abu Dawud, Vol. 1, #356).
Islam does not require female circumcision; though it seems it was evident in the time of the Prophet. Abu Dawud, Vol. 3, #5251 notes a weak hadith of the Prophet Mohammad (i.e. a hadith lacking the required line of transmission for it to be considered authentic); that states: “Umm ‘Atiyyat al-Ansariyyah said: A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet said to her: Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.”
This hadith seems to convey that female circumcision was not a common practice; perhaps it was a corrective measure as women can suffer from an enlarged clitoris from “either a congenital or a hormonal basis,” which can restrict the flow of urine (much as a man’s enlarged prostate can restrict the flow of urine)–(For details see Ency. Britannica, 15th. Edition, Vol. 15, article, Reproductive System Diseases –Genetic and Congenital Abnormalities– paragraph “In the female,” p.697).
With modern medicine and machinations in our hands there is no more need for female circumcision. Tribal areas are to be given education and aid against FGM.
Notably, Coptic Christians in Egypt and South American Christians are also said to have practiced female circumcision.
Significantly: If circumcision was commonplace in Arabia, it would not have been necessary for “Umm ‘Atiyyat al-Ansariyyah” to tell the Prophet “A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina.” The Prophet would have known. And for certain there would have had to be more than one woman “circumcizer.” And not only in Medina.
-If Islam had require circumcision of women, as one critic tries to project to lure Muslims away from Islam and make Islam distasteful to non-Muslims (though this critic cannot show a religion superior to Islam or prove that atheism is truth), then during the Prophet’s reign, at least, all Muslim women would have been circumcised.
-If Islam had require women be circumcised, Muslim fathers and mothers who desire Jannah would have circumcised their hundreds of millions of daughters worldwide.
In opposition to male circumcision, one quarter argues that since Islam gives “females equality” with man how can Muslim males be tortured by circumcision?
First, circumcision is not “torture” –I know! I was circumcised, and at an age when I was very conscious.
(I am certain children bawl and perhaps bawl louder and longer from just a bruise or from a cut on the hand or foot or elsewhere. So long as the blade is sharp the cut is just a sting; what is more needed is proper care for the healing; and, without doubt, it is easier for a baby, who is not mobile, to heal, and to heal faster. Perhaps now there need not be any sting to circumcision: the penis can be anesthetized before cutting).
Second, as Allāh” gives “females equality” with man, man is required to give woman mahr, maintain her, and pay alimony, would Muslim women who oppose circumcision give man mahr, maintain him and pay him alimony in equality? Allāh also requires man to shave his head (at the Hajj), would Muslim women who oppose circumcision shave their heads in equality?
As Islam accords equality to male and female, and as shown Islam requires the Muslim male be circumcised, will the Muslim women who wrongly oppose male circumcision, will you now in this sphere of equality have your genitals circumcised?
Muslim men and women who oppose circumcision must know they are kindling their Hell-fire with their tongues and/or pens. They need to learn Islam rather than fight to have Islam conform to their dictates.