Alsiraj Official Website
Womens' Rights in Islam
Female Circumcision in Islam
While the exact origin of female circumcision is not known, "it preceded Christianity and Islam." [Stewart, Rosemary, "Female Circumcision: Implicaitons for North American Nurses, " in Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, vol. 35, no.4, 1997, p. 35.]. The most radical form of female circumcision (infibulation) is known as the Pharaonic Procedure. This may signify that it may have been practiced long before the rise of Islam, Christianity and possibly Judaism. It is not clear, however, whether this practice originated in Egypt or in some other African countries then spread to Egypt. [Scientific truth about female circumcision – Family planning association (Haqa'iq Ilmiyya Hawla Khitan Al-Inaath (in Arabic), Jam'iyyat Tanzeem Al-Usrah), Cairo, 1983, p.7]
It is common knowledge that in some countries like Egypt, female circumcision has been practiced by both Muslims and Christians. [Ibid, p. 8.] In the meantime, this practice is not known in most Muslim countries including Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. [Ibid, p. 8]
This leads to the conclusion that female circumcision is connected with cultural practices rather than with Islam itself as a world religion. It was made clear in the introduction of this study that some cultural practices, whether by Muslims alone or Muslims and others (such as the case with female circumcision), are not part of Islam and in some instances may violate its teachings as embodied in its primary sources, Qur'an and Hadeeth. (http://www.jannah.org/genderequity/equityappendix.html)
It is important to mention that no mention of female circumcision is to be found in the Qur'an either directly or indirectly. It is however mentioned that some of the Prophet's hadiths – even though such hadiths are not confirmed to be authentic.
The eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states: However, the most moderate opinion and the most likely one to be correct is in favor of practicing circumcision in the moderate Islamic way indicated in some of the Prophet's hadiths – even though such hadiths are not confirmed to be authentic. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to a midwife: "Reduce the size of the clitoris but do not exceed the limit, for that is better for her health and is preferred by husbands". The hadith indicates that circumcision is better for a woman's health and it enhances her conjugal relation with her husband. It’s noteworthy that the Prophet's saying "do not exceed the limit" means do not totally remove the clitoris. (https://archive.islamonline.net/?p=815)
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him did not do any circumcision to any of his daughters. He stated the above hadith "Reduce the size of the clitoris but do not exceed the limit, for that is better for her health and is preferred by husbands" to a woman called Umm Atia who was a midwife and asked the Prophet about circumcision. So the sunnah is not to use circumcision however it can be used in case it is required but on condition that the removed part is so small that does not affect the woman’s sexual desires.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, issues the following Fatwa: (https://archive.islamonline.net/?p=5827)
"While one finds a number of traditions from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, which clearly indicates that he ordered pagan males who converted to undergo circumcision, it is not stated anywhere that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered any woman who entered Islam to undergo this practice.
Because there is no absolute proof from the sources of Islam prescribing female circumcision, the vast majority of scholars do not include it in the OBLIGATORY rituals of Islam.
It is common knowledge in Islam that if the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had wanted female circumcision to be an integral aspect of religious practice in Islam the same way that male circumcision is, he would have said so clearly. Since he did not do so, we can safely assume it is not a prescribed ritual of Islam."
While the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not explicitly ban this practice, his words project a great deal of sensitivity to the instinctive needs of females and their matrimonial happiness and legitimate enjoyment. Reference to the brightness of the face and to better relationship with the husband are clear indications of his sensitivity and compassion. They also stand in contrast to the arguments that female circumcision "controls" the woman's sexual appetite and hence contributes to sexual morality and virtue in society. It is true that Islam requires adherents of both genders to be chaste. Yet, there is no text in the Qur'an or Sunnah which requires selective curtailment or control of the sexual desire of one specific gender. Furthermore, chastity and virtue are not contingent on "cutting off" part of any sensitive and crucial human organ. Rather, they are contingent on spiritual and moral values of the person and the supporting virtuous environments. For more information about female circum cision and its types please visit (http://www.jannah.org/genderequity/equityappendix.html)
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