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Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Female Genital Mutilation: Difference between revisions
Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Female Genital Mutilation (view source)
Revision as of 15:01, 14 March 2021
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{{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}} | {{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}} | ||
Female Genital Mutilation or the circumcision of women (Arabic: ختان المرأة) is the practice of cutting off part or parts of the outer labia and vulva, including | Female Genital Mutilation or the circumcision of women (Arabic: ختان المرأة) is the practice of cutting off part (or parts) of the outer labia and vulva, including part or all of the clitoris, of women. Female Genital Mutilation also includes the practice of Infibulation, in which the outer labia are pared back and the cut edges stitched together. When this heals it forms a seal that covers both the openings of the vagina and the urethra. | ||
Female Genital Mutilation is found amongst many cultures in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The aim and effect of the practice is to lessen the pleasure women get from various sex acts, thus in theory tamping down on their libido and making them more faithful wives. Popular discourse on the matter often paints it as purely a cultural artifact of traditional cultures, with no connection to religion. In point of fact, though, many [[Sahih]] [[Hadith]] exist supporting and even commanding the practice, and numerous fatwas have been issued both supporting and commanding the practice within the Islamic community. | Female Genital Mutilation is found amongst many cultures in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The aim and effect of the practice is to lessen the pleasure women get from various sex acts, thus in theory tamping down on their libido and making them more faithful wives. Popular discourse on the matter often paints it as purely a cultural artifact of traditional cultures, with no connection to religion. In point of fact, though, many [[Sahih]] [[Hadith]] exist supporting and even commanding the practice, and numerous fatwas have been issued both supporting and commanding the practice within the Islamic community. | ||
==Hadith== | ==Hadith== | ||
All but one of the following hadith use variants of the word ''khitan'' for 'circumcision'. Contemporary usage assumes that ''khitan'' refers only to (male) circumcision. But several of the following hadith refer unambiguously to women or girls undergoing ''khitan''. One hadith ("Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them") uses the word ''khaffad''. | |||
===The fitrah is five things, including circumcision=== | ===The fitrah is five things, including circumcision=== | ||
Note that the rule of hadith dictate that if it is not mentioned specifically or if the pronouns do not point to a certain gender, then the hadith is valid for both sexes. Hence, the following hadiths are applicable for both men and women. | Note that the rule of hadith dictate that if it is not mentioned specifically or if the pronouns do not point to a certain gender, then the hadith is valid for both sexes. Hence, the following hadiths are applicable for both men and women. | ||
{{Quote|Bukhari 5891; Muslim 527|Abu Hurayrah said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “The fitrah is five things – or '''five things are part of the fitrah – circumcision''', shaving the pubes, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hairs.”}} | {{Quote|Bukhari 5891; Muslim 527|Abu Hurayrah said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “The fitrah is five things – or '''five things are part of the fitrah – circumcision''', shaving the pubes, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hairs.”}} | ||
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{{Quote|{{Muslim|3|684}}|Abu Musa reported: There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of sexual intercourse) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to 'A'isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: 0 Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don't feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) '''and the ''circumcised parts'' touch each other''' a bath becomes obligatory.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|3|684}}|Abu Musa reported: There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of sexual intercourse) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to 'A'isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: 0 Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don't feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) '''and the ''circumcised parts'' touch each other''' a bath becomes obligatory.}} | ||
=== Someone to Amuse Them === | |||
{{Quote|Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 53:1247|“Umm ‘Alqama related that when the daughters of ‘A’isha’s brother were circumcised, ‘A’isha was asked, “Shall we call someone to amuse them?” “Yes,” she replied. ‘Adi was sent for and he came to them. ‘A’isha passed by the room and saw him singing and shaking his head in rapture – and he had a large head of hair. ‘Uff!’ she exclaimed, ‘A shaytan! Get him out! Get him out!'””}} | |||
=== Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them === | |||
{{Quote|Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 53:1245|An old woman from Kufa, the grandmother of 'Ali ibn Ghurab, reported that Umm al-Muhajir said, "I was captured with some girls from Byzantium. 'Uthman offered us Islam, but only myself and one other girl accepted Islam. 'Uthman said, 'Go and circumcise them and purify them.'"}} | |||
The word used for 'circumcise' in this hadith is 'khaffad', not 'khitan'. | |||
== Qur'an == | |||
Female Genital Mutilation is not explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an. | |||
However the following Qur'anic verse exhorts Muslims to 'adhere to the fitrah'. The word [[fitrah]] is used only once in the Qur'an and is not explained or defined. | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|30|30}}|So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah (فطرة or فطرت) of Allah upon which He has created (فطر) [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah . That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.}} | |||
==Scholars== | ==Scholars== | ||