User:Flynnjed/Sandbox2: Difference between revisions

It is correct that there is no mention of FGM in the Qur'an. But according to traditional interpretive methodology Qur'an 30:30, by requiring one to ''<nowiki/>'adhere to the fitrah','' indirectly, but ineluctably, advocates FGM (see [[#quran|FGM in the Qur'an]]). There is likewise no mention of male circumcision in the Qur'an.

Indeed, most of what constitutes Islam is found not in the Qur'an but in the Sunnah (the hadith and sirat). The Qur'an has 91 verses commanding to follow Muhammad's example to the last detail. However the Qur'an contains virtually none of Muhammad's life. Muslims can only know about Muhammad's life by turning to the hadith and sirat. Most of the practical details of how what it means to be a Muslim come from the Sunnah. None of the Five Pillars of Islam are explained in the Qur'an, which, for example, tells Muslims to pray, but not ''how'' to pray.   

This argument assumes that ''if a practice existed before Islam then it can not be Islamic''.  

The archaeological and historical record prove that FGM ''did'' indeed exist before Islam (see [[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#FGM before Islam|FGM before Islam]]). However, if this meant that FGM was disqualified from being Islamic - then monotheism, ideas of heaven and hell, male circumcision, pilgrimage to Mecca, praying, the veneration of the Kaaba, abstention from pork, giving to charity, interdictions on lying and murder, and much more would also be un-Islamic - previous religions and societies having held these beliefs and engaged in these practices. Indeed, if Islam were only that which was unique to Islam, almost nothing that has been considered Islamic over the last 1400 would remain.

Mohammed took a pre-Islamic localized tradition and integrated it into the religion he was inventing. He thus sacralised FGM, guaranteeing that it would flourish wherever, and for as long as, Islam existed. But in addition, he sacralised the causes of FGM - polygyny and many of its consequences (sex-slavery, child marriage, bride-price, sexual violence - see [[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#The sociology of FGM|The Sociology of FGM]])  thus 'locking-in' the practice into a legal, normative and institutional structure. Practices such as FGM tend to die out on exposure to non-tribal, monogamous cultural influences - footbinding, sati, slavery, child marriage and non-Islamic FGM have all been eliminated or curtailed where the West has had influence. Islam, because it is diametrically opposed to such influences and values has perpetuated the conditions where FGM can continue to flourish. 

 

It is true that FGM existed in parts of Africa before the invention of Islam – notably Egypt and the West coast of the Red Sea (see [[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Non-Islamic sources|FGM before Islam: non-Islamic Sources]]). But the hadith report that FGM was also practiced in Arabia before the invention of Islam, not least by Mohammed's tribe, the Banu Quraysh. It should also be noted that:  

#about 40% of FGM happens outside of Africa, in South Asia in particular.<ref name=":2" />

#It appears to have been the Islam's plundering of Africa for sex slaves that spread FGM to its current extent (which closely coincides with that of Islam).

It is also well documented that FGM was brought to Indonesia by Muslim traders and conquerors in the 13^th Century. Indonesia is of the Shaafi school (the madhab that makes FGM obligatory) and has +90% rates of FGM amongst its Muslims. This suggests that FGM is not so much an African practice as an Islamic one. {{Quote|William G. Clarence-Smith (Professor of the Economic History of Asia and Africa at SOAS, University of London) in ‘Self-Determination and Women’s Rights in Muslim Societies’ Ed. Chitra Raghavan and James P. Levine|'The Southeast Asian case undermines a widespread notion that female circumcision is a pre-­Islamic custom that has merely been tolerated by the newer faith. In contrast to other regions, female circumcision seems to have been introduced into Southeast Asia as part of the inhabitants’ conversion to Islam from the thirteenth century on. Indeed, for Tomás Ortiz, writing about the southern Philippines in the early eighteenth century, female circumcision was not only a Muslim innovation, but also one that had spread to some degree to non-­Muslims.'}}

This argument assumes that ''if Christians engage in a practice then it can not be Islamic.''

If this were true, then what is 'Islamic' is influenced by what Christians do (or don't do) - something that Muslims would undoubtedly reject.

However, about 20% of global FGM is attributable to non-Muslims, and are for the most part Christians.<ref name=":2" /> But these Christians nearly all live as isolated and persecuted minorities within a dominant Islamic FGM-practicing culture. FGM is an islamic purity practice, and within FGM-practicing societies girls who are not cut are considered impure. Any contact or proximity with them, or sharing of objects will be considered as contaminating. Individuals, families and communities that do not follow the dominant culture's purity observances are perceived as gravely threatening the spiritual and religious lives of that community since, for example, a Muslim's prayers will be rendered invalid if he is inadvertently contaminated, and will continue to be invalid until he correctly purifies himself.

{{Quote|[https://unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/De-linking%20FGM%20from%20Islam%20final%20report.pd 'Delinking Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting from Islam' Ibrahim Lethome Asmani & Maryam Sheikh Abdi (2008)]|there is no verse in the Quran that can be used as evidence for [FGM]. On the contrary, '''there are several verses that strongly condemn any acts that negatively affect the human body in any way and interfere with Allah’s (SWT) creation without a justification'''. Examples include, “…and there is no changing Allah’s creation. And that is the proper religion but many people do not know” (Quran 30:30) and, “…and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction” (Quran 2:195) }}This argument engages in the fallacy of Petitio Principi, or 'Begging the Question' (assuming in the premise of an argument that which one wishes to prove in the conclusion).  

Islam forbids all mutilations to the human body – '''''except those that it permits'''''. Male circumcision, for example, is a mutilation that Islamic law permits, and therefore it is not forbidden. Likewise [[Amputation in Islamic Law|the amputation of hand and feet]]. Beheading, [[stoning]], and [[crucifixion]] -  which all involve mutilation prior to the victim's death - are all also permitted in Islamic law.