WOMEN’s issues often get world attention. Female circumcision (FC) is one of those that has been discussed socially, religiously, academically, and medically. It has also been linked to female genital mutilation (FGM).
FC is different from FGM. The latter is forbidden in Islam as it would have an adverse effect on women. Muslim scholars have different views regarding the two. Some regard FC as compulsory as male circumcision, and some regard it as “sunnah”, which means an act of worship that is encouraged in Islam, but not obligatory. Those who practise it will be rewarded, but it is not a sin if it is not performed.
The views are based on narratives from the Hadith. One narrative was when Caliph Uthman ibn Affan had invited an old woman who was a slave with other young women from Rome to accept Islam. When the old woman and a young girl accepted Islam, Uthman had ordered for them to be “circumcised” and “purified”.
This narrative was graded “daif” or weak.
Another narrative was of a woman who performed circumcision in Madinah. It was said that Prophet Muhammad had told her: “Do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.”
This narrative was graded “sahih” or sound. Two other narratives are almost similar — it was narrated that Prophet Muhammad had said: “Do not cut off too much as it is a source of enjoyment for the woman and more likeable to her husband”, and “When you circumcise, you must not cut off too much as it is a source of loveliness of the face and more enjoyable for the husband”.
It can be seen from the narratives that Prophet Muhammad did not forbid female circumcision, but encouraged it as commendable acts in religion.
According to the Hanafi school of law, female circumcision is permissible, but not a “sunnah”. The Maliki school of law considers it a “preferred act” (mandub). The Shafii school of law says circumcision is an obligation for both men and women. This is the official ruling.
However, there are some Shafii scholars who say circumcision for men is obligatory, while for women, it is merely “sunnah”. For the Hanbali school of law, circumcision is obligatory for men and an “honourable” practice for women, but not obligatory.
For most Islamic scholars, regardless of the school of law, the practice is “more emphatic for men”.
The Quran, however, does not condemn female circumcision as long as it does not compromise the health of the female.
Contemporary Muslim scholar Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi said: “It must be ascertained that there is no mutilation by those who handle the affairs of their daughters in the manner that comes from the Hadith. It cannot be labelled as a form of crime as committed in the 21st century, except in cases that violate the agreed rules in syariah, excessive cutting, and controlled by ignorant people from the midwives and beyond ... and it should not use the medicines that might barren the child.”
In Malaysia, circumcision has been religiously followed according to the Shafii school of law. Federal Territory Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri said “circumcision is mandatory for men and women”, and the argument that female circumcision is “unlawful in Islam” is arguable. He said the issue arose because of “ignorance”.
Most states follow the Shafii school of law on female circumcision. However, the Perlis Fatwa Committee, in 2017, decreed that circumcision is obligatory for men and sunnah for women.
It said the ruling on female circumcision was according to the condition of a woman’s private parts and to be determined by an expert.
If a woman agrees to be circumcised and it is agreed by the expert, then it is makrumah (respected). If there is no need for circumcision, then it should not be done. As for the circumcision of a baby girl, “it may expose the baby to harm if it is not done properly”.
SAADAH KHAIR
Activist, International Women’s Alliance for Family and Quality Education