Circumcision

[Ender]

Jewish men do this out of religion. Christian men for health.

I understand Islam advocates this BOTH men and women. Is this true? Why?

Thank you.

[Nzingha]

According to Islamic tradition a man should be circumcised. Even if one converts to islam and has not had a circumcision he should.

there are differences of opinion when it comes to women, some say that a woman must have it done, some say if she chooses she can. This is mostly based on cultural interpretation rather than islamic textual evidence.

It is known that circumcision for women was done during the time of Muhammad pbuh but he did not prohibit however what he did do is instruct on the best way to cut.

Keep in mind when we speak of circumcision we are not talking FGM which is the closing of the vaginal openning leaving a small slit for leakage and the cutting off of the clitorious lid. Circumcision is a small clip to a womans clitoriuos.. and again the prophet pbuh advized the best way to do it if it need be done.

One would ask when would it need to be done. There are many things that would require a medical need for female circumcision. It is even done in the US with a medical need. When a womans clitorious gets enlarge, be it by cultural climate, herditory malformations, or simply a malformation in growth this can cause many problems for women. From the lack of sexual pleausre to down right pain.

So there is an overall agreement that if it need to be done with a woman than there is a proper way to do this. And this way which was outlined by Muhammad pbuh is not to be exceeded to which it causes more harm. So a woman doing it for no medical need would actually be causing more harm to her bodies.

btw just a note, this practice of woman is largerly done by NON muslim women. And in the majority of muslim dominated countries the pracitce is prohibited.

Nzingha

[Ender]

I see. So it would be safe to say this: Men are COMMANDED to be circumcised, but women it is optional.

Yes?

[Nzingha]

>I see. So it would
>be safe to say this:
> Men are COMMANDED to
>be circumcised, but women it
>is optional.
>
>Yes?


Since there is a difference of opinion amoung muslim scholars it is difficult for me to agree with the words "commanded" some say that is is obligatory on the man to be circumcised while others disagree with this. So i'll leave it as "should" and that the majority of Muslims are circumcised.

as for women i would hate to say it is opitional because in islam there is a premise that one should not harm the body. And in the case of female circumcision this is very much the case when it is not needed. I would prefer that it is not forbidden and that if it is necessary than there are ways it should be done according to Islamic sources.

nzingha