Hicham Maged's blog Inquisitive curiosity paves knowledge path

Say FGM not FC!

Man is totally different from Woman either physically or mentally, so there is no equality between them from my perspective in the meaning that used nowadays; rather there is integration which cannot occur unless they are different. In electricity – for example – in order for the current to flow, the positive protons meet with the negative electrons; however if they are the same then welcome Mrs. Darkness.

The same is applied in human society; Man and Woman integrates their differences together for fulfilling the reason of creation, urbanizing Earth, and this simply means that equality is in rights and obligations however they are not alike.

So what about circumcision? It is the same case of not alike. Male Circumcision – known as “Khitan” in Arabic – is an obligatory act for men in Islam and the other divine religions. As for women however, I do not feminize the term to be Female Circumcision (FC) for three reasons:

1. Juristic reason: no cite that Islam had marked it as an obligatory act for women.
2. Linguistic reason: the hadith that told about used the term “Khifad” not “Khitan” (both are Arabic terms).
3. Technical reason: what is being practiced for men is totally different from that one practiced for women.

Women: FGM issue in Islam

Therefore, I prefer to use the term FGM, the shorthand for Female Genital Mutilation which is a four degrees procedure that ascends from excising of the prepuce to the excision of the female genital parts or even cauterization.

FGM issue in Islam

I mentioned that there is no cite in Islam for applying Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) except a hadith of The Prophet Muhammad to a woman named ‘Umm Attiyah’ which states the following:

“If you circumcise do not go deep (i.e. do not encroach on the clitoris) because it would be useful to the wife and desirable to the husband.” The hadith original source in Arabic states that: “أَشِمِّي ولا تَنهَكِي، فإنه أسرى للوجه، وأحظى عند الزوج” which is narrated in other words as “لا تَنهَكي، فإن ذلك أحظى للمرأة، وأحب إلى البعل“

This hadith is narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud book and is classified as weak hadith by the majority of Muslim scholars. Nonetheless, a careful reading for this hadith might reveal the truth about the FGM/FC case. I see the case of equality appears in terms of women have the equal right of having their desire fulfilled exactly as men within framework of marriage in the Muslim society.

Consequently, I think this reflects the high status of women in Islam but not necessarily what some Muslims do in the name of Islam while also telling us about how Prophet Muhamamd (pbuh) is a mercy not the contrary!

On the other hand, in case this hadith implemented, the Kihfad is supposed to be a limited one – like physicians says – for the abnormal cases found in some females which require a surgery to excise the undesired appendage. Consequently, according to the hadith itself if implemented, I see that if encroaching happened compensation should be implemented.

Furthermore, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had four daughters named Fatimah, Zainab, Ruqayyah, and Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with them) yet there is no proof or evidence that they were circumcised.

FGM and Women Oppression

Straightforward, nobody has the authority to apply a mass FGM against women as we see nowadays in the name of protecting “Miss Virginity” and “Mr. Tradition” while proclaiming that this is Islam and Islamic jurisprudence. I beg to differ as it is clear from my elaborations how whole issue is related to the health condition of a woman (or girl) according to what a trustworthy doctor decides. Furthermore, if the society and culture decide this mass categorization, this is nothing but another form for how women are socially oppressed through the mentalities.

On the other hand, I find it very disgusting that there are societies that sill perceive women as females who should be excommunicated in one way or another because they are shameful, sinful and not equal in humanity to man. Hello there! Women are human beings like men, surprisingly for some people, with heart, soul, body, and mind too.

In a nutshell; the interaction in any Muslim society should be based on modesty from a wide angle; it is not implemented by applying FGM as modesty is a comprehensive way to fulfill the purpose of creation based on the alike features of both Man and Woman. This simply means the awareness about their differences through using minds rationally at first or in other simple words: Modesty of the Mind according to my perspective.

Linguistic Note: for non-Arabic speakers, the term “hadith” in the Arabic Language means in English: the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which is a branch of science in Islam that has its own scholars.

Salam,
Hicham

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Tags: fgm/fc, islamic faith, man/woman, social oppression
Categories: Critiques
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