2,856
edits
Female Genital Mutilation in Islam: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
| [checked revision] | [checked revision] |
Lightyears (talk | contribs) (Fixed a few over-reaching claims and improved accuracy. Also added sira section as per FGM in Islamic law edits) |
Lightyears (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
FGM is found only in or adjacent to Islamic groups.<ref name=":0" /> The 20% of FGM attributable to non-Muslims occurs in communities living in FGM-practicing Islamic societies (e.g. the Egyptian Copts<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220220090640/https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/prevalence-of-and-support-for-female-genital-mutilation-within-the-copts-of-egypt-unicef-report-2013/ Prevalence of and Support for Female Genital Mutilation within the Copts of Egypt: Unicef Report (2013)]</ref>), or to non-Islamic societies that have been hubs of the Islamic slave trade (e.g. Ethiopia and Eritrea<ref>[https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/A-Profile-of-FGM-in-Ethiopia_2020.pdf A Profile of Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia]</ref>). About one in eighty (1.28%) non-Muslim women are genitally mutilated world-wide. [[File:Fgmmuslimmap.jpg|alt=World maps comparing distributions of FGM and of Muslims|thumb|World maps comparing distributions of FGM and of Muslims|left|350x350px]] | FGM is found only in or adjacent to Islamic groups.<ref name=":0" /> The 20% of FGM attributable to non-Muslims occurs in communities living in FGM-practicing Islamic societies (e.g. the Egyptian Copts<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220220090640/https://copticliterature.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/prevalence-of-and-support-for-female-genital-mutilation-within-the-copts-of-egypt-unicef-report-2013/ Prevalence of and Support for Female Genital Mutilation within the Copts of Egypt: Unicef Report (2013)]</ref>), or to non-Islamic societies that have been hubs of the Islamic slave trade (e.g. Ethiopia and Eritrea<ref>[https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/A-Profile-of-FGM-in-Ethiopia_2020.pdf A Profile of Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia]</ref>). About one in eighty (1.28%) non-Muslim women are genitally mutilated world-wide. [[File:Fgmmuslimmap.jpg|alt=World maps comparing distributions of FGM and of Muslims|thumb|World maps comparing distributions of FGM and of Muslims|left|350x350px]] | ||
FGM predates Islam. The [[Banu Qurayza|Banu Quraysh]], Muhammad's native tribe, appear to have engaged in the practice. FGM is not mentioned in the Quran, but is mentioned in several hadith. One which is graded sahih records Muhammad incidentally | FGM predates Islam. The [[Banu Qurayza|Banu Quraysh]], Muhammad's native tribe, appear to have engaged in the practice. FGM is not mentioned in the Quran, but is mentioned in several hadith. One which is graded sahih records Muhammad incidentally assuming the circumcised status of men and women; in a similar one Aisha incidentally reveals that both she and Muhammad were circumcised; and in another three hadiths Muhammad endorses FGM, though those have been graded da'if (weak) yet are still used by proponents of the practice. Two hadith record the [[sahabah]] (Companions of Mohammed) engaging in FGM. | ||
The FGM hadith give very few clues as to ''the nature'' of the practice they approve. Hence the nature, incidence and distribution of FGM varies between countries and communities. The most significant determining factor appears to be the presiding school of Islam ([[Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)|fiqh]]). Other factors include the culture's level of anxiety around female sexuality, its proximity to Islamic slave-trade routes (Infibulation is associated with the transportation of slaves), and the nature and degree of Christian influence ( see [https://wikiislam.net/index.php?title=Female_Genital_Mutilation_in_Islam&stable=0#FGM_in_Islamic_Law FGM in Islamic law]). | The FGM hadith give very few clues as to ''the nature'' of the practice they approve. Hence the nature, incidence and distribution of FGM varies between countries and communities. The most significant determining factor appears to be the presiding school of Islam ([[Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)|fiqh]]). Other factors include the culture's level of anxiety around female sexuality, its proximity to Islamic slave-trade routes (Infibulation is associated with the transportation of slaves), and the nature and degree of Christian influence ( see [https://wikiislam.net/index.php?title=Female_Genital_Mutilation_in_Islam&stable=0#FGM_in_Islamic_Law FGM in Islamic law]). | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
{{anchor|hadith}} | {{anchor|hadith}} | ||
FGM is mentioned in (at least) eight Hadith. In two sahih reports Muhammad and Aisha respectively are reported to have incidentally mentioned male and female circumcision (in the latter case, that the two of them were both circumcised), and Muhammad endorses the practice in three others, though those are graded as da'if (weak) authenticity. Two report [[Sahabah]] (Muhammad's companions) participating in FGM. The remaining hadith has little import doctrinally, but is of linguistic, historical and sociological interest in that it quotes a Meccan warrior being mocked for being one who performs FGM. | FGM is mentioned in (at least) eight Hadith, most of which are still used by proponents of the practice in modern times.<ref>[https://m.islamqa.info/en/answers/60314/circumcision-of-girls-and-some-doctors-criticism-thereof Circumcision of girls and some doctors' criticism thereof] - islamqa.info website - 23 August 2005</ref> In two sahih reports Muhammad and Aisha respectively are reported to have incidentally mentioned male and female circumcision (in the latter case, that the two of them were both circumcised), and Muhammad endorses the practice in three others, though those are graded as da'if (weak) authenticity. Two report [[Sahabah]] (Muhammad's companions) participating in FGM. The remaining hadith has little import doctrinally, but is of linguistic, historical and sociological interest in that it quotes a Meccan warrior being mocked for being one who performs FGM. | ||
The following hadith mentions circumcision (''khitan''), though is ambiguous as to whether male, female or both is intended. The concept of fitra in this hadith physically distinguished believers by various means from non-believers. The other concept of fitra that emerged in early Islam (and a closer match to how the word appears in {{Quran|30|30}}) is that every child is born upon fitrah, and then his parents make him Jew or Christian (see for example {{Muwatta|16||53}} or {{Bukhari|2|23|467}}. | The following hadith mentions circumcision (''khitan''), though is ambiguous as to whether male, female or both is intended (FGM proponents assume both). The concept of fitra in this hadith physically distinguished believers by various means from non-believers. The other concept of fitra that emerged in early Islam (and a closer match to how the word appears in {{Quran|30|30}}) is that every child is born upon fitrah, and then his parents make him Jew or Christian (see for example {{Muwatta|16||53}} or {{Bukhari|2|23|467}}. | ||
{{Quote|1={{Bukhari|7|72|777}}; See also {{Muslim|2|495}}|2=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''' [الْخِتَانُ - khitan], shaving the pubes, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hairs.”}} | {{Quote|1={{Bukhari|7|72|777}}; See also {{Muslim|2|495}}|2=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''' [الْخِتَانُ - khitan], shaving the pubes, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hairs.”}} | ||