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User:Flynnjed/Sandbox: Difference between revisions
→Not all Muslims practice FGM
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====Not all Muslims practice FGM==== | ====Not all Muslims practice FGM==== | ||
''This argument assumes that only those practices which all Muslims engage in can be Islamic'' | ''This argument assumes that only those practices which all Muslims engage in can be Islamic.'' | ||
This is, in turn, based on | This is, in turn, is based on the assumption that a religion is defined only by that which it makes universally obligatory. But religions are also defined by - and responsible for - what they recommend, encourage, allow, discourage and forbid; and also the ''consequences'' of what they recommend, allow, discourage and forbid, whether those consequences are intended or unintended. For example, no one would question that the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is Christian, but it is recommended, not obligatory. Not every Muslim takes several brides, but polygyny is unquestionably | ||
Religions are selective in what they accrue to their identity and responsibility - keen to take 'credit' for any good that can be attributed to themselves, but less keen to acknowledging responsibility for any ills they may give rise to. | |||
The fact that FGM is not universally obligatory under Islam does not mean that Islam is not responsible for any FGM it has brought about - or failed to prevent. | The fact that FGM is not universally obligatory under Islam does not mean that Islam is not responsible for any FGM it has brought about - or failed to prevent. | ||
Not all Islamic practices are obligatory: whilst a Muslim must complete 5 prayers a day, there are optional (nawafil) prayers which confer additional rewards. Fasting outside of the month of Ramadhan, or giving sadaqah (voluntary charity) are also optional. The Shafi'i school makes FGM obligatory, the Maliki school recommends it, and the Hanafi school allows it. The schools' different levels of obligation are reflected in the incidence of FGM. And where it is merely 'allowed' or 'tolerated' are we surprised that parents abstain from an act that goes against parents deepest instincts? | Not all Islamic practices are obligatory: polygyny and child marriage are not obligatory, and whilst a Muslim must complete 5 prayers a day, there are optional (nawafil) prayers which confer additional rewards. Fasting outside of the month of Ramadhan, or giving sadaqah (voluntary charity) are also optional. The Shafi'i school makes FGM obligatory, the Maliki school recommends it, and the Hanafi school allows it. The schools' different levels of obligation are reflected in the incidence of FGM. And where it is merely 'allowed' or 'tolerated' are we surprised that parents abstain from an act that goes against parents deepest instincts? | ||
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This argument is often mobilised to discredit inconvenient hadith. | This argument is often mobilised to discredit inconvenient hadith. | ||
Four of the seven hadith | Four of the seven '[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#FGM in the Hadith|FGM hadith]]', report Muhammad favouring FGM. | ||
Two of these ('[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#The fitrah is five things.2C including circumcision|The fitrah is five things]]' and '[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#When the circumcised parts touch each other|When the circumcised parts touch]]') are included in ''both'' sahih Bukhari and sahih Muslim. Both hadith compilations are considered wholly authoritative. Moreover these two hadith are also some of the best-supported hadith in these compilations. These two hadiths are 'tacit approvals' in that they report Muhammad refering to FGM without expressing condemnation of it or disapproval | |||
The 'tacit approvals' of Muhammad include any event where Muhammad was present or regarding which Muhammad was aware of or made aware of and against which he did not protest - his silence in these cases is held to count as his approval. | |||
The two other hadith that report Muhammad's attitude towards FGM ([[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#A preservation of honor for women|'A preservation of honour for women]]' and [[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Do not cut .22severely.22|'Do not cut severely']]) are not generally considered as ''sahih'', but ''hasan'' (good) or ''daif'' (weak). | |||
Al-Bukhari also compiled the two adab ('[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Someone to Amuse Them|Someone to Amuse Them]]' and '[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them|Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them]]') which touch on FGM. Al-Bukhari's evaluation of the hadiths within ''al-Adab al-Mufrad'' was not as rigorous as for his best-known collection - ''[[Sahih Bukhari]]''. However, scholars have ruled most of the hadith in the collection as being ''sahih'' or ''hasan''. | Al-Bukhari also compiled the two adab ('[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Someone to Amuse Them|Someone to Amuse Them]]' and '[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them|Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them]]') which touch on FGM. Al-Bukhari's evaluation of the hadiths within ''al-Adab al-Mufrad'' was not as rigorous as for his best-known collection - ''[[Sahih Bukhari]]''. However, scholars have ruled most of the hadith in the collection as being ''sahih'' or ''hasan''. | ||
A seventh hadith ('[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#One Who Circumcises Other Ladies|One who circumcises other ladies]]') is also compiled by Bukhari. It is not of interest doctrinally, but contains useful historical, sociological and linguistic information (see '[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Islamic sources|FGM before Islam: Islamic sources]]'). | A seventh hadith ('[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#One Who Circumcises Other Ladies|One who circumcises other ladies]]') is also compiled by Bukhari and is thus ''sahih.'' It is not of interest doctrinally, but contains useful historical, sociological and linguistic information (see '[[User:Flynnjed/Sandbox#Islamic sources|FGM before Islam: Islamic sources]]'). | ||
Doctrine cannot be generated from a weak hadith standing alone. However, if a weak hadith does not contradict the Qur'an and is in agreement with stronger hadith, then it can be used. For example 'Do not cut severely' is supported by | |||
Setting aside doctrinal questions the hadith - whether daif, hasan, or sahih - all provide solid evidence that some form of FGM was practiced by Muhammad's followers, and by Muhammad's native tribe, the Banu Qarayza. | Setting aside doctrinal questions the hadith - whether daif, hasan, or sahih - all provide solid evidence that some form of FGM was practiced by Muhammad's followers, and by Muhammad's native tribe, the Banu Qarayza. | ||