Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Female Genital Mutilation: Difference between revisions

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This hadith includes an exchange of insults prior to the [[Battle of Uhud|battle of Uhud]]. Hamza, a companion of Muhammad, taunts Siba', a warrior from Muhammad's native tribe - the Meccan Banu Quraysh. Hamza compares Siba' to a notorious 'circumciser' of girls - Ibn Um Anmar. Hamza uses the phrase '''muqteh al-basr‘'' – ‘one who cuts clitorises' - rather than the usual ''khitan''.   
This hadith includes an exchange of insults prior to the [[Battle of Uhud|battle of Uhud]]. Hamza, a companion of Muhammad, taunts Siba', a warrior from Muhammad's native tribe - the Meccan Banu Quraysh. Hamza compares Siba' to a notorious 'circumciser' of girls - Ibn Um Anmar. Hamza uses the phrase '''muqteh al-basr‘'' – ‘one who cuts clitorises' - rather than the usual ''khitan''.   


From this it can be deduced that clitoridectomy was practiced by the [[Quraysh]]. The fact that a ''<nowiki/>'circumciser of [...] ladies''' could be famous (or notorious) also suggests that it was an established practice with the Meccan Quraysh. Furthermore, the taunt could only be effective if it humiliated Siba' in the eyes of both his fellow Meccan warriors and his Muslim foe. This implies that members of both camps had knowledge of the practice and a shared culture of clitoridectomy.  
From this it can be deduced that clitoridectomy was practiced by the [[Quraysh]]. The fact that a ''<nowiki/>'circumciser of [...] ladies''' could be famous (or notorious) also suggests that it was an established practice with the [[Mecca|Meccan]] Quraysh. Furthermore, the taunt could only be effective if it humiliated Siba' in the eyes of both his fellow Meccan warriors and his Muslim foe. This implies that members of both camps had knowledge of the practice and a shared culture of clitoridectomy.  


=== In Bukhari's al-Adab al-Mufrad ===
The following two hadiths come from Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. This is a collection of hadith about the manners of Muhammad and his companions, compiled by the Islamic scholar [[al-Bukhari]]. It contains 1,322 hadiths, most of which focus on Muhammad's companions rather than Muhammad himself. 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 s as being ''sahih'' (authentic) or ''hasan'' (sound).
The following two hadiths come from Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. This is a collection of hadith about the manners of Muhammad and his companions, compiled by the Islamic scholar [[al-Bukhari]]. It contains 1,322 hadiths, most of which focus on Muhammad's companions rather than Muhammad himself. 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 s as being ''sahih'' (authentic) or ''hasan'' (sound).
===Someone to Amuse Them===
====Someone to Amuse Them====
{{Quote|Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 53:1247|“Umm ‘Alqama related that when '''the daughters of ‘A’isha’s brother were circumcised''', ‘A’isha was asked, “Shall we call someone to amuse them?” “Yes,” she replied. ‘Adi was sent for and he came to them. ‘A’isha passed by the room and saw him singing and shaking his head in rapture – and he had a large head of hair. ‘Uff!’ she exclaimed, ‘A shaytan! Get him out! Get him out!'””}}The word used for 'circumcised' uses the root ''khitan.''  
{{Quote|Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 53:1247|“Umm ‘Alqama related that when '''the daughters of ‘A’isha’s brother were circumcised''', ‘A’isha was asked, “Shall we call someone to amuse them?” “Yes,” she replied. ‘Adi was sent for and he came to them. ‘A’isha passed by the room and saw him singing and shaking his head in rapture – and he had a large head of hair. ‘Uff!’ she exclaimed, ‘A shaytan! Get him out! Get him out!'””}}The word used for 'circumcised' uses the root ''khitan.''  


===Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them===
====Go and Circumcise Them and Purify Them====
{{Quote|Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 53:1245|An old woman from Kufa, the grandmother of 'Ali ibn Ghurab, reported that Umm al-Muhajir said, "I was captured with some girls from Byzantium. 'Uthman offered us Islam, but only myself and one other girl accepted Islam. 'Uthman said, ''''Go and circumcise them and purify them'''.'"}}
{{Quote|Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 53:1245|An old woman from Kufa, the grandmother of 'Ali ibn Ghurab, reported that Umm al-Muhajir said, "I was captured with some girls from Byzantium. 'Uthman offered us Islam, but only myself and one other girl accepted Islam. 'Uthman said, ''''Go and circumcise them and purify them'''.'"}}
Note that in this hadith [[Uthman ibn Affan|Uthman]], one of Muhammad's closest companions, appears to be treating 'circumcision' as part of the initiation ritual for females newly-converted to Islam. The word used for 'circumcise' in this hadith is ''khaffad'', not ''khitan''. ''Khaffad'' translates as 'trim them' or 'reduce them'.   
In this hadith, [[Uthman ibn Affan|Uthman]], one of Muhammad's closest companions, appears to be treating 'circumcision' as part of the initiation ritual for females newly-converted to Islam. The word used for 'circumcise' in this hadith is ''khaffad'', not ''khitan''. ''Khaffad'' translates as 'trim them' or 'reduce them'.   


The 'circumcision' in the above two hadiths is being performed openly and in an unembarrassed manner - and by Muhammad's favourite wife (Aisha) and by one of his closest companions (Uthman). It seems unlikely that Muhammad's closest companions would engage in 'circumcision' against Muhammad's wishes.   
The 'circumcision' in the above two hadiths is being performed openly and in an unembarrassed manner - and by Muhammad's favourite wife (Aisha) and by one of his closest companions (Uthman). It seems unlikely that Muhammad's closest companions would engage in 'circumcision' against Muhammad's wishes.   
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