Women Circumcision in Islam

Circumcision is sunnah by the Prophet (SAW), and it is mentioned in the hadeeth narrated from Abu Hurairoh: The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Five things including nature (fitrah) is shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, shaving the mustache, plucking the hair under armpits and clipping the nails.” (HR. Jama’ah)

So what if a girl is circumcised? Is it sunnah as well?

In a hadith narrated by Umm al Athiyah Anshoriyah that there was a Medina woman who was circumcised and the Prophet (SAW) said to her:

“Do not be excessive in circumcision (cut). Indeed, it would add to the delights of a woman and is to be liked by the husband.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)

The law of circumcision based on the opinion of the scholars is:

  1. The Hanafi and Maliki scholars said that circumcision is sunnah for men and honourable for women, as according to the hadith of the Prophet(SAW), “Khitan is sunnah for men and noble for women.” (Narrated by Ahmad Bayhaqi)
  2. Shafi’i and Hanbali scholars mentioned that circumcision on males or females is required based on a saying of the Prophet (SAW) to someone that converted to Islam, “Shave your hair as a sign of disbelief and circumcise.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)

Do women need circumcision?

The purpose of a woman to do circumcision is for balancing her devotion since if women are not circumcised then when they see men, their desires might be very strong.

It is stated that:

“O ibn Qulfa! In Qulfa indeed there are some often looking at men and we find inappropriate behavior on women of Tartar and Europe, a case we do not find on Muslim women. But if the cutting of circumcision is too much then it will weaken her and she cannot satisfy her husband, while if the cut is a little (not excessive) then it will balance it.“(Majmu Fataawa juz XXI case 68)

Some say that circumcision is not recommended for women as it affects their health such as causing difficulty in urination, that she may not be able to satisfy her spouse, or it may be difficult while giving birth.

Khitan/circumcision in women is to just cut a little above the skin surface of the genitals or to strike the skin that covers the front of the clitoris by using a sterile needle without bruising it. According to Dr. Wahbah az-Zuhaili in al-fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu, female circumcision is to cut as little as possible from the skin located at the top of farj. It is recommended that it be non-excessive, meaning not cutting the clitoris swell as a whole.

If medics do circumcision carefully and are not excessive as in accordance to the scholars, female circumcision is safe. However, consult with a Muslim doctor before circumcision is recommended.

Wallahu A’lam

by Aa. Sumadri
by Aa. Sumadri
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