Let us begin with a definition of circumcision linguistically and in Islamic law. The Arabic word for cirumcision is derived from the verb khatana, which means to cut or sever, and the word khitan is used for both the procedure of circumcision and for the part of the body which is circumcised, as indicated in the authentic hadith related by Aisha, who directly quotes the Prophet pbuh as saying: "If the two 'circumcision' organs meet, grand ablution, i.
In some versions the hadith is phrased as if the chain of transmission ends with her and the statement is made in her own words, but this is still regarded as equal to a direct quote.
Male circumcision. Scholars are not unanimous on the question of male circumcision; some , maintain that it is obligatory, while others say it is recommended. Those who say it is an obligation cite a number of proofs in evidence.
One of these is that the Prophet pbuh says: " Abraham circumcised himself at the age of eighty, using a hatchet"4 related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Hajar lists seven arguments as evidence, one of them is the above-quoted hadith and the others are quoted below.
After making each point, he cites the comments made on it by scholars. The first is that the prepuce retains impurity, which renders prayers invalid, the same as in the case of a person holding an impure object. Scholars have found this hadith to be lacking in authenticity.
The third is that a person who is going to be circumcised is allowed to expose his genitals, the exposure of which is usually prohibited.
If circumcision were not obligatory, the exposure would not have been allowed. The fourth is that the procedure isa removal of a part of the body that does not grow back, and it is done as an act of worship. This makes it obligatory, the same as the amputation ofa thief's hand. The fifth is that it causes considerable pain, which is permitted only in one of three cases: an advantage, a punishment, or an obligation.
The first two are inapplicable, which makes the third the valid reason in this case. The sixth reason which makes circumcision an obligation is that it is the distinctive mark of Islam, distinguishing a Muslim from an infidel. In Tulifat al-mawdood, Ibn al-Qayyem lists fifteen points of evidence, proving , that circumcision is an obligation6, among which are those quoted from Ibn Hajar. After the list, he writes a chapter in which he quotes the response to these points by those who disagree that circumcision is obligatory.
Ibn Hajar says "According to Al-Baihaqi, the best argument is to cite as evidence the hadith reported by Abu Huraira and listed in both AI-Bukhari' s and Muslim' s anthologies of authentic hadith as a direct quote from the Prophet pbuh and which says, Abraham circumcised himself at the age of eighty, using a hatchet'. God says, Then We inspired you with this message : Follow the creed of Abraham An authentic hadith quotes Ibn Abbas as saying that the commandments by which God tested Abraham and which the latter fulfilled7 were qualities of normal, sound human nature, one of which was circumcision.
As a result, he suffered great pain and prayed God to relieve his pain. God sent him a message saying, 'You hastened to do it before being told what instI-ument to use'. He answered, 'Lord, I hated to procrastinate in carrying out Your command'9,"'o Apparently, this command was observed by Abraham's followers, including the Arabs before Islam who had retained some remnants of his religion, the most obvious of which was the pilgrimage, Abu Shama says: " Arabs regarded the prepuce as filthy, Censure and satire of the non-circumcised is frequent in their poetry.
Circumcision, for them, was a special occasion, and it called for a special banquet. Islam endorses this attitude". Such observance can only be for something which is obligatory. Ibn Hajar sums up the views of scholars on circumcision as follows: " Al- Shafie and the majority of his disciples believe circumcision is an obligation. Among old scholars who hold the same opinion is Attaa. He goes so far as to say: 'If an adult embraces Islam, he does not become a full Muslim until he is circumcised.
Abu Hanifa holds the opinion that it is an obligation, but not an ordinance. AI-Nawawi says that circumcision is viewed by Malik and many other scholars as a sunna. Malik emphasizes the point and goes as far as to say: 'When a man is not circumcised, he cannot be an imam in prayer and his testimony cannot be admitted'. Judge Iyadh says: "For Malik and scholars in general, circumcision is a sunna, but they are of the opinion that failure to observe a sunna is akin to a sin, for they place it somewhere between a recommended practice and an ordinance.
Therefore, the Imam Malik declares that the testimony of a non-circumcised man cannot be admitted, nor should he serve as imam ". The same view is held by Ibn Abu Musa, one of Ahmad ' s colleagues, who says it is a confirmed sunna.
This is what many scholars believe". It makes then more sense for circumcision to be waived in such a case". The point of view I find most convincing is that circumcision is obligatory only for males, as suggested by the evidence used by those who deem it obligatory, some of which is cited above, but the obligation is waived in the case of a person who embraces Islam and feels afraid of the consequences of the procedure.
In any case, it is not a condition for the validity of a person's profession of accepting the Islamic faith or the performance of his religious duties. Many scholars express the opinion that circumcision is one of the rituals of Islam and that if the population of a town intentionally and collectively abandon it, the ruler should fight them the same way as he should do if they abandon the call for prayer.
Time for circumcision As for the time set for circumcision, Al-Mawardi says: "There are two periods tor it, one at which it becomes obligatory and another at which it is recommended. The first is the time of puberty, and the other is any time before that.
The seventh day after birth is chosen as the proper date for circumcision". The question of time is a matter of controversy, and the important point is that a boy should be circumcised when he reaches puberty.
It is the habit of people to have their male children circumcised shortly after birth, which is a good habit. There is, however, no hadith that supplies a definite evidence as to any definite time to perform this obligation. Abu al-Sheikh cites a quotation of Jaber saying that the Prophet pbuh had his grandsons Hassan and Hussein circumcised when they were seven days old.
AI-Walid ibn Muslim says: "I asked Malik about it, and he said: 'I do not know, but circumcision is an act of p urification, and therefore the earlier it is performed, the better to my liking". AI-Nawawi says in Al-rawdha: "Circumcision becomes obligatory when the age of puberty is reached. But it is recommended to have a child circumcised on his seventh day, unless the baby is too weak to take it. Like this: Like Loading Previous Topple the system — question the microaggressions.
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This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Circumcision of boys Last updated On this page Find out more Page options Print this page. Islam and male circumcision Muslims are still the largest single religious group to circumcise boys.
Some Muslims see circumcision as a preventive measure against infection and diseases. Belonging For the majority of Muslims, circumcision is seen as an introduction to the Islamic faith and a sign of belonging.
Create new account Log in. English en. Indonesian id. Uygur ug. The health and religious benefits of circumcision. Publication : Being not a religious person I wonder why jewish and islamic people consider circumcision obligatory. It seems to me that a muslim considers every human being as a perfect creation of Allah. So why doubt this perfection by changing God's creation?
I know of course about hygienic considerations, but I really hope that you can give an answer to my question. Thank you for your kindness. Praise be to Allah.
From al-Khitaan, p. Muhammad al-Baar. And Allaah knows best.
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