Student, International Ahmadiyya University
of Theology and Scholastic Sciences in Ghana
An estimate record by WHO states that “between 100 and 400 million women and girls in the world have undergone some form of FGM. Although overall figures are difficult to estimate, they do indicate the massive scale of this human rights abuse. FGM affects far more women than previously thought.”
Moreover, it’s also estimated that based on survey, data suggests that in Africa 91.5 million girls and women aged 10 years and above have been subjected to this practice. Of these, 12.4 million are between 10 and 14 years of age (3). Looking at the high ratio of its practice, it’s assumed that if such an alarming situation should continue to exist in our civilized world, then some 86 million girls are more likely to experience some form of the practice by 2030.
Cultural Origin of FGM
The custom of Female Genital Mutilation is considered to be 2000 years old. It’s believed that FGM hails back from the ancient Egypt Empire where it was practised on female slaves with the aim of controlling their sexual libido. With the passage of time, this practice found itself escaping from the borders of Ancient Egypt to other Arabian countries; thus, it became widespread to other parts of the world.
According to independent research conducted by UNICEF regarding the root of FGM explicitly explains the role of religion in its practice states:
“FGM/C is often seen to be somehow connected to Islam; a view that is perhaps unsurprising given the frequency with which it is practised by many Muslim African groups. However, not all Islamic groups practise FGM/C, and many non-Islamic groups do… Despite the fact that FGM/C predates the birth of Islam and Christianity and is not mandated by religious scriptures, the belief that it is a religious requirement contributes to the continuation of the practice in a number of settings.” Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Overview and Exploration of Dynamics of Change”, UNICEF, accessed December8th,20214,http//www.chilinfo.org/FGM_Lo_res.pdf, p.69.
According to Professor Barbara Crandall regarding the history of FGM, he states:
“Female genital mutilation is an ancient practice dating back to the Pharaohs. Its goal is to control female sexuality and parents promote it to make their daughters acceptable as wives. It is not confined to Islamic countries but is more common there…and it is not mentioned in the Qur’an “. Barbara Crandall, Gender and Religion: The Dark Site of Scripture, 182.
Why FGM not Islamic?
The Holy Prophet (saw) said: ‘Five practices are of the inborn characteristics of man: circumcision, shaving the pubic region, removing hair under armpits, clipping the nails and cutting the moustaches short’. (Bukhari).
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) had several daughters but there isn’t a single narration which proposes that they or his wives have undergone this practice or subjected to it. Not even a single narration. On the contrary whatever Islamic law, he taught Muslims he would first set an example for others to follow. For example, with regards to the punishment of theft he would say, even if it were my daughter Fatima (ra) who has committed theft she would be subjected to the same punishment. (Sunan an-Nasa’i 4891, Book 46, Hadith 22 Vol. 5, Book 46, Hadith 4895)
Additionally, it’s implausible to hold the belief that the Holy Prophet (saw) who laid down every detail regarding all aspects of a Muslim’s life, including internal female processes such as menstruation, would overlook female circumcision if Islam had allowed it. No narration of female circumcision is found amongst the wives of the Holy Prophet (saw).
Some people try to find a way out in continuing this demoralizing practice by arguing that the practice was too embarrassing that is why the prophet (saw) didn’t teach it to his follower. However, this presumption is wrong because the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) has in detail very briefly and in clear language taught the Muslims about every Islamic Law, to the extent that once a Jew was prompted to state that the Muslims prophet had taught them everything including how to wash after answering to the call of nature.
Regarding shyness the Holy Prophet (saw) said ‘Shyness is part of faith’ however shyness doesn’t stop Muslims from asking every minute explanation of faith. For example, Hazrad Aisha (ra) said: ‘The best of the women are the women of the Ansar; shyness wouldn’t prevent them from inquiring about religion and acquiring a deep understanding of it’. (Sunan Abu Dawood.)
How about this hadith?
‘Narrated Umm Atiyyah al-Ansariyyah: A woman used to perform circumcision (on females) in Medina. The Prophet (saw) said to her: “Don’t cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband” (Sunan Abu Dawood)
The followings are the reasons why this hadith is dubious, unfounded and unreliable.
Sahih Bukhari, the most authentic source of the tradition of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) doesn’t relate to any such tradition. Second to Bukhari in terms of authenticity is Sahih Muslim, which again doesn’t record any tradition with regards to this matter. Indeed, of the six authentic books of traditions, five don’t contain any mention of the subject.
Only the sixth authentic book of traditions, Sunnan Abu Dawud mentions a tradition. Abu Dawud has a note recorded with this tradition which reads,” This report is Da’if (substandard)”. Similarly, in the account of Islamic Law offered by Sunnan Abu Dawud, states, “The tradition reporting female circumcision has many different versions and each of them are substandard, unsound and seriously doubtful.”
There is no Quranic injunction that supports this hadith.
However, we read in a hadith that the Holy Prophet (saw) circumcised his grandsons Al-Hasan and Al-Hussein (ra). But we don’t read anywhere that he commanded that his granddaughters or any daughter of his companions to be circumcised.
The health dangers and complications of FGM
Medical reports have it that the practice of FGM including the following harms such as severe bleeding, infections, problems in urinating and increased risk of new-born death.
Unqualified people with no prior medical trainings normally carry out this practice using non-sterile instruments, which can cause infections, gangrene and sepsis.
The process can also be a source of transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV, etc.
The entire process of FGM put young girls into both physical, and psychological disorders; which may take long duration before they are relieved of it or sometimes its complications may cause one succumb to death.
In January of this year a survivor of FGM narrates her ordeal to What’s on Gambia, the biggest online Gambian Bantaba, she states “As I’m writing this message tears are rolling down. I got married last week and I didn’t notice that I was locked. My husband couldn’t get through me.
Then I was rushed to the hospital where it was removed. But for days my husband couldn’t pass through me.”
In a nutshell, this practice cannot be either attributed to Islam or to its ounder, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) who has always stood for the rights of women and girls in all situations from the time that the rights of women and girls were usurped by the majority of societies.
