Is Circumcision Required? (Question for my Cousin)

[Suhaib_Jobst]

As Salaam Alaykum,

I've seen that article before and showed it to Hassan. We both agree again. We think it is a ridiculous article.

Firstly, I'm not male, but Hassan pointed out that some things in that article are blatantly wrong about what it says regarding certain situations that occur when being uncircumcised. I think that he, being uncircumcised would know it better than anyone else.

Exactly, jazakallah khair! I am wary of using "health" and "scientific" evidences, because (1) these can be easily manipulated, and (2) there are likewise differing opinions, I have seen articles which state the very opposite. So I believe it is best to simply leave such "evidences" and concentrate on the religious evidences.

No one claims that it is not an accepted Islamic practice. Everyone accepts that it was practiced by the prophets. However, calling to this practice is not one of the necessary elements for a Muslim, i.e. it is not one of the Five Pillars, Six Fundamentals, or wajib such as Salat five times a day.

It also ignores the fact that people are coming to Islam in great numbers and many of them come from peoples who do not practice this. So it becomes a needless stumbling block from acceptance to Islam, and makes Islam appear to be a cultural phenomenon rather than the Universal Religion.

I believe that in starting this article, we specifically said that we don't want OPINIONS (ie, from Scholars). We want to see Hadith on the matter. I think that Hassan is going to be mad when I explain some of the responses to him, as this is exactly what he didn't want to hear. We've heard all this before and we want PROOF.

I know you said you didn't want to see opinions from scholars, but I have found some interesting fatawa which explain the matter distinctly and wisely, masha'Allah:

"While circumcision is an incumbent religious duty in Islam, it is not a condition for being a Muslim. Given that, it doesn't affect the validity of his prayer, or your marriage." http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...=1&cate0&t=rss

"Because of this difference of opinion, scholars are generally easy-going and gentle with recent converts to Islam on the issue of circumcision." http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...3&cate=0&t=rss

"Hence it is a greatly meritorious sunnah as well as physically beneficial to perform this act. However it is not a pre-requisite for conversion to Islam." http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...ID=1376&CATE=3

"However, it should be remembered here, that he who opts not to be circumcised should regularly clean the area underneath the foreskin of his sex organ because, in Islam cleanliness of the body is obligatory for performing prayers." http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.a...=1731&CATE=115

"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." www.islamset.com/hip/health5/circum.html

In any case, like I said no one debates its merituous place in our Din but most can only quote the hadith about the five acts of Fitra. So you are exactly right about the matter.

I myself am a proud Muslim revert of German, Spanish and Flemish ancestry. I was a former catholic who was guided to Islam, masha'Allah. That being said, I came from peoples who do not practice circumcision, yet who are naturally eager for the message of Islam, as it would solve many of the social ills in European and Latin societies.

So I would ask our Arab, Pakistani and other brothers who were raised Muslims to keep in mind how early scholars tackled this issue in relation to their Da'wa and their concern with spreading Islam:

"That all peoples, white and black, Romans, Persians and Abbysinians accepted Islam in the time of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and none of them were investigated concerning circumcision." - Al-Hasan al-Basri

"It has been narrated from Al-Hasan that he allowed adult converts to Islam relaxation in getting themselves circumcised. He did not see any harm in their being uncircumcised. He did not see anything wrong with their being called as witnesses or their slaughtering animals or their going for Hajj or their offering prayers." (Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr, Al-Tamheed)

"If a male adult embraces Islam and feels apprehensive about circumcision, it is waived in his case, since ablution, ghusl or grand ablution, and other obligations are waived in his case if he feels any of these is hazardous. It makes then more sense for circumcision to be waived in such a case." (Imam Ibn Qudama, Al-Mughni)

After the conversion of many people stopped the revenues from Jizya, Jarrah the governor in Khurasan, advised that circumcision be adopted as the religious test for true acceptance of Islam. However, Khalifa Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (rahimahullah) replied in a letter: "Allah sent Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) to summon men [to Islam] and not to circumcise." (Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, Annales, vol. II, p. 1354)

So what are our priorities? Is it not to call ALL the people to Islam? Should we focus on those matters which it is OBLIGATORY for them to believe or practice, such that failure to do so would cause them to leave the fold of Islam? Such as not believing in the Six Fundamentals, not practicing the Five Pillars, and failure to pray five times a day. So I ask that we become wise and realistic in this regard. Wa Allahu A'lam.

[Ma'ruf]

After the conversion of many people stopped the revenues from Jizya, Jarrah the governor in Khurasan, advised that circumcision be adopted as the religious test for true acceptance of Islam. However, Khalifa Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (rahimahullah) replied in a letter: "Allah sent Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) to summon men [to Islam] and not to circumcise." (Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, Annales, vol. II, p. 1354)

Mashallah, what a considered and excellent post that we can all learn from. Jazak Allah kheir brother.

[The_Humble_One]

Salam. I am pretty sure the Saudi news story is a very rare event. That's what TV news tries to do--shock people with shocking news. So to the viewer, the reality seems scary even though it's far from it... So ask him to stop worrying. Just my 2 cents.

[Jafarrr]

I am typing for him again now... he isn't sure that it is mandatory, but is actually thinking of getting it done down the road, whenever he gets permission from his parents and can talk to them about it (he's under 18).

I am typing for him again now:

I thank every one Alhamdullilah for answering my question. I think it seems that it seems that to get the procedure done is better, since it further symbolizes your devotion.

But I need to further embarrass myself with an even more in-depth question -

Is it necessary to get ALL the foreskin removed, or just part of it?

(It seems that today when circumcision is done on matured men (I've seen operations on TV and Internet), all the foreskin is usually removed which becomes a complicated procedure involving stitches. But obviously, in the past, they weren't able to use stitches or even freeze the person or put him to sleep. Thus it had to be done with ONE quick cut which would only remove part of the foreskin. Removing all of it is complicated and can take up to five minutes. Instead of one quick cut... if this were done in past, it would require minutes of grueling pain.)

So it must be permissible just to have like half of it removed?

Is there anyone who can explain the details of this better?

[TLC_Bhatty]

I am wary of using "health" and "scientific" evidences, because (1) these can be easily manipulated, and (2) there are likewise differing opinions. . .

Wow, what a rich and interesting insight. You are certainly right about scientific disagreement. Outside the Muslim world, 19 out of 20 males are not circumcised and they are not falling over with disease. I really believe all this talk of cleanliness is a misinterpretation of hygiene standards from a different technological age. I also believe that due to the controversy, it is noble to be humble and to leave the choice to the one person whose body it is, to be made with full information and a willing heart. This is cleanliness of spirit.

I find it noteworthy that the Glorious Qur'an includes no specific mention of genital cutting for either gender, but does include:
---------
- 32:7 He is the One who perfected everything He created, and started the creation of the human from clay.

- 82:7-8 The One who created you, designed you, and perfected you. In whatever design He chose, He constructed it.

- 95:4 We created man in the best design.
---------
This does not suggest a creation in need of man-made improvement.

Peace,

[Suhaib_Jobst]

Wow, what a rich and interesting insight. You are certainly right about scientific disagreement. Outside the Muslim world, 19 out of 20 males are not circumcised and they are not falling over with disease. I really believe all this talk of cleanliness is a misinterpretation of hygiene standards from a different technological age.

Jazakallah Khair! The only disease for which uncircumcised men were found more at risk than circumcised men was penile cancer, but even these rates were extremely rare in all societies. Even if one was to say it is more sanitary, there is no reason why such practices as Istinja couldn't be done uncircumcised. It is still quite easy to clean.

I also believe that due to the controversy, it is noble to be humble and to leave the choice to the one person whose body it is, to be made with full information and a willing heart. This is cleanliness of spirit.

Jazakallah Khair!

I find it noteworthy that the Glorious Qur'an includes no specific mention of genital cutting for either gender, but does include....This does not suggest a creation in need of man-made improvement.

This is also a matter of which I have long been curious, but have yet to receive any satisfactory answers. I do respect those for whom it is a cultural practice, but just question it when they demand that it is a condition for entering Islam or who pressure the male revert to have it done. Is it not their own business? Is it not a flawed and confused mind which likes to focus on someone else's genitals?

[Jafarrr]

I am typing for him again now... he isn't sure that it is mandatory, but is actually thinking of getting it done down the road, whenever he gets permission from his parents and can talk to them about it (he's under 18).

I am typing for him again now:

I thank every one Alhamdullilah for answering my question. I think it seems that it seems that to get the procedure done is better, since it further symbolizes your devotion.

But I need to further embarrass myself with an even more in-depth question -

Is it necessary to get ALL the foreskin removed, or just part of it?

(It seems that today when circumcision is done on matured men (I've seen operations on TV and Internet), all the foreskin is usually removed which becomes a complicated procedure involving stitches. But obviously, in the past, they weren't able to use stitches or even freeze the person or put him to sleep. Thus it had to be done with ONE quick cut which would only remove part of the foreskin. Removing all of it is complicated and can take up to five minutes. Instead of one quick cut... if this were done in past, it would require minutes of grueling pain.)

So it must be permissible just to have like half of it removed?

Is there anyone who can explain the details of this better?