Islam against FGM – a Ritual Independent from Religion
by Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In
traditional societies, FGM or female genital cutting is still justified and
explained by “Islam”. However, FGM is prohibited according to Islam because it
causes enormous harm to the bodies and souls of women. FGM is a brutal and
irreligious ritual that not only disregards the rights of women, but also
denies them their self-determination as well as their physical, emotional, and
psychological health. I would therefore like to thank the German-Syrian
gynaecologist Dr. Houaida Taraji for answering to my questions
in the following interview:
traditional societies, FGM or female genital cutting is still justified and
explained by “Islam”. However, FGM is prohibited according to Islam because it
causes enormous harm to the bodies and souls of women. FGM is a brutal and
irreligious ritual that not only disregards the rights of women, but also
denies them their self-determination as well as their physical, emotional, and
psychological health. I would therefore like to thank the German-Syrian
gynaecologist Dr. Houaida Taraji for answering to my questions
in the following interview:
Milena
Rampoldi: Many people associate FGM with Islam. How can we rectify this
misconception in accordance with the Quran and Sunna?
Rampoldi: Many people associate FGM with Islam. How can we rectify this
misconception in accordance with the Quran and Sunna?
Houaida Taraji: In Islamic
law, the preservation of human beings – their life and physical integrity – is
a legal claim. All aspects endangering this legal claim by damaging the person
is forbidden in Islam. For these reasons and the high Islamic commandment,
the female must be protected and FGM banned.
law, the preservation of human beings – their life and physical integrity – is
a legal claim. All aspects endangering this legal claim by damaging the person
is forbidden in Islam. For these reasons and the high Islamic commandment,
the female must be protected and FGM banned.
MR: There
is a weak Hadith which is still used in traditional African societies to cut
women. How can this be opposed and stopped?
is a weak Hadith which is still used in traditional African societies to cut
women. How can this be opposed and stopped?
HT: There is this weak
Hadith saying “the circumcision without cutting into, this makes the face (of
the girl) more illuminated and is an advantage for the husband.” (Mu’jam al-Tabarânî
al-Awsat).
Hadith saying “the circumcision without cutting into, this makes the face (of
the girl) more illuminated and is an advantage for the husband.” (Mu’jam al-Tabarânî
al-Awsat).
On the basis of this
Hadith, the scholars permit female circumcision because the Prophet of Islam
expressly prohibited to go to extremes because of its prohibition “not to cut
into”.
Hadith, the scholars permit female circumcision because the Prophet of Islam
expressly prohibited to go to extremes because of its prohibition “not to cut
into”.
If you look at the scholars’ statements about the Hadith, you
find that a considerable number of famous scholars like Ibn Hajar, al-Bukhari,
Abu Dawud, al-Bayhaqi, ibn-ul-Mundthir, ash-Shawkani, stated that this Hadith
is weak and not reliable. Ibn ul-Mundthir state that “there is no tradition
about circumcision you can make reference to and there is no reliable chain of
transmitters you can follow.”
find that a considerable number of famous scholars like Ibn Hajar, al-Bukhari,
Abu Dawud, al-Bayhaqi, ibn-ul-Mundthir, ash-Shawkani, stated that this Hadith
is weak and not reliable. Ibn ul-Mundthir state that “there is no tradition
about circumcision you can make reference to and there is no reliable chain of
transmitters you can follow.”
It is well known under the
scholars of Islam that if a Hadith is considered week and unreliable, it cannot
be used as evidence for laying down a rule in Islam, because legal religious
rules must be proven with authentic, unequivocal evidence.
scholars of Islam that if a Hadith is considered week and unreliable, it cannot
be used as evidence for laying down a rule in Islam, because legal religious
rules must be proven with authentic, unequivocal evidence.
MR: In
Islam, women have a right to sexual satisfaction. How can you remove the taboo
about this matter in Islamic discussion?
Islam, women have a right to sexual satisfaction. How can you remove the taboo
about this matter in Islamic discussion?
HT: The Islamic sharia
also protects the female right to sexual satisfaction, proven by the fact that
a woman has right to divorce if her husband does not sexually satisfy her. All
Muslims who practice FGM around the world will abandon this repugnant practice
if they improve their knowledge of Islam. A clear example of this is that
various groups in Kenya, which do not practice female circumcision, are Muslims
in a country whose inhabitants are known for practising FGM.
also protects the female right to sexual satisfaction, proven by the fact that
a woman has right to divorce if her husband does not sexually satisfy her. All
Muslims who practice FGM around the world will abandon this repugnant practice
if they improve their knowledge of Islam. A clear example of this is that
various groups in Kenya, which do not practice female circumcision, are Muslims
in a country whose inhabitants are known for practising FGM.
MR: Please
explain to us from a medical point of view how terrible FGM (type I, II, and
III) is.
explain to us from a medical point of view how terrible FGM (type I, II, and
III) is.
HT: There are the
following types of FGC:
following types of FGC:
Type I:
This is the lightest form of FGC consisting of the removal of the prepuce or
parts of it, covering the female clitoris, by exposing the glans clitoridis.
This is the lightest form of FGC consisting of the removal of the prepuce or
parts of it, covering the female clitoris, by exposing the glans clitoridis.
Type II:
This type is known as clitoridectomy. Clitoris and labia minora are partially
or completely removed.
This type is known as clitoridectomy. Clitoris and labia minora are partially
or completely removed.
Type III:
One of the extreme types of FGC is the complete removal of the clitoris, the
labia minora e majora and the connection of both parts of the vulva over the
vagina by sewing the whole thing with a filament or other means so that they
finally heal together. Only a small, pencil-sized hole is left to let run off
menstruation blood and urine. This kind of FGC is known as infibulation or Pharaonic
circumcision to refer to its origin.
One of the extreme types of FGC is the complete removal of the clitoris, the
labia minora e majora and the connection of both parts of the vulva over the
vagina by sewing the whole thing with a filament or other means so that they
finally heal together. Only a small, pencil-sized hole is left to let run off
menstruation blood and urine. This kind of FGC is known as infibulation or Pharaonic
circumcision to refer to its origin.
In comparison with male
circumcision, FGM has not any medical advantages but only a series of
disadvantages like:
circumcision, FGM has not any medical advantages but only a series of
disadvantages like:
– Wound infections are very
frequent with FGM because of the female anatomy.
frequent with FGM because of the female anatomy.
– Scarring which are
obstructive and dangerous during births.
obstructive and dangerous during births.
– Hazard of urinary
infections because the bladder is cannot be emptied completely or only with
extreme difficulties.
infections because the bladder is cannot be emptied completely or only with
extreme difficulties.
– Infections of the abdomen
and congestions because the menstruation blood cannot run off or not
sufficiently.
and congestions because the menstruation blood cannot run off or not
sufficiently.
– This way a danger of
infection arises for the baby at birth (germs enter eyes and nose, etc.)
infection arises for the baby at birth (germs enter eyes and nose, etc.)
– The strongly cicatrised
female genital organs favourite infections in the genitals.
female genital organs favourite infections in the genitals.
– By removing or damaging
the clitoris the women is deprived of her sexual satisfaction.
the clitoris the women is deprived of her sexual satisfaction.
– Strong cicatrisation can
delay the birth and cause oxygen deficiency in the child. In extreme cases, it
can cause stillbirths.
delay the birth and cause oxygen deficiency in the child. In extreme cases, it
can cause stillbirths.
MR: Which
are the best socio-political strategies to convince Muslims in Europe to openly
oppose to FGM in the name of Islam?
are the best socio-political strategies to convince Muslims in Europe to openly
oppose to FGM in the name of Islam?
HT: The origin of FGM is evidently
not to be found in Islam, but in the Pharaonic circumcision in Egypt also
practised by Christians. In Europe there is no religiously legitimated FGM. I
have been gynaecologist for 25 years now and see this phenomenon once a year in
African immigrants.
not to be found in Islam, but in the Pharaonic circumcision in Egypt also
practised by Christians. In Europe there is no religiously legitimated FGM. I
have been gynaecologist for 25 years now and see this phenomenon once a year in
African immigrants.
It is not an Islamic
ritual. FGC is a cross-cultural, religiously neutral ritual. In Africa and the
Middle East it is practised by Muslims, Coptic Christians, members of different
domestic groups, protestants and Catholics to name a few of them.
ritual. FGC is a cross-cultural, religiously neutral ritual. In Africa and the
Middle East it is practised by Muslims, Coptic Christians, members of different
domestic groups, protestants and Catholics to name a few of them.
FGM was also practised in
Northern America and in particular in the USA; until 1950, the type I, II and
III were applied to take control of female sexual life.
Northern America and in particular in the USA; until 1950, the type I, II and
III were applied to take control of female sexual life.
In Islam those who simply
consider FGM as permissible justify their opinion on the basis of an additional
tradition by Um Atiyyah, according to which the Prophet heard about a girl’s circumcision and gave
instructions to the woman practising it.
consider FGM as permissible justify their opinion on the basis of an additional
tradition by Um Atiyyah, according to which the Prophet heard about a girl’s circumcision and gave
instructions to the woman practising it.
It is often said that FGM,
type I is a “sunna” circumcision. But we have to point out that the correct Islamic
point of view says that there is no reliable text requesting any type of female
circumcision. In the spirit of Islam, what damages is prohibited and what
promotes health is useful.
type I is a “sunna” circumcision. But we have to point out that the correct Islamic
point of view says that there is no reliable text requesting any type of female
circumcision. In the spirit of Islam, what damages is prohibited and what
promotes health is useful.
According to a fundamental
principle of Islamic law all what is not prohibited can be done. This permits a
lot of tolerance, but also puts into the position of handling new matters
important in a certain age.
principle of Islamic law all what is not prohibited can be done. This permits a
lot of tolerance, but also puts into the position of handling new matters
important in a certain age.
