Female genital mutilation in Pakistan?

[Zafra]

Re: Female genital mutilation in Pakistan?

@Deeba1234

You’re making it sound like it’s more linked to Christianity when Wikipedia seems to be saying it’s just as likely (if not more) to happen to Muslims in Africa as well

2 of the 4 madhabs in Islam (with followers mostly in Africa and Arabia) both say female circumcision is strongly encouraged.. There’s apparently no mention of it in the Qur’an tho, only hadith, so whilst the rulings below show the **historical **views, some scholars say the hadiths are weak and go as far to say it shouldn’t be done now..

Wikipedia seems to imply it’s a cultural practice rather than a religious one which predated Islam in Africa but the line between culture and religion somehow became blurred.. There are a few countries like Malaysia where it’s done but in Africa and parts of the ME is where it stems from..
**
The main article on FGM on Wikipedia gives more detailed info: **

Female genital mutilation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Religious views on female genital mutilation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Historical religious views

The historical religious view of Islam, on FGM, varies with the school of Islamic jurisprudence:

• **The Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence considers female circumcision to be wajib (obligatory).
  **
• The Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence considers female circumcision to be makrumah (honorable) and strongly encouraged, to obligatory.[SUP][23]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_on_female_genital_mutilation#cite_note-aa2008-23)[/SUP]
• The Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence considers female circumcision to be sunnah (optional) and preferred.
• The Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence considers female circumcision to be sunnah (preferred).

**
Sunni view**

There are dichotomous differences of opinion among Sunni scholars in regards to female genital cutting. These differences of opinion range from obligatory to acceptable. The Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of Islamic jurisprudence consider circumcision to be obligatory for both males and females, while the Hanafi and Maliki schools of Islamic jurisprudence consider circumcision to be Sunnah (preferred) for both males and females.There is no consensus whether the hadiths support or forbid FGM. Different schools of Islamic jurisprudence have expressed different views on FGM.

(More modern controversy)

Similarly, Al-Azhar - one of the most respected universities of the Islamic World in Cairo - has issued a number of fatwas on female circumcision over its history.On June 23, 1951, a fatwafrom Al-Azhar declared that it does not recognise the abandonment of female circumcision as an option, and that female circumcision is advisable because it curbs “nature”. Moreover, this fatwa declared doctors’ opinions on the disadvantages of female circumcision as irrelevant. On January 29, 1981, another fatwafrom Al-Azhar was authored and proclaimed by the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar. The fatwa insisted that it is impossible to abandon the lessons of Mohammed in favor of the teaching of others, such as doctors, because the science of medicine evolves. The fatwa then recommended to the Islamic community that female circumcision is a duty, and the responsibility of female circumcision lies with the guardian of the girl. In October 1994,the mufti of Egypt publicly declared that hadiths on female circumcision attributed to the Prophet were unreliable; however, within days of this announcement, Shaykh Gad al-Haq Ali of al-Azhar issued a fatwa that female circumcision is a part of the legal body of Islam and is a laudable practice that honors women. Egyptian government, in 1996, banned female circumcision in hospitals and prohibited licensed professionals from performing FGM. However, in 1997, Shaykh Nasr Farid Wasil, Grand Mufti of Egypt, issued a fatwa that female circumcision should be permitted even though it is not obligatory under Islam. Soon after, Egypt’s court overturned the government ban on female circumcision in hospitals and by licensed professionals.[SUP]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_on_female_genital_mutilation#cite_note-sjanencyclo-56)[/SUP]
In March 2005, Dr Ahmed Talib, Dean of the Faculty of Sharia at Al-Azhar University, stated: "All practices of female circumcision and mutilation are crimes and have no relationship with Islam. Whether it involves the removal of the skin or the cutting of the flesh of the female genital organs… it is not an obligation in Islam."Both Christian and Muslim leaders have publicly denounced the practice of FGM since 1998.A conference at Al-Azhar University in Cairo (December 2006) brought prominent Muslim clergy to denounce the practice as not being necessary under the umbrella of Islam. Although there was some reluctance amongst some of the clergy, who preferred to hand the issue to doctors, making the FGM a medical decision, rather than a religious one, the then Grand Mufti of Egypt, Ali Gomaa signed a resolution denouncing the practice.

Source: Religious views on female genital mutilation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What is the hadis source of these religious rulings? The reason being is that the ones indicated for non-African countries are not adequate sources.

As an example the source of Bahrain mentions it in passing with no real data or anything. The second source is unavailable on line or in print.

The same can be said for most Muslim countries. There is no documented evidence unlike in Africa (both Muslim and Christian). Specifically in the cases of Egypt, Ethopia, Kenya, Somalia etc.

Its an African tradition that is covered both by Christianity and Islam. But we know your obvious bias against Islam so lets leave it at you believe what you wish.