What is the ruling on female circumcision, and is it authentic that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it and that it has harms for the girl's future?
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The questioner : His second question asks: What is the ruling on female circumcision, and is it true that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it and that it has harms for the girl's future?
The Shaykh : Regarding female circumcision, some scholars held that it is obligatory, just as it is obligatory for the boy.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the well-known position in the school of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), that circumcision is obligatory for both the male and the female. Some scholars held that it is a recommended practice for the female and obligatory for the male. This is the practice of the people in our lands; they consider it obligatory for the boy, but not obligatory for the girl.
There is a third opinion among the scholars that it is a recommended practice for both, for the boy and the girl. The closest opinion to me is that it is a recommended practice for the girl and obligatory for the male.
Among the ways of proving its obligation is what some scholars said: that cutting a part of the body is forbidden, and a forbidden thing is not made permissible except by something obligatory, because a recommended practice does not make a forbidden thing permissible. This is an acceptable method, but it may be refuted against us in the case of the woman.
The questioner : His third question says.
The Shaykh : Regarding female circumcision, some scholars held that it is obligatory, just as it is obligatory for the boy.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the well-known position in the school of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), that circumcision is obligatory for both the male and the female. Some scholars held that it is a recommended practice for the female and obligatory for the male. This is the practice of the people in our lands; they consider it obligatory for the boy, but not obligatory for the girl.
There is a third opinion among the scholars that it is a recommended practice for both, for the boy and the girl. The closest opinion to me is that it is a recommended practice for the girl and obligatory for the male.
Among the ways of proving its obligation is what some scholars said: that cutting a part of the body is forbidden, and a forbidden thing is not made permissible except by something obligatory, because a recommended practice does not make a forbidden thing permissible. This is an acceptable method, but it may be refuted against us in the case of the woman.
The questioner : His third question says.