Female Circumcision

The purpose of the previous blog, was to educate both muslims and non-muslims about how Islamic Jursiprudence and rulings/Fatwas are derived which encourage or inform Muslim behaviours. Many fatwas are regularly issued which have no basis at all in the primary sources i.e Quran and hadiths and are based on supposed interpretations and inferences. Fatwas and rulings are generally issued by religious authorities but at times do not necessarily have a basis except in the whimsical view of the scholar issuing the fatwa.

As an example, certain African and Arab communities from within the Muslim world practice female circumcision as centuries old traditions which pre-dated Islam’s influence. This goes on today in Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and other neighbouring non-Muslim countries. The Quran nowhere recommends or mentions this very harmful practice as a religious instruction.

The hadiths although making several favorable mention of male circumcision, makes only one single mention of an event associated with female circumcision. This hadith is deemed unreliable by the famous hadith compiler Abu Daud in whose collection it appears. The narration chain is not considered reliable and the hadith defective and blemished.

Umm 'Atiyyah narrated: "A woman used to perform circumcision in Madinah. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said to her: 'When you circumcise, do not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.'" (Related by Abu Dawud)

This hadith is regarded by those communities who want to retain the tradition as an approval by the prophet Muhammad s.a.s of their practice of female circumcision despite it being confirmed a very weak narration. Even the most extreme muslim scholar however would rule approval of only WHO Type Ia Female circumcision i.e removal of the clitoral prepuce to a limited extent. All other forms are prohibited explicitly by even the most traditional muslim scholars. Most, if not all Muslim scholars prohibit any modification to the female genitalia.

The nature and extent of Female circumcision

Amnesty International estimates that over 130 million women worldwide have been affected by some form of FGM.

Type I - The WHO defines Type I FGM as the partial or total removal of the clitoris (partial or total clitoridectomy) and/or the prepuce:
· Type Ia, removal of the clitoral hood/prepuce only [The only one approved by a small minority of Islamic scholars];
· Type Ib, removal of the clitoris with the prepuce

Type II - Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (excision).
· Type IIa, removal of the labia minora only;
· Type IIb, partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora;
· Type IIc, partial or total removal of the clitoris, the labia minora and the labia majora

Type III (Infibulation) - The WHO defines Type III FGM as narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and repositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris. [In short the labia majora is sutured to conceal both the vaginal orifice and urethral orifice with the clitoris and labia minora sometimes being excised. A small opening is left for menstrual and urinary fluid to be eliminated]

Type IV all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes. This includes a diverse range of practices, such as pricking the clitoris with needles, burning or scarring the genitals as well as ripping or tearing of the vagina

A Unicef report summarizes it all

“The Al-Azhar Supreme Council of Islamic Research, the highest religious authority in Egypt, issued a statement saying female circumcision has no basis in core Islamic law or any of its partial provisions and that it is harmful and should not be practiced." In fact, this pre-Islamic barbarity runs contrary to the Islamic tenet which dictates that a man should make sure his wife enjoys their lovemaking. Coptic Pope Shenouda, the leader of Egypt's minority Christian community, said that neither the Quran nor the Bible demand or mention female circumcision”

The conclusion therefore according to the overwhelming opinion of Islamic scholars is that Islam prohibits female circumcision and encourages Male circumcision.

Why Halal is more humane from Belfast Telegraph

.............................. When the arteries in the neck are severed, blood pressure to the brain falls to negligible levels almost instantly, rendering the animal unconscious, certainly faster than the time lapse until any pain resulting from the cut could possibly be felt.

What Mr Elliott fails to appreciate is that the stunning process itself often fails to be effective at its first application, requiring repeated attempts which causes considerable pain and distress to the animal.

In reality, when performed by a skilled slaughterer, this is the most humane way of killing animals.

MARTIN D STERN

Salford, England

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/why-halal-is-more-humane-14535645.html#ixzz0UN9Yihsn

The Dajjal and his demise

The Dajjal and its system has swayed masses and masses of people, muslims included. Heedlessness and unawareness have become the norm. An Islamic awakening currently in progress will eliminate the Dajjal and restore the historical norm - Muslims as effective witnesses and bearers of truth. This means that Muslims will be so effective in their religion, that intellectually any uncertain soul who is wandering, lost or confused will without doubt suddenly see crystal clear arguments against all Godless ideologies and know that worship of God and dedication to Him is the real deal. InshAllah.

When the summon finally comes

The physician, with his medical art and his drugs, Cannot avert a summons that has come, What ails the physician that he dies of the disease That he would have cured in time gone by? There died alike he who administered the drug and he who took it, And he who imported and sold the drug, and he who bought it.

Verses upon the death in Baghdad of the physician Yuhanna ibn Masawayh in 857

Hadith on Imam Mahdi a.s followers

He said: "Look for them at the edges of the world.
1Their lives are simple,
2their homes are on their backs,
3 even if present they are not recognized,
4 IF THEY ARE LOST NONE WILL LOOK FOR THEM,
5 IF THEY ARE SICK NONE WILL VISIT THEM,
6 and if they wish to marry none will come to them.
7 If THEY DIE, NONE WILL ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS.
8 They share their possessions equally among them and visit one another’s graves;
9 their wishes are all the same, even if they are in different cities."

Fetus Submitting by Prostating to Allah after hearing Quran

Glory be to Allah. Who has created us in a form of submission to Him.
Fetus is initially moving, kicking around highly active and displaying a normal fetal status.
Recitation of Quran turned on. The fetus changes position, with its occipit now facing the abdominal wall, the head flexes and it nearly stops all activity for as long as the Quran goes on. Amazingly calm, submissive and assumes the prostation position. The positioning towards the end is exactly how the Muslim prayer prostation takes place. Praise be to Allah whose words captivate all of creation. He is the All knowing. The One to Whom all submit.

Imam Ghazali on the Quran

The image of the Qur'an as an ocean is a particularly popular one, as in this quote from the Jawāhir al-Qur'ān of Abū al-Ghazali."

"I will rouse you from your sleep, you who have given yourself up to recitation, who have taken the study of the Qur'an as a practice, who have seized upon some of its outward meanings and sentences. How long will you wander about the shore of the sea with your eyes closed to its wonders? Was it not for you to sail through its depths in order to see its amazing things, to travel to its islands to pick its delicacies, to dive to its bottom and become rich from obtaining its jewels? Don't you despise yourself for losing out on its pearls and jewels as you continue to look only to its shores and esoteric aspects? Haven't you heard that the Qur'an is an ocean from which the knowledge of all ages branches out just as rivers and streams branch out from the shores of the ocean?Don't you envy the happiness of people who have plunged into its overflowing waves and seized red sulfur, who have dived into its depths and taken out red rubies, shining pearls and green chrysolite, who have roamed its shores and gathered gray ambergris and fresh blooming aloes wood, who have clung to its islands and found an abundance in their animals of the greatest antidote and pungent musk?"