Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I want information on circumcision of women. If it is an Islamic rite, what are its benefits? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Cicumcision Women

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The act of circumcision was not started or initiated by Prophet Mohamed (saws), but was rather a Sunnah or tradition of the Noble Prophet Abraham (a.s.) which was practiced by the Jews and the Arabs even prior to the advent of Prophet Mohamed (saws).

The Messenger of Allah (saws) encouraged the believing men to practice circumcision and called it a characteristic of ‘fitrah’ or nature for the men; but he (saws) did not encourage nor endorse nor command the womenfolk to practice circumcision.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.779 Narrated by Abu Huraira

I heard the Prophet (saws) saying. "Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra (nature):, shaving the pubic hair, , clipping the nails, depilating the hair of the armpits, cutting the moustaches short and circumcision (for males)."

Circumcision for women is definitely not an Islamic rite, thus it would be best and purest if the believing women abstained from practicing it.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan