Old Yundum Upper and Senior Secondary School

YOU WON'T REGRET READING THIS ARTICLE FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON FGM.

🖋️🖋️🖋️ ALHASSAN KANTEH.

BISMILLAH.

Assala'mualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. The issue of FGM as we called it has reached at the peak of chaos in this country. However, One must be grounded with the knowledge of both sides, using wisdom and be guided with concrete informations inorder to conclude on the reality of this issue. There's a need for a dialogue regarding this matter. If you really understand the Islamic perspective on this matter and understand why other human rights and gender zactivists are always against this practice, You will surely prefer a positive and a peaceful dialogue between the following people; The Islamic Scholars, The activists and the government. Yeah, I mean a dialogue. Why? Read below.
The push and pull on this matter would be somehow unnecessary if we don't sit as Gambians and discuss the matter. We have well learned Islamic scholars in this country, intellectuals and well experienced health personnels. Let's sit and discuss the matter for the betterment of the country. Why are the Islamic scholars still insisting that the practise is Islamic and why are the activists saying it's harmful and in fact It is not Islam? Why is the government not taking a step on this critical issue. A peaceful dialogue will surely result to a positive conclusion. Let knowledge and experience guide the dialogue, tolerance and positivity. Throwing words on one another or trying to fuel anger shall never be the solution to this matter.
We need to know how and what we advocate for. There must be a huge difference between FGM and Female circumcision. If the human right activists are only fighting for the ban of FGM in this country, We should all join hands together to help them win this battle, because FGM is not what islam has really taught us. FGM (Female ge***al mutilation) is a bad practise and could lead to very bad health complications. Without an atom weight of fear or panic, If FGM is what really these people are fighting against, We must all support the movement and make sure it is banned. But guess what? Don't you think we are advocating for two different things? FGM and Female circumsicion..Isn't this the case?
Progressively, let us delve into the core of my argument, the Islamic viewpoint. One needs to understand that Islam did not condemn female circumcision. There’s no evidence that states that Islam is against female circumsion in any books of Hadith that I have come across.
To set the terms and terminologies right, I’m not satisfied with the term “Mutilation” because it is not supposed to be mutilated but just reduced. Therefore, the term Female Ge***al Mutilation is extreme and misleading and an attempt to incite a wrong notion towards this beautiful culture. But do you know that most of these female practitioners especially in our rural areas, are cutting it all instead of reducing it, because they are not Islamically oriented about the practise?
If one looks at female circumcision through the Islamic lens, it is fine to practice it within the limits as the prophet is recorded to have said; "Do not be extreme in it. Which is to say; " Do not overdo it by cutting it all". Cutting it all is what we call muitilation. This practise must not be encouraged. However, We understood that female circumsion is Islamic and FGM is not what the scholars of Islam are advocating for. Therefore, A peaceful dialogue on how to practise the Islamic way of circumcision and giving licenses to well trained individuals who would practise it Islamically and let anyone who practises muitilation face the consequences of the law, must be a priority.
I am not in support of FGM. Rather, I'm in support of FC (female circumcision) because it is part of our Deen. Sometimes, It really saddens the heart to see people who cannot even differentiate between "Ba'adah salaam and Qabla salaam" to argue that female circumcision is not Islamic. This is scary! However, Read below to let you know why this practise (Female circumcision) is Islamic.

*SO HOW IS FEMALE CIRCUMCISION A SUNNAH*
When the prophet (ﷺ) went to Madina, he (ﷺ) found a woman who used to conduct female circumcision and he said to her, "cut some part and leave some part, for that is better for her and more desirable by her husband." This is an approval, right?

Yet in another Hadīth, he (ﷺ) said: "When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) and the circumcised parts touch each other Ghusl becomes obligatory." And this is found in Sahīh Muslim.

What does this last Hadīth tell us? Clearly, it does not mean that if either of the ge***als is not circumcised, Ghusl is not obligatory, as we all know once pe*******on takes place, Ghusl becomes obligatory. Rather, the Hadīth is telling us that circumcision is a prerequisite, in other words an important requirement for both the man and the woman before sexual in*******se.

Yet, in another Hadīth, the prophet (ﷺ) said: "the natural obligations (fitrah) are five: Circumcision, Clipping the nails, trimming the moustache, shaving the hair between the two legs and shaving the armpit hair.

All these authentic Ahadīth cannot support something and that thing becomes Harām or not part of the Deen as these human right and gender activists are claiming.

*Now, let's see scholarly views on this.*
There are three views of scholars regarding this matter:
1. Circumcision is obligatory for both males and females
2. It is obligatory for males and recommended for females
3. It is recommended for both genders.

Many scholars are in line with the second one, which I personally agree with. And Allāh knows best.

Moreover, My humble request to each and every citizen of this country is to support female circumcision and eradicate female ge***al mutilation by properly teaching circumcision practitioners how to properly circumcise. Let them prepare a special budget for this practise and make sure no one practises it if you don't have the proper license. In addition, My call on the general citizenry is to put religion at the forefront of our matters and have regards for our beautiful cultures. It is a grave crime against Allah that a person makes Haram what He has made Halal.

In conclusion, Let the law be flexible on this matter and make it optional rather than banning it. Female circumcision has a lot of health benefits if only you know. The prophet would not encourage anything that is harmful to the people. Let people who want to practise it, be free to practise it (Female circumcision). This is our Deen and it is High time Muslims are giving all the rights to practise what is considered part of their religion. Let's look into this matter thoroughly and use concrete knowledge with wisdom to come into terms.

Jazakumullahu Khairan!

🖊️🖊️🖊️ ALHASSAN KANTEH.