One of the common habits of Islam rejecters is to promote false claims about this great religion . Female circumcision or female genital cutting is regretfully one of these topics that is always linked to Islam. In the following few lines , the truth about this issue will be elucidated to all who are interested to know the right answer .??

1- External female genital organs (external genitalia) :

Anatomically , these are the visible external sex organs , and  in females all these structures are collectively called the vulva.

It consists of labia minora , two thin membranes of folded skin that enclose the vestibule that contains the urethral and the vaginal openings. The labia majora, two thick folds of skin , that  cover and protect the genital area.

A clitoris  , a vestigial homologue of the penis , that is covered by a fold of skin called the clitoral hood  (or preputium clitoridis or clitoral prepuce). It develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin (or prepuce) covering the penis in the male.

2- Female circumcision or female genital cutting:  is the partial or complete removal of the external genitalia, varying from removal of the prepuce (hood) of the clitoris only, to full excision of the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora. In the mildest form of  female circumcision , the prepuce (foreskin or ‘hood’) covering the clitoris in females is removed or incised  to expose the glans of clitoris. This process is called   prepucectomy.

3- Historically , female circumcision as a practice had been started during Pharonic era  ; the Infibulation or Pharaonic circumcision which  consists of removal of all the external genitalia, the whole of the clitoris and the entire labia minora. Thus , female circumcision had been started a long time before Islam.

4- In Islamic religion , neither male nor female circumcision were mentioned in Qura’n . In Prophet’s talks (ahadeeth) , only male circumcision was mandatory (Sunnah) but female circumcision was described as a noble thing for them (Makruma). (Narrated in Musnad Ahmad). Although this hadeeth, according to scholars , is authentically weak , yet it indicates that Female circumcision is not obligatory in Islam .

5- If female circumcision is to be done , Prophet Muhammad ( Peace & blessings be upon him) instructed the woman performing circumcision on a young girl , by saying :  ” If You cut;  do not overdo it because this makes the face of the girl brighter and is better for her husband (in her future).

Thus , Prophet Muhammad ( Peace & blessings be upon him) in this hadeeth , if we ignore its weak authenticity , had advised that woman not to over-cut , this would mean cutting  off only the foreskin (the skin over the clitoris or the prepuce)  &  not to cut off deeply (i.e.  not to cut off the clitoris itself) .  The removal of the foreskin (Prepuce) over clitoris will remove the secretions that collect between clitoris and prepuce which is usually is irritant to female . The removal of this foreskin exposes the clitoris , the most sensitive part of female , which better for sexual excitement of woman and her husband.Therefor , it makes the face of the girl or woman more calm and bright and after her marriage it will be better for her and her husband to enjoy their sexual life.

6- Medical support of this , is provided a paper published by  McDonald  in 1958 and titled “ Female circumcision” in this paper , female circumcision remedies “irritation, scratching, irritability, masturbation, frequency and urgency,” and smegmaliths causing “dyspareunia and frigidity.” {Review : Circumcision of the Female : C.F. McDonald, M.D. – Milwaukee, Wisconsin GP, Vol. XVIII No. 3, p. 98-99, September, 1958 http://www.noharmm.org/circumfemale.htm .

7- If female circumcision is to be done in the form of prepucectomy (cutting of the foreskin, which covers the clitoris)  by a surgeon , under strict sterilization following the medical standards of minor operations,  there will be  no harm at all from this procedure..

‘Muslim sholars describe the clitoris as nawah lying above the urethral meatus’

In summary :

Islam do not make female circumcision as a must , those who want to do it are advised to make it in the form of removal of the foreskin over the clitoris , following all precautions and standards of minor surgical procedures.