Circumcision

Is Delaying Circumcision Past Puberty a Sin?

Posted by fatwa on May 27, 2011 in Circumcision, Featured | 0 comments

Question:

Assalamu alaikum sheikh,
According to the Shafii Madhab female circumcision is wajib. My question is, if we do not circumcise a female is it sin? Can we do circumcision after she reached puberty (baligh)? Or can we leave it without doing circumcision? Please reply shaikh. May Allah accept your effort & guide us in right path!

Country: Sri Lanka

Answer:

Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,

In the Shafi’i Scool, circumcision is necessary for both men and women. (Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 1, p. 300) It is recommended for a child’s guardian to circumcise it during infancy, while not obligatory. It is obligatory that one be circumcised after reaching puberty. (Ibid p. 302-03)

If one fears harm, then circumcision may be delayed. (Nihayat al-Muhtaj v. 8, p. 36)

Some scholars, like Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik, did not consider circumcision obligatory for a female. There are views similar to theirs transmitted from the Shafi’is too. In these views there is some latitude. (Rawdat al-Talibin v. 10, p. 180; Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 1, p. 300)

And Allah knows best.

Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.

Also see:

http://www.shafiifiqh.com/?p=630

and

http://www.shafiifiqh.com/?p=1557

The Ruling on Circumcision

Posted by fatwa on Apr 4, 2011 in Circumcision, Featured, Taharah | 2 comments

Question:

What is the standpoint of our mathhab on circumcision for men and women?

Answer:

Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,

The Shafi’i School’s relied-upon opinion is that circumcision is obligatory on both men and women. In Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, Imam Nawawi stated,

الختان واجب على الرجال والنساء عندنا

“Circumcision is obligatory on men and women according to us [i.e. the Shafi’is].” (1/300)

According to Abu Hanifa and Malik it is sunnah for both; Imam Rafi’i transmitted this as a wajh from the Shafi’is. Also, there is a third view, that it is obligatory for men and sunnah for women. (Ibid) In Rawdah, Imam Nawawi indicated to all three views,

الختان واجب في حق الرجال والنساء وقيل سنة وقيل واجب في الرجل سنة في المرأة والصحيح المعروف هو الأول

“Circumcision is obligatory for both men and women. It is said that it is sunnah. And it is said that it is obligatory for men and sunnah for women. The relied-upon view is the first.” (10/180)

And Allah knows best.

Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.

Also see: http://www.shafiifiqh.com/?p=630

What is the Ruling on Circumcision for Women?

Posted by Shaykh on May 1, 2010 in Circumcision, Featured, Taharah | 25 comments

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum
What is the mu`tamad qowl (relied upon position) of the Shafi`ee Mazhab regarding the khatnah (circumcision) of women? Is it wajib (obligatory) or sunnat?

Also, what if a woman was ignorant if it being wajib will it be incumbent on her during her advanced age to perform khatnah?

Jazakumullah

Answer:

الحمد لله رب العالمين ، وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين، وبالله التوفيق

الختان واجب على الرجال والنساء عندنا (المجموع: 1: 164)
ويمنع من ختان الكبيرة لخوف التلف (الروضة: 3: 384)

Circumcision is obligatory upon men and women according to us (i.e. the Shafi’is). (Majmu’ of Imam An-Nawawi 1:164) The circumcision is wajib upon men and women according to the rājih qawl of Shāfiʿī madhhab. In a situation a woman is in her advanced age, it is not permissible to circumcise her if it may harm her (al-Rauḍah of Imam An-Nawawi: 3: 384).
والله  أعلم
Allah  knows best

Answered by:
Sidi Abdullah Muḥammad al-Marbūqī al-Shāfiʿī

Checked by:
Al-Ustāż Fauzi ibn Abd Rahman

Clarification:

Shaykh Nuh Keller translates and comments in his Reliance of the Traveller (عمدة السالك):