Making the Cut
Who circumcises their sons? A brief look at circumcision rituals in different religions.
Islam
Circumcision is not symbolic of being part of the Muslim community, as it is in Judaism, but most Muslims circumcise their sons. Though circumcision is not specifically mandated or mentioned in the Qur'an, many Muslims believe it is necessary because Allah ordered Muhammad to follow the way of Abraham, who circumcised himself. Many Muslims also believe circumcision is a form of cleanliness.When:
Muslim boys can be circumcised on the seventh day of life, but the ritual can be done any time during the first few years of life, as long as it is before a boy's seventh year.
Textual source:
"Allah's Apostle said, 'Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra: circumcision, shaving the pubic region, clipping the nails and cutting the moustaches short.'"
Controversy:
Islam is often wrongly accused of condoning female genital mutilation, or 'female circumcision,' the cutting or removal of a girl's clitoris. In fact, female genital mutilation was practiced long before the advent of Islam, and the custom likely has ancient roots. Several hadith (sayings of the Prophet) do refer to female circumcision, but it is not practiced by most Muslims. For more on this controversy, see:
Is Female Circumcision Islamic?
Female Genital Mutilation, from ReligiousTolerance.org
Where FGM Is Practiced
Additional Muslim circumcision resources:
Muslim Beliefs about Male Circumcision
Other Religions
Most Christians do not circumcise their male children, though in the United States many babies are circumcised in the hospital for health reasons. Christians do not believe it is a religious obligation to circumcise because Christians are not obligated to keep the laws of the Old Testament. In Romans, Paul wrote that "real circumcision is a matter of the heart" (Romans 2:29).
See also:
Why Christians Don't Circumcise
By Thomas Lynch
Circumcision is often practiced among Coptic (Egyptian) Christians.
Buddhists, Hindus, and Pagans do not practice circumcision, though they do have numerous welcoming and other rituals for babies.
Circumcision is not symbolic of being part of the Muslim community, as it is in Judaism, but most Muslims circumcise their sons. Though circumcision is not specifically mandated or mentioned in the Qur'an, many Muslims believe it is necessary because Allah ordered Muhammad to follow the way of Abraham, who circumcised himself. Many Muslims also believe circumcision is a form of cleanliness.
Muslim boys can be circumcised on the seventh day of life, but the ritual can be done any time during the first few years of life, as long as it is before a boy's seventh year.
"Allah's Apostle said, 'Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra: circumcision, shaving the pubic region, clipping the nails and cutting the moustaches short.'"
--Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah
Islam is often wrongly accused of condoning female genital mutilation, or 'female circumcision,' the cutting or removal of a girl's clitoris. In fact, female genital mutilation was practiced long before the advent of Islam, and the custom likely has ancient roots. Several hadith (sayings of the Prophet) do refer to female circumcision, but it is not practiced by most Muslims. For more on this controversy, see:
Additional Muslim circumcision resources:
Other Religions
Most Christians do not circumcise their male children, though in the United States many babies are circumcised in the hospital for health reasons. Christians do not believe it is a religious obligation to circumcise because Christians are not obligated to keep the laws of the Old Testament. In Romans, Paul wrote that "real circumcision is a matter of the heart" (Romans 2:29).
See also:
Why Christians Don't Circumcise
By Thomas Lynch
Circumcision is often practiced among Coptic (Egyptian) Christians.
Buddhists, Hindus, and Pagans do not practice circumcision, though they do have numerous welcoming and other rituals for babies.
- « PREVIOUS
- 1
- 2
- NEXT »
Advertisement
Related Features
Top Features
Advertisement
