Is female circumcision part of culture or religion in Islam?

Assaalamu aly kum wa rathmatullhi wa barakatu
I am a member of some msn womens groups and at the moment the is a hot debate about female circumcision,… whether it is part of culture or religon.
Some sisters are stating it is a sunnah others are saying it is voluntarysome say it has no place in islam.
Could you please tell us which is correct {if any}
Jazakallah for your time may allah guide us all
Wasalaam
Answer
Assalamu’alaikum w..w

According to the Hanafi school, female circumcision is permissible within itself but not considered to be a Sunnah. (i.e. no religious virtue).

Shami Fatawaa Rahimiyyah, Page 261, Vol. 6)

There are two separate issues here which can be confused.

It is not sunnah according to the Hanafi Mazhab. However, according to other Mazhabs it is considered sunnah, therefore it is not possible to declare it as Haraam.

We are not giving it any religious significance nor can we say it is forbidden in Islam.

That said, we are obliged to obey the law of the land just as other citizens and hence in the UK it would not be permissible (as it is against the law).

The following article is very balanced and objective. http://www.islam-online.net/iol-english/dowalia/techng-2000-August-22/techng9.asp

Allah (SWT) Knows Best.
(Mufti) Abdullah Patel

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(Mufti) Abdullah Patel
Halal Food Guide

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This answer was collected from MuftiSays.com, based in London (UK). It is one of the fruits of Darul Uloom London. Many ‘ulama are involved in answering the Q&A on the site, including: Shaikul Hadeeth Mufti Umar Farooq Sahib, Mufti Saifur Rahman Sahib, Mufti Abdullah Patel Sahib, Maulana Qamruz Zaman Sahib, Mufti Abu Bakr Karolia Sahib.

Tags: Circumcision, Hanafi, Hanafi Madhab, madhab, sunnah

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