Assalamu Alaikum Ya Nesan!

Circumcision is an optional practice for women in the Islamic tradition. It is widely practiced within the Muslim Ummah of the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and is fast gaining traction in other parts of the world. This article is about female circumcision as defined in the Islamic tradition, and does not include female circumcision as defined in the English Language. Although the term is the same, they refer to widely different practices, and I talk more on that in my article titled "Female circumcision in the English Language vs. Islamic tradition".

Female circumcision, just as in male circumcision, involves removing the prepuce skin, which covers the sensitive gland in a woman’s genitals. In men this skin is known as the foreskin that covers the penile head. In women this is called the clitoral hood, a small piece of skin that covers the clitoris. This procedure is an effective way to reduce the chances of bacteria, and yeast infections taking root on the genitals. Bacterial infections often occur to women in hot and humid climates, where heat and sweat in the genital area allows them to multiply effectively. Yeast infections are more common in women that live in temperate and colder climates. These infections can be repugnant and painful at best, and cause infertility and trauma at its worst.

The prepuce skin helps these infections, by providing them a quiet and moist environment within which to multiply and grow stronger. Once these bacteria and/or yeasts establish themselves under the prepuce skin, infecting other areas of the genitals is quick. By circumcising, you remove this “incubator of pathogens”, denying these organisms a safe haven to establish themselves and prevent a possible infection.

Men have foreskins and women have clitoral hoods for a good reason, namely to protect the sensitive nerve glands of the genitals (i.e. penile head / clitoris), however as humans began to wear cloths this skin became a liability rather than a defense, much like your pubic hair, and arm pit hair. They harbor moisture, and prevent water from effectively cleaning these areas during washing. This in turn makes them habitats for our enemies, and removing them has been recommended by our beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H). A range of modern medical studies have established that circumcision is effective in preventing genital infections, and this is what is driving the trend for women to adopt this Sunnah today, more than ever before.

Domestic enterprise and being a house wife have become luxury occupations today, with the number of families able to afford this dwindling to a few. A vast majority of women have to supplement the house hold with a second income by joining the labour market, intellectual or physical. Working a minimum of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. affords few opportunities to attend to hygiene, and the new millennium will see a more women fall victim to infections in the genital areas. Pharmaceutical companies have introduced a whole range of products to treat such infections, but prevention is better than cure, and we will see more women joining their male folks in circumcision than ever before.

Circumcision for women, just like in men is best attended to before puberty. Visit your local Muslim doctor who can perform this procedure in a matter of minutes. The important thing is your doctor understands the Islamic tradition of female circumcision, uses correct antiseptics, and gives you the advice you need to maintain yourself, during the few days it takes to heal. Circumcision done in this way will greatly improve the quality of your life.

May Allah preserve your health!