MALE CIRCUMCISION: a Muslim perspective
Dr Bashir Quereshi traces the origins of male circumcision, with a focus on the Muslim perspective
Male circumcision is religiously practised by the followers of
Judaism and Islam. The ceremony, with great rejoicing and festivities, usually
takes place one week after birth for Jews and within the early few years of age
among Muslims. The followers of Hinduism and Bikhism are religiously against
this ritual. However, secular ritual of circumcision varies from one country to
another and has changed with time in human history but has existed in all parts
of the world : In the USA, male circumcision is still prioritised routinely on
the majority of male neonates in hospitals today; in England, this ritual was
fashionable among upper classes in Victorian times. At present, it is provided
under the NHS on medical grounds such as phimosia and paraphimosis. - According
to Rolande (1), it is practised among African Tribes, Austrailian Aborignes,
the Mayays of Borneo, American Indians, the ancient Aztecs and Mayas, the
Caribs, the Fijians and the Samoana. Nevertheless, it is estimated that about
20 per cent of males in the world are circumcised and 80 per cent of men are
against it.
Reasons
Broadly speaking there are two
main reasons for this ritual : religious custom and health promotion. Religious
customs may have originated for different reasons in various parts of the
world. For example, in ancient Egypt, there was a pharanic belief that gods were
bisexual or persone. A man or a woman must be unisexual so as to belong to their
respective gender group and not to mimic gods. Pharaohs believed that the
feminine soul of the man was located in the preprice and the masculine soul of
the woman was situated in the clitoris. Therefore, male and female circumcision
were performed to please gods so as to obtain favours.
It would appear
that it was a cost-benefit or provider-purchaser exercise of that time.
Naturally, Jews and Muslims inherited this custom. Health promotion is ingrained
in the fabric of secular society. In the USA, it is extensively practised as an
anti-masterbatory secular rite (3). Worldwide, other obvious reasons are the
prevention of phimosis, paraphimosis and other diseases.
Muslim
perspective
Male circumcision existed before the birth of the
Prophet Mohammed and this custom is religously practised by Muslims as a
precedent of the Prophet, which is called the SUNNAH. In the index of an
authentic English translation of the Holy Quaraan, with Arabic script,
circumcision was not listed. However, every Muslim is expected to follow the way
of life of Prophet Mohammed (be peace upon him). Therefore, all Muslims -
devouts, liberals or seculars - observe this ritual. Muslims are obliged to
follow not only Allah's message in the Holy Quaraan but also what the Prophet
said or did, as a proof of their dedication to Islam.
The future
Logically speaking, religiously carried out male cirumcision will remain
unchanged but the secular custom may decline in the 21st century. Nevertheless,
the arguments about its merits and demerits will continue unabated. The foreskin
of the penis arouses emotions among its supporters and opponants but health
professionals must examine the issue objectively so as to play fair in dealing
with their patients.
Bashir Quereshi is a general practitioner in
Hounslow, London and author of Transcultural Medicine
Reference
1 Bolande RP. Ritualistic Surgery - Circumcisions and Tonsillectomy. New
England J Medicine. 1969; 280, 591-6.
2 Shaalan M. Clitoris Envy; A
Psychodynamic Construct Instrumental in Female Circumcision. W110/EKRO
Technical Publication 271, 1962
3 Lightfoot-Klein. Prisonero of Ritual. New
York: Haworth Press. 1989; 183
4 Quereshi R. Transcultural Medicine. Newbury UK: Kluwer (Petroc)
Publishers, 1994
Other articles on male circumcision on Family Medicine's website
Male circumcision: a paediatric surgeon's perspective