Is Female Genital Mutiliation Islamic? [Short Answer: No]

Salaam alykum,

No.

I do not want to even put forth my opinion, but the former Sheikh Al-Azhar, the late Sheikh Sayyid Tantawi.

According to Sheikh Tantawi:

There is nothing in The Qur’an or the Sunnah that supports, suggests, or even mentions let alone approves this disgusting practice.

The Prophet Muhammad did not engage in this practice with his daughters. (Don’t make this a sectarian issue, please)

Tantawi underlines that any Hadith that mention this practice are all weak, and are not to be used, under any circumstances (as is the truth of all weak Hadith). This is the view of Al-Azhar and all credible jurists of Islam.

This perspective (that this unIslamic practice is indeed unIslamic, without any support) is agreed with, not just because of Sheikh Tantawi, but also Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltout, Sheikh Sayed Sabeq, and Sheikh Mohamed Arafa.

The uncompromising view that this practice is unIslamic is also supported by:

Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa
Sheikh Nasr Farid Wassel
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Dr. Amna Nosair, Professor of Islamic Philosophy, Al-Azhar University

It becomes abundantly clear, and I could continue to list the rather long and distinguished list of scholars, jurists, and academics who have made it very clear that it is not encouraged or supported in Islam. The practice exists regionally and is not something that is confined or defined by religious groupings.

I hope that this was clear, because it is a disgusting practice that has nothing to do with Islam, and I would like that to be very clear.

Insha Allah, if you,