8 Evidences Regarding Female Circumcision in Light of Hadith and Athar
Source: Fatawa ad-Din al-Khalis, Volume 1, Page 419
❖ Question
A person issues a fatwa stating that there is no authentic evidence regarding female circumcision, and that it is an innovation. He claims that no narration has been transmitted from the Noble Prophet ﷺ concerning this matter. Is this fatwa correct?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Issuing a Fatwa Without Knowledge is a Sin
It is not permissible for any Muslim to issue a fatwa without knowledge. Whoever does so bears the sin of his action. It is obligatory upon the Muslim rulers to dismiss such individuals from the position of issuing fatwas.
Legitimacy of Female Circumcision
The legitimacy of female circumcision is established by the consensus of the four Imams and other jurists.
Relevant Hadiths
➊ First Hadith
Narrated from ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها), the Prophet ﷺ said:
« إذا جاوز الختان الختان فقد وجب الغسل »
"When the circumcised part [of a man] passes the circumcised part [of a woman], then ghusl becomes obligatory."
Another narration:
« إذا التقى الختانان »
"When the two circumcised parts meet."
(Bukhari 1/43, Muslim 1/156, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi 1/34)
Explanation by commentators: The term “Khitānān” refers to the circumcised parts of both the man and the woman, i.e., the parts that are cut from the private areas of both.
➋ Second Hadith
Narrated from Umm ʿAṭiyyah al-Anṣāriyyah (رضي الله عنها): A woman used to perform circumcision in Madinah. The Prophet ﷺ said:
« لا تنهكي، فإن ذلك أحظى للمرأة وأحب إلى البعل »
"Do not cut excessively, for that is better for the woman and more beloved to the husband."
(Abu Dawood 2/368)
Shaykh al-Albani mentioned this in as-Ṣaḥīḥah (2/353) and graded it authentic due to multiple supporting chains.
Another narration:
« إذا خفضت فأشمي ولا تنهكي، فإنه أسرى للوجه وأحظى للزوج »
"When you perform circumcision, mark slightly and do not cut excessively, for it brings brightness to the face and is more beneficial for the husband."
(al-Majmaʿ 1/172)
➌ Third Hadith
Narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه):
« الختان سنة للرجال مكرمة للنساء »
"Circumcision is Sunnah for men and an honor for women."
(Bayhaqi 8/325–334, as both marfūʿ and mawqūf)
Bayhaqi said: The chain is weak; however, the mawqūf narration is preserved.
➍ Fourth Hadith
Narrated from Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ came to some women of the Ansar and said:
"O gathering of Ansar women! Apply rich henna, lower the area (during circumcision), and do not exaggerate. That is more beneficial for your husbands."
(Bazzar, Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id 5/171)
Mundal, a narrator, is weak; however, the remaining narrators are trustworthy. It suffices as supporting evidence.
➎ Fifth Hadith
Narrated from al-Ḥasan (رحمه الله):
ʿUthmān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه) was invited to a girl's circumcision ceremony. He said:
"This practice (celebration) did not exist during the time of the Prophet ﷺ."
(Ṭabarāni al-Kabīr 3/12, Aḥmad 4/217, Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id 4/60)
The chain is good. (As-Ṣaḥīḥah 2/457)
➏ Sixth Hadith
Narrated from Umm al-Muhājir (رضي الله عنها):
Some girls were taken captive from Rome. ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) invited them to Islam. Some of them accepted Islam. He then said:
« اذهبوا بهما فاخفضوهما وطهروهما، لكنت أخدم عثمان »
(Al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhari, Hadith: 1245, 1239)
➐ Seventh Hadith
Narrated from Umm ʿAlqamah:
The nieces of ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) were circumcised. For their amusement, a man named ʿAdī was called, who started singing and dancing. Upon seeing him, ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"This is Shayṭān, expel him!"
This hadith is close to ḥasan, as the narrator is authenticated.
➑ Eighth Hadith
Narrated from ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه):
Hājar was the maid of Sārah. Sārah swore an oath to alter three things in Hājar. Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) said:
"Split her ear and circumcise her."
(Tuḥfat al-Mawdūd, p. 131)
Statements of Imams and Scholars
✔ Imām Ibn Qayyim:
Female circumcision is mustaḥabb (recommended) and there is no disagreement over it.
(Tuḥfat al-Mawdūd, p. 131)
✔ ʿAlī al-Qārī:
"Female circumcision is a mark of honor."
(Mirqāt 8/289–311)
✔ Khazā'in al-Fatāwā:
Circumcision for men is Sunnah; regarding women, there is a difference of opinion — some say it is disliked, others say Sunnah, and some say it is obligatory.
✔ Imām Aḥmad:
"It is obligatory for women as well."
✔ Imām Nawawi (al-Majmūʿ 1/300):
"Circumcision is obligatory for both men and women. This is the opinion of most of the early scholars."
Also mentioned in Sharḥ Muslim (1/128) and Nayl al-Awṭār (1/138).
✔ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (al-Fatāwā 21/114):
"Female circumcision should be done. It is a light practice. The Prophet ﷺ said:
‘Cut moderately and do not exaggerate, for it enhances facial beauty and benefits the husband.’"
Wisdom Behind Circumcision
❀ For Men: To clean impurity that collects around the head of the organ
❀ For Women: To moderate sexual desire
If a woman is not circumcised, she may become more lustful and prone to deviation.
Balanced trimming creates emotional and physical equilibrium.
Conclusion
There are multiple authentic narrations, scholarly opinions, and Sharʿī wisdoms that establish the legitimacy of female circumcision. Only someone unaware of these evidences would deny it.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
