Short answer
No. Islam forbids harming the body, and the Qur'an never mentions cutting girls. The United Nations agencies working to end female genital mutilation (FGM) say no holy text of Islam, Christianity or Judaism prescribes it. They say it is found among Christians, Jews and Muslims, and that it is older than both Christianity and Islam. FGM means cutting away or injuring a girl's genitals for no medical reason. It has no known health benefit and does lasting harm. Egypt's official fatwa body says it is forbidden in Islam as well as illegal. It is a crime in Britain, America and many other countries. Muslims keep the law wherever they live, as the Qur'an binds them to their agreements (17:34). Anyone who fears a girl is at risk should tell the police.
Full explanation
What FGM is
Ten United Nations bodies, among them the World Health Organization and UNICEF, define female genital mutilation (FGM). It is any procedure that removes part or all of the outer female genitals, or injures them, for no medical reason. They list four types. And they estimate that 100 to 140 million girls and women have undergone it. The first type removes part or all of the clitoris or its hood. The second also removes the inner lips. The third narrows the opening by cutting and sealing the lips. The fourth covers other harmful procedures, such as pricking or cutting. They say it has no known health benefits, and is known to cause harm.
Estimates that 100 to 140 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation, most often in western, eastern and north-eastern Africa, some countries of Asia and the Middle East, and certain immigrant communities in North America and Europe. Defines it as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs, for non-medical reasons, in four types from removal of the clitoris or its hood to infibulation. It says the practice has no known health benefits and is known to be harmful. It says that although the practice is found among Christians, Jews and Muslims, none of the holy texts of these religions prescribes it, and that it pre-dates both Christianity and Islam.
Older than Islam, and not from its scripture
The same statement says the practice is found among Christians, Jews and Muslims. Yet none of the holy texts of these religions calls for it. And it is older than both Christianity and Islam. It is most common in parts of western, eastern and north-eastern Africa, and in some countries of Asia and the Middle East. It belongs to the customs of those regions, not to any one faith.
Estimates that 100 to 140 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation, most often in western, eastern and north-eastern Africa, some countries of Asia and the Middle East, and certain immigrant communities in North America and Europe. Defines it as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs, for non-medical reasons, in four types from removal of the clitoris or its hood to infibulation. It says the practice has no known health benefits and is known to be harmful. It says that although the practice is found among Christians, Jews and Muslims, none of the holy texts of these religions prescribes it, and that it pre-dates both Christianity and Islam.
Islam forbids harm
The Qur'an says Allah (﷾) created man in the best of forms. And it tells believers not to bring ruin on themselves with their own hands. Cutting a healthy girl for no medical reason, and leaving her with harm for life, goes against both. In 2016, Egypt's Dar al-Ifta, the state's official body for religious rulings, said FGM is a cultural practice, not a religious one. It said FGM is forbidden in Islam, as well as against the law.
“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds,”
“And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.”
Reports that Egypt's Dar al-Ifta, the state's official body for religious rulings, said female genital mutilation is a cultural practice, not a religious one, and that it is religiously prohibited as well as illegal.
The classical jurists, and the ruling today
No verse of the Qur'an commands cutting girls. The classical jurists, writing for their own time, discussed a custom that was already common where they lived. Ibn Qudamah, a leading Hanbali jurist of the thirteenth century, held that it was no duty for women at all. And he said many scholars held the same. Today, Egypt's Dar al-Ifta, the state's official body for religious rulings, says it is forbidden in Islam. Any cutting of a girl's genitals for no medical reason is a crime in Britain, America and many other countries. Muslims keep the law of whatever country they live in, because the Qur'an binds them to their agreements (17:34).
Ibn Qudamah, a Hanbali jurist, writes that circumcision is a duty for men but not a duty for women, and that this is the view of many scholars.
Reports that Egypt's Dar al-Ifta, the state's official body for religious rulings, said female genital mutilation is a cultural practice, not a religious one, and that it is religiously prohibited as well as illegal.
Makes it an offence to excise, infibulate or otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of a girl's labia majora, labia minora or clitoris, except for a necessary operation by a doctor or midwife, and says it does not matter whether she or anyone else believes the operation is required by custom or ritual. Further sections make it an offence to help a girl do it to herself, or to help anyone do it abroad to a UK national or resident. In force from 3 March 2004 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has its own Act of 2005.
Rewrote the federal crime of female genital mutilation, 18 U.S.C. 116, first passed in 1996. It covers anyone who performs, attempts or conspires to perform it on a person under eighteen, a parent or guardian who allows it, and anyone who takes a girl elsewhere for it, with up to ten years in prison. Enacted 5 January 2021.
“Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).”
The law in Britain and America
In Britain, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it a crime to cut any part of a girl's genitals. The only exception is a needed operation by a doctor or midwife. It says it does not matter whether anyone believes custom or ritual requires the cutting. It is also a crime to help anyone do it abroad to a girl who is British or lives in Britain. In the United States, federal law has banned it since 1996. In 2021, Congress rewrote the law to cover parents who allow it, and anyone who takes a girl elsewhere for it. The penalty is up to ten years in prison.
Makes it an offence to excise, infibulate or otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of a girl's labia majora, labia minora or clitoris, except for a necessary operation by a doctor or midwife, and says it does not matter whether she or anyone else believes the operation is required by custom or ritual. Further sections make it an offence to help a girl do it to herself, or to help anyone do it abroad to a UK national or resident. In force from 3 March 2004 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has its own Act of 2005.
Rewrote the federal crime of female genital mutilation, 18 U.S.C. 116, first passed in 1996. It covers anyone who performs, attempts or conspires to perform it on a person under eighteen, a parent or guardian who allows it, and anyone who takes a girl elsewhere for it, with up to ten years in prison. Enacted 5 January 2021.
Perspectives
What critics say
Critics say FGM is an Islamic practice, required or approved by Islamic law.
Critics say FGM is an Islamic practice.
Rebuttal
The United Nations bodies working against FGM say it is found among Christians, Jews and Muslims. They say no holy text of these religions calls for it, and that it is older than both Christianity and Islam. And Egypt's official body for religious rulings says it is forbidden in Islam.
Critics say classical Islamic law approved cutting girls.
Rebuttal
No verse of the Qur'an commands it. The classical jurists discussed a custom that was already common in their time. And Ibn Qudamah says many held it was no duty for women at all. Today, Egypt's official body for religious rulings says it is forbidden in Islam. Every form of it is a crime in Britain, America and many other countries. And Muslims keep the law where they live (17:34).
The Islamic perspective
Islam forbids harming the body, and no verse of the Qur'an mentions cutting girls. FGM is a custom older than Islam. Egypt's official fatwa body calls it forbidden, it is a crime in many countries, and Muslims keep the law where they live (17:34).
No holy text of Islam, Christianity or Judaism prescribes FGM, and the practice is older than Islam.
Egypt's Dar al-Ifta said in 2016 that FGM is forbidden in Islam as well as illegal.
The Qur'an says man was created in the best of forms, and forbids bringing ruin on oneself.
Muslims keep the law of whatever country they live in. And FGM is a crime in Britain, America and many other countries.