Male Circumcision in Islam: advantages and benefits

Circumcision involves the removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. Specifically, the foreskin refers to the retractable double-layered fold of skin that covers the penis.

Many of those who are circumcised are done so while they are still infants, although there are a small percentage of those who are circumcised as adults. When an infant is circumcised, a small clamp called a Gompo Clamp is generally used, thereby ensuring that the glans penis is protected and that the bleeding is stopped quickly. After the foreskin has been securely clamped, a scalpel is then used to remove the part of the foreskin that is in the flat, or upper, part of the clamp. The procedure can take as little as a few minutes, and in order to protect the child from any unwanted injury or discomfort, a small dose of anesthesia is applied to the area.

Although historians generally disagree as to when the first circumcision took place, many believe that it originated in the Heliolithic culture some 15,000 years ago. Whether it branched off to different cultures or, conversely, arose in various cultures independently is also up for scholarly debate, but the Egyptians were the first to document the act. In the Jewish religion, the act of circumcision is performed in a ceremony known as a bris, where a figure known as a mohel performs the actual cutting of the foreskin. It usually takes place on the eighth day of the infant’s life unless.

In Islam, circumcision is an integral part of the religion. The prescription of circumcision for Muslims is reported in several hadiths:

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The (characteristics of) the fitrah are five: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the fingernails and plucking the armpit hairs" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Fitrah is defined as the natural state of man.

The following words have been recorded in another hadith "get rid of the hair of disbelief
and perform circumcision" (Musnad Ahmad).

Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever accepts Islam should have his circumcision perfomed." (Talkhis al-Habir)

It has been reported in hadith that the recommended time for circumcision to be performed for a newborn baby is the seventh day. "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) performed the Aqiqah of al-Hassan and al-Hussain and circumcised them on the 7th day." (Reported by al-Baihaqee & Tabaraanee). It is important however to remember that the timing is only a recommendation and it is still permissible to perform circumcision after the seventh day if for example the day has been missed.

There are several scientific benefits of circumcision. For one thing, because the foreskin adds a larger surface area to the penis, the rate of infection can increase drastically, causing serious complications for people of all ages. Having it removed, however, drastically decreases the rate of infection. Moreover, during sexual intercourse, the foreskin and prepuce, which is the retractable piece of skin that covers the genitals, are prone to trauma, making it easier for harmful bacteria – such as the HIV virus, for instance – to enter the blood stream. Of course, as we all know, the HIV disease generally leads to AIDS which, at this point, is virtually incurable. Other proven medical benefits of circumcision include protection of the female partner against cancer of the cervix, protection against cancer of the penis and prevention of urinary tract infections.

Some argue that circumcision is extremely painful and, consequently, one should not have the procedure preformed. This, however, is untrue, as there are a number of different anesthetics that can be applied – and that are applied – during circumcision to curtail the pain that might be involved. Many doctors and researchers liken the foreskin to the pinky finger, arguing that, in the modern world, both have ceased to have any clearly defined, absolutely necessary functions. Because humans have the facilities to keep themselves clean, and usually do, the foreskin has lost its purpose and, instead of proving beneficial, has actually proven to be detrimental to many.

For those who are older and desire circumcision, the pain is more pronounced and can last longer than those who undergo circumcision while infants. This is because, in an infant, the nerves in the region are not fully developed, whereas in the older, adult male, the nerves are much more functional, sensitive, and complex, making the pain much more intense. Skin cells also heal better and more efficiently when younger so that permanent damage does not take place. Scarring and complications are also less likely for an infant who undergoes circumcision.

The procedure takes approximately an hour to an hour-and-a-half. It must be noted, however, that the hour to hour-and-a-half covers everything from the initial setup, cleansing, actual cutting of the foreskin, and clean up. The actual cutting does not take more than a few minutes. The aftercare for infants is generally very quick, with recovery rates as fast as a few days to a week. For older men, the procedure takes roughly the same time, although the aftercare takes much longer, up to a few weeks. During this time, men should refrain from having sexual intercourse ensuring that the penis heals correctly.

In a study of 603 males under the age of 21, researches concluded that approximately 71.1% of the male population living in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada is circumcised, while only 28.9% are not. Although a country-by-country analysis has yet to be done, James Badger, a sociologist, came to the conclusion that roughly 40% of the world’s population is circumcised. His breakdown looks as follows:

A). Countries with at least 75% of residents circumcised:

1. North and West Africa

2. Much of East Africa (including, Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Dahomey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya. Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Northern Uganda, Upper Volta, Zaire)

3. Much of Islamic Asia and the Middle East (including, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel {not Muslim}, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, Yemen)

4. Tonga, Samoa, Canada, United States and Western Europe, Eastern Europe.

B). Countries with 50-75% of residents circumcised:

1. The rest of Africa

2. Parts of Asia with Muslim majorities (i.e. India)

3. The Pacific Islands.