As Salam Alaykum,
I found this page while doing a web search and decided to join the forum so that I could post here (in the future, I will also browse other topics and contribute as necessary, insha'Allah). This current subject is pertinent to me, as I am a convert to Islam - been Muslim for seven years - and intact (not circumcised), given my ethnic background. I realize this is a subject where many brothers and sisters have strong opinions, but I ask them to consider the following observations:
Muslims are agreed that all human beings were created upon the Fitra, or natural state of disposition. Islam has no concept of Original Sin or notion that human beings are born sinful or impure. Quite the opposite! Were we not created in the best design, according to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) in the Qur'an (15:28-29, 32:7, 82:7-8, 95:4)? So let us examine the evidence about Fitra. I notice that the hadith which mentions circumcision as one of the acts of Fitra is oft-quoted. But what about those ahadith with different expressions?
“Five things are included in the fitra: trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, shaving the pubic hair, plucking the armpits, and using the siwak (arak stick for cleaning the teeth).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Adab al-Mufrad)
"Ten are the acts according to Fitra: clipping moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, snuffing water in the nose, cutting the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking the hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes and cleaning one's private parts with water." The narrator said: "I have forgotten the tenth, but it may have been rinsing the mouth." (Sahih Muslim, Book #2, Hadith #502. Also reported by Ahmad, al-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi)
Notice that in these two versions, the latter of which describes ten acts of fitra rather than five, circumcision is not even mentioned. So why quote one to the exclusion of the others? Notice that the last two ahadith describe six characteristics not mentioned in the first hadith: Istinja', using the siwak, growing the beard, snuffing water up the nose, washing the finger joints, and rinsing the mouth. So I ask my brothers and sisters to look at the context.
The Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) mentioned various things on different occasions, whenever it served a specific purpose. Circumcision was taken for granted because it was part of Arab culture. Look for example at the hadith where the envoys from Quraish are interrogated by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, who is told that the Arabs circumcised like the Hebrews. It must be seen in this cultural light and not as an a priori extension into Islamic law, a matter which I shall discuss further insha'Allah.
Arguably, the most important of the above would be Istinja', which is necessary for the validity of Salat. In fact, Salat is invalid without the proper Istinja', at least according to my Maliki madhhab. There is a logical distinction that should be made between mean and end. Being intact, I can confirm that it is not hard at all to practice istinja': it only takes a matter of seconds, just like other body parts need to be washed. Therefore, using the "hygiene" argument to justify circumcision seems to be a weak excuse to project one's own cultural traditions onto the religion, attempting to make the Arab culture and Islam absolutely synonymous.
Wudhu is the act of purification for Salat, and is likewise wajib for the validity of Salat. In fact a strong opinion in my madhhab is that deliberately praying without wudhu is an act of kufr! So if we examine the above characteristics of Fitra, the Sunna mentions snuffing water in the nose, washing the finger joints, and rinsing the mouth. The end is purification, whether it is Wudhu or Istinja' or even the various acts of spiritual cleanliness (such as al-Arkan al-Khamsa, each of which likewise symbolizes an act of spiritual purification). What does it matter about the mean towards that end?
The alleged "scientific" or "health" benefits likewise should be avoided, as such theories are representative of our limitations as human beings; we are not perfect and infinite. Statistics can be used to justify either side of a given position and I have likewise seen convincing evidence used by the Intactivist movement in this regard. However, I would like to steer clear of such arguments of "health" since we are examining circumcision strictly from the religious perspective.
Given that this is my first post here, and that it is already quite lengthy, I would like to conclude with some quotes from some great Islamic scholars. No sane or intelligent Muslim would dispute the knowledge and piety of these great scholars. What is significant is that each of them explicitly ruled that circumcision was not Wajib or even an issue raised in da'wa, yet somehow some modern-day individuals pretend to know better than them. I do look forward to feedback on this issue, as it is my intention to open up free dialogue on the matter....
"That all peoples, white and black, Romans, Persians and Abbysinians accepted Islam in the time of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and none of them were investigated concerning circumcision." - Al-Hasan al-Basri
"It has been narrated from Al-Hasan that he allowed adult converts to Islam relaxation in getting themselves circumcised. He did not see any harm in their being uncircumcised. He did not see anything wrong with their being called as witnesses or their slaughtering animals or their going for Hajj or their offering prayers." (Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr, Al-Tamheed)
"If a male adult embraces Islam and feels apprehensive about circumcision, it is waived in his case, since ablution, ghusl or grand ablution, and other obligations are waived in his case if he feels any of these is hazardous. It makes then more sense for circumcision to be waived in such a case." (Imam Ibn Qudama, Al-Mughni)
After the conversion of many people stopped the revenues from Jizya, Jarrah the governor in Khurasan, advised that circumcision be adopted as the religious test for true acceptance of Islam. However, Khalifa Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (rahimahullah) - whom scholars have regarded both as the fifth of the Khulafa ar-Rashidun and the Mujaddid of the first Hijri century - replied in a letter: "Allah sent Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) to summon men [to Islam] and not to circumcise." (Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, Annales, vol. II, p. 1354)
Wa Alaykum as-Salam
