Female circumcision

The Jakarta Post has during the last few weeks focused its attention on women and religion, including female circumcision.

I disagree with Melly R's statement that female circumcision is a ritual tradition (of Islam?) because nothing at all is mentioned in the Koran, nor in the Hadith sahih (Bukhari and Muslim). Perhaps it should more precisely be called an Arabic tradition which dates back to the year 2000 BC in Egypt as David Lane wrote. Even male circumcision is sunnah (a commendable deed encouraged in Islam based on the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad as reported by tradition, supplement to the Koran), meaning it has a positive value if it is done and if it is not, it is not sinful.

Therefore in Indonesian terminology, circumcision is named sunat. Only for the sake of self-purifying in worshiping God, certain scholars of Islam have categorized it as obligatory for males. Male circumcision is a continuation of the tradition of the Prophet Abraham.

Central Java and East Java societies are not familiar with the tradition of female circumcision. However, several kyai (religious scholars) who had teachers of Arabian origin practice the tradition quietly, meaning that it is known only to relatives and without any ritual ceremony such as in Sukabumi, West Java, as the Post reported.

Such a ceremony in West Java makes sense because Islam was initially spread to West Java by scholars of Arab origin who claimed to be habib (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad).

Meanwhile the scholars who first spread Islam in Central Java and East Java were the Wali Songo who, according to some records, originated from China.

The criticism of the Koran of this ancient tradition which does not follow the words of God as well as reason is clear in the Surah Al-Baqarah verse 170: "When it is said to them: 'Follow what Allah has revealed', they replied 'We will follow what our fathers practiced,' even though their fathers were senseless men lacking in guidance."

There are many verses such as these which are criticism of the Koran against old traditions that are useless or harmful to humans. I would therefore support any proposition to ban the practice of female circumcision, such as in Egypt.

But I realize how difficult it is for laymen to distinguish between Arabic as a culture and Islam as a religion; just as it is hard to distinguish between modernization and westernization. Many feel they have become modern men if they have worn a coat and tie. To be a Muslim one does not have to be an Arab; and to be a modern man, one does not have to be a westerner.

M.IKHSAN

Jakarta