Figure 1.--Circumcision is a widespread Muslim tradition that has no foundation in Koran. Virtually all Muslim boys, in all countries, are circumcised before puberty. There is no precise age, except that uit be before puberty. The Koran doesn't mention circumcision at vall. The boys are sometimes circumcised in hospitals, but it is more common in mosques. This photo was taken in the national mosque of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Although there is no Koranic justification, Muslim clerics support male circumcision. In sharp contrast, most Muslim clerics condemn female circumcision.

Circumcision is both a religious and medical practice, both are today highly controversial. The origins of the practice are not well understood. Few practices have so many conflicting views as to its origins. Anthropologists passionately debate the origins of circumcision. One theory suggests that circumcision appeared in Heliolithic culture over (about 15,000 BC) before the development of agriculture and civilization. [Smith] From these origins in appeared in Middle Eastern and related cultures. The other important theory is that circumcision developed independently by individual cultures. Circumcision historically was most prevalent in the Middle East and Africa. It was virtually unknown in China. In modern times it has been practiced in Europe and North America. The oldest evidence concerning circumcision comes from ancient Egyptian art work, although the images are suject to varying interpretation. Many Semitic peoples practiced circumcision. They may have been influenced by the Egyptians, but the origins are lost in time. Greek objections to the practiced descouraged the practice after Alexander's conquest throughout the Middle East. The original purpose of the practice is widely debated and is based largely on imaginative speculation. One suggestion is that it had religious origins as a sacrifice to the gods--presumably a fertility rite. There are many other suggestions, including a tribal mark, a rite of passage, a mark of masculinity, a way of demeaning captives or slaves, or as a hygienic measure. Modern circumcision in Europe and North America has debateable hygienic justifications. Circumcision also has ancient origins among many among several Sub-Saharan tribal groups where it is still practiced on adolescent boys as a rite of passage. It is unknown if it originated independently or was an Egyptian cultural influence. It is a Jewish religious practice and widely practiced in the Muslim Middle East. After the turn-of-the 20th century it became common in America as a neo-natal procedure, but it no longer a standard procedure. Circumcision is generally a practice associaled with boys, but there is a related practice some times ferred to as female circumcision which has more modern roots. It is widely practiced in the Nileotic region and the the the northern rim of sub-Sahsran Africa, It is most common among Muslims, but has not Koranic jusrification. It is often done in unhygienic procedures using crude implements. Both Islamic andcChristian religious figures have condemed it.

Boys

Circumcision is both a religious and medical practice, both are today highly controversial. Circumcision or cutting out the prepucium has vbeen described as the most ancient surgical procedure. The origins of the practice are not well understood. Few practices have so many conflicting views as to its origins. Anthropologists passionately debate the origins of circumcision. One theory suggests that circumcision appeared in Heliolithic culture over (about 15,000 BC) before the development of agriculture and civilization. [Smith] From these origins in appeared in Middle Eastern and related cultures. The other important theory is that circumcision developed independently by individual cultures. Circumcision historically was most prevalent in the Middle East and Africa. It was virtually unknown in China. In modern times it has been practiced in Europe and North America. The oldest evidence concerning circumcision comes from ancient Egyptian art work, although some of the the images are subject to varying interpretation (about 4000 BC). These early images depicts adults rather infants or youths. Many Semitic peoples practiced circumcision. They may have been influenced by the Egyptians, but the origins are lost in time. Greek objections to the practiced descouraged the practice after Alexander's conquest throughout the Middle East. The original purpose of the practice is widely debated and is based largely on imaginative speculation. One suggestion is that it had religious origins as a sacrifice to the gods--presumably a fertility rite. There are many other suggestions, including a tribal mark, a rite of passage, a mark of masculinity, a way of demeaning/identifying captives or slaves (with a lower mortality rate than castration), or as a hygienic measure. Modern circumcision in Europe and North America has debateable hygienic justifications. Circumcision also has ancient origins among many among several Sub-Saharan tribal groups where it is still practiced on adolescent boys as a rite of passage. It is unknown if it originated independently or was an Egyptian cultural influence. It is a Jewish religious practice and widely practiced in the Muslim Middle East. Circumcision is an universal tradition among Muslim although the Koran does not mentioned it. Unlike for Jews where circumcision is a neo-natal procedure, for Muslims is is commonly peformed on boys above the unfant/toddler age. It is a major event for Turkish boys. Jews After the turn-of-the 20th century it became common in America as a neo-natal procedure, but it no longer a standard procedure.

Girls

Circumcision is generally a practice associaled with boys, but there is a practice sometimes referred to as female circumcision which has more modern roots. Female circumcision is actually a misnomer. The only relationship is that both are surgical procedures performed on the genitals. The procedure girls are objected to is very different from male cicumcision. It is also known as female infibulation. The proper medical term is clitoridectomy. The purpose is to ensure chastity. Especially in the Muslim world, women are often seen as basically licentious enticuing men to evil ways. Thus their sex drive has to be curtailed. The procedure is thus performed on young girls before the onset of puberty. The procedure varies somewhat, but commonly the clitoris is also removed. It is most widely practiced in the Nileotic region and the the the northern rim of sub-Sahsran Africa. It is most common among Muslims, but not limited to Muslims. There is no Koranic jusrification. It is often done in unhygienic procedures using crude implements, although in some Muslim countries (especialy Egypt), doctors can be found to perform it in hospitals. Both Islamic and Christian religious figures have condemed it. It is a brutal practice leaving the girls with the inability to experience normal human intercourse. There is a high risk of infection because it is often crudely performed in unsanitary conditions. The girl experiences insufferable pain during and after the procedure. There is also a high risk of complications when when giving birth later. Later the grown woman has to be cut open for the wedding night. And then restitched and cut open again for each birth.

Sources

Smith, Sir Grafton Elliot. Important Egyptologist.

Created: 6:40 AM 9/22/2010
Last updated: 8:11 PM 9/23/2010