CIRCUMCISION  

Circumcision is one of the most important religious rites of the present day Muslim. It is religiously and strictly adhered to by every Muslims, especially by the males. In most of the Middle-East countries, the males are circumcised within a week after birth, if not immediately after birth. Elsewhere, like in Malaysia, circumcision is performed at the latest, before the male child attain the age of puberty.

In Malaysia, the circumcision is performed ceremoniously, and usually coincides with the "completion of the Arabic reciting of the Quran" graduation called the 'Khatam-e-Quran'. It is a time of feasting, prayers and gaiety. This is an important event for the Malaysians as circumcision denotes the becoming of a man for the male child. The circumcised boy is regarded a grown-up. An uncircumcised Malay man is unheard of in Malaysia, if any, he would surely be ostracised.

This particular rite has become an important Islamic prerequisite, so much so, a non-Muslim male who wishes to embrace Islam, his first destination is not the mosque, but instead, the nearest clinic and get himself circumcised before any Islamisation process can take place. In other words, he has to see a surgeon first before the ulamak, to embrace Islam. (The ulamaks might not be too happy about this!).

Briefly (there is more to it) the above illustrates the importance of circumcision in the present Muslim society. The question is. "Did God decree circumcision?" If one looks in the Quran for the answer, there is none. Not a word of circumcision can be found. The Quran gives full details on each of God's commandments. The Almighty definitely has not forgotten about this, nor did He run out of words, as some people would like to think:
 

• Shall I seek other than God as a source of law, when He revealed to you this book fully detailed? Even those who received previous scriptures recognised that it came down from your Lord, truthfully. Therefore, you shall not harbour any doubt" Al An'aam 6:1 14.

• "Most exalted is the One who revealed the statute book through His servant, to serve as a warner for all the people." A1 Furqan 25: 1

• Say: "If the ocean was ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out before the words of my Lord run out." 19.109.

• Any creature on earth, and any birds that flies with wings, are all nations like you. We did not leave anything out of this scripture. To their Lord they will all be gathered." A1 An'aam 6:38

Reading the above verses, one cannot argue as it is crystal clear whatever God did not decree will not appear in His book; any laws which is inconsistent with His book is therefore null and void. A believer is also warned that he should not have any doubt about it.

Let us not delve into the how and why circumcision got into Islam, and the legal status it has attained in Islam. The answers, of course, could be found among the mountainous works of Bukhari & Co. but, that would be wasting time as God has already given us the Al Furqan (the standard by which to discern the true from false), which is the Quran itself. It is super sufficient to crosscheck the validity of circumcision, or any subject for that matter.

Some people uphold vain hadith in order to divert others from the path of God without knowledge, and to create a mockery out of it. These have deserved humiliating retribution." Luqmaan 31:6

• "But the wicked distorted the commandments given to them, and consequently, We sent down upon them a curse from the sky; because of their wickedness." Al Baqarah 2:59.

• "Who is more wicked than one who invents lies about God, or rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is hell not well deserved by the disbelievers?" Al' Ankaboot 29:68. The practice of circumcision is not Quranic. God did not decree circumcision to any of His many messengers, and to continue doing so is an abomination. God has stated clearly in the Quran:

• "O human being, what diverted you from your honourable Lord? He created you, designed you, and perfected you. In the shape that He chose. He constructed you." Al' Infitaar 82:6-8

• "We never burden any soul beyond its means, and We have a record that utters the truth, no one will be wronged." Al' Mu'minuum 23:62

The above verse explains God create and chose the design of the human physique, hence, the practice of circumcision is nothing else, but an act of mutilation (dissection, if you like); or worst, an attempt by man, to improve the already perfect creation and design of God. It is an act of defiance, as if telling the Creator that there is a flaw in His design.

Ironically, if one looks up the Bible, circumcision is mentioned several times. Contradictory as it may be (between the Old and the New Testament), unlike the Quran, it specifically mentioned circumcision:

Every male among you shall be circumcised.....For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner... Old Testament, Genesis 17: 11-14 (NIV).

"Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?" New Testament, Romans 2:25-26 (NIV).

"Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you m all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law." New Testament, Galatians 5:2-3 (NIV).

Thus, a would be Muslim who was neither a Christian nor a Jew has a choice of either the surgeon, ulamak, and Bible (Old or New Testament), or only the glorious Quran. Simply a choice of either to circumcise or remain uncircumcised. But, for the one who is a Christian or a Jew and wishes to embrace Islam, he is in a predicament. He is uncircumcised when he should have been, and now he is to be circumcised when he should not! Confused? That is the state of affairs of the people of the scriptures - the Jews, Christians and Muslims, none of them follow their respective scriptures. They have to decide and so do you! .... Which is which?