FATWA – FEMALE CIRCUMCISION

The Fatwa & Moon-sighting Committee of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) issues a Fatwa (Pronouncement of Islamic Ruling) on the issue of “Female Circumcision”.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the most noble of the prophets and messengers, Muhammad bin Abdullah, and his household, companions, and those who follow in his footsteps.

The Fatwa and Moon Sighting Committee of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council is pleased to issue a fatwa to all Muslims in The Gambia regarding the legality of Female Circumcision (in Islam). In this regard, the Committee would like to clarify that Female Circumcision is not just a merely inherited custom as falsely claimed by those who are not conversant with Islamic Law. Rather, it is one of the virtues of Islam and a Sunnah practice approved by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon Him, who said: “Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra…” of which, he mentioned Circumcision.

The legitimacy of Female Circumcision has been proven in several authentic hadiths of the Prophet; peace be upon him. Therefore, Muslim Jurists agreed on its legality. Some Jurists have even argued that Female Circumcision is obligatory, whereas others have considered it a recommended act of Sunnah. However, it was not reported by any of the reliable Muslim Scholars denying the legality of Female Circumcision in the manner prescribed by the Messenger of Allah; peace be upon him; because the noble Shari’ah does not acknowledge anything at all that causes harm to people, be it health or physical, for it’s free from that!

The Committee wishes to point out that the legal form of Female Circumcision in Islam is the cutting off of only a tiny upper part of the clitoris without removing it or touching any part of the labia, which is contrary to what is known as “FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION” and does not entail the removal of the genital organ, or what is known as Pharaonic Circumcision. Muslim Jurists have agreed that this type (FGM) is ILLEGAL in Islam because of the harm it inflicts on women.

In this context, the Fatwa Committee of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council calls on the Government of The Gambia to reconsider the Law prohibiting Female Circumcision, which stipulates the arrest/prosecution of anyone who practices it. Given that we are Muslims, the most precious thing we have in this life is our true Religion.

The Committee issued this Fatwa to clarify to the people the position of the Shari’ah of Allah in Female Circumcision and acquits itself regarding this matter before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Similarly, the Committee also strongly condemns entities and individuals who denounce the practice of Female Circumcision and calls on the authorities to arrest/prosecute anyone who practices it.

With this, Allah is the Lord who blesses and guides us to the right path.

*** The End ***

MEMBER OF THE FATWA & MOONSIGHTING COMMITTEE INCLUDES:

1. Dr. Mbye Kebba Kah – The Chairman
2. Dr. Sheikh Nfamara Jawla – Vice Chairman
3. Sheikh Ibrahim Masanneh Jarju – Coordinator
4. Dr. Osman Muhammad Bashir Camara – Secretary
5. Dr. Foday Jagana – Member
6. Dr. Omar Faba Gitteh – Member
7. Sheikh Ali Cham – Member
8. Sheikh Haroun Manneh – Member
9. Sheikh Abdullah Sisawo – Member
10. Sheikh Sufyan Drammeh – Member
11. Sheikh Bashir Bah – Member
12. Sheikh Alh. Ousman Jah – Member
13. Sheikh Osman Muhammad Manga – Member
14. Sheikh Mustapha Bashir Darboe – Member
15. Sheikh Mbye Saho – Member

Signed……..

DR. MBYE KEBBA KAH
Chairman, Fatwa & Moon Sighting Committee
Rabiʽ Al-Awwal 1445 H- September 2023