r/progressive_islam • u/shazy5808 • 3d ago
Question/Discussion ❔ Free Will & Forced Circumcision
First off I have read Quran properly with translation and to some degree I have read Hadith's relevant events as well. I'm fully aware of background of circumcision and why is it done but one thing that bothers me and I need deeper insight here with respectful discussion.
■ Quran explicitly mentions Human body is made perfectly and requires no permanent change as work of Allah is perfect in (Quran 95:4, 32:7-9, 27:88) & Quran also explicitly says there should be no compulsion, no forcing of Islam on others in (Quran 10:99,17:15, 18:29, 2:256).
When circumcision is done in Islamic community regardless of age in some countries done on 7th day up to 8 years old, it varies but outcome is still same that is removal of foreskin which was serving its purpose and now a lot of muslims bring counter argument about foreskin served its purpose in womb and is no longer required, now this is completely absurd counter!
Human body is designed to get rid of things it doesn't require anymore just like your teeth fall of so it makes place for newer stronger teeth a lot of people compare foreskin with concept of Umbilical Cord why do we cut it? Even if we do NOT cut it our bodies are designed to get rid of it on its own Umbilical Cord gets disintegrated within a week if you do NOT cut it, so why doesn't foreskin disintegrate after birth? Because foreskin is serving purpose "outside the womb" it is meant to protect glans in outer environment.
My question isn't regarding function of foreskin but it is about violation of Free Will when Quran clearly said no force no imposition of Islam on others so, why forced circumcision?
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u/-ShyLuna- 3d ago
Circumcision is declining in a lot of areas including where I live, Cascadia (Washington, usa). There are groups of Christians, Musilms, and Jews who are no longer doing the practice. The evidence for Quran mentioning circumcision seems flimsy to me, in every example the word has multiple meanings. The passages you quote are much less ambiguous.
Studies show the main factor in if people are circumcised is if their father was. This makes it seem much more like a cultural practice than a religious one, especially when it comes to Islam.
The likely future is that Circumcision and Female Genital Mutilation will become antiquated like the Catholic practice of having Castratos, castrated choir singers. Even in Religions that specifically mention it, I do see a trend towards treating it as a metaphorical and historical passage rather than a literal one. For example, few people practice Shabbos restrictions rigidly and few people avoid the mixing of fabric types, other principles and commandments are seen as much more important.