Male circumcision is weighed through the Torah, the Gospels, and Paul's letters, with arguments for and against it as a practice for Submitters, though the Quran never mentions it; a note rejects female circumcision. A reader's essay urges holding fast to the Quran amid idol worshiping family. Registration details follow for the 11th annual conference in Houston, August 1996.
As I studied the Quran and tried to picture
God’s overall plan dealing with humanity, an idea came to me of
a very bright jewel falling to earth. The glow of this gem captivates
everyone who is able to "see it" for a period of time. Their neglect allows
it to be gradually covered with the dust of this world until the original
jewel is eventually understood to be nothing more than a foundation for
this dust. And the longer a particular gem remains on earth, the more
dust it is likely to collect.
In my mind this is what happens to the true WORD of GOD when placed in
the hands of humanity. I look first to Hinduism as an example which some
authorities claim to be the oldest surviving religious system in the world.
Here we find numerous idols layered like sediment over the original message
of ONE GOD.
We did not send any messenger before you except with the
inspiration: “There is no god except Me; you shall worship Me alone.”
21:25
Perhaps it is the sheer brightness of the original message that clearly
exposes our many weaknesses and inspires us to seek a “dimmer”
of some sort so that we may indulge the less than noble side of our characters.
They want to put out God’s light with their mouths,
but God insists upon perfecting His light, in spite of the disbelievers.
9:32
Once the enemies of TRUTH have become well established over many periods
of time, those who were sent by God to either uncover the original message
or deliver a new one are naturally perceived as evil. This, I believe,
is because such actions simply expose the true evil that exists in society
at that time and in those who control that society. Suppression, persecution,
and murder are the predictable consequences of any attempt to uncover
or renew the truth.
He is the One who sent His messenger with the guidance
and the religion of truth, and will make it dominate all religions, in
spite of the idol
Some have become quite comfortable with the dimness and have passed it
on as a righteous heritage for many generations. Many years of sincere
but misguided emotion have been invested in idols of dust. And, as a consequence,
many families have been torn apart when a child or a spouse becomes devoted
to the ONE TRUTH which is the foundation of it all.
I write this in an attempt to encourage others like myself who live in
less than ideal circumstances to hold on to the Quran no matter the cost
in this world. Do not allow the love and concern you may have for the
idol worshipers you may live with make you compromise your ever growing
knowledge of the truth now that God has blessed you.
Proclaim: “O people, the truth has come to you herein
from your Lord. Whoever is guided is guided for his own good. And whoever
goes astray, goes astray to his own detriment. I am not a guardian over
you.” 10:108
Page 2
Male Circumcision: Scriptural Perspective
Lately many of our readers have asked
about male circumcision. The key question has been if there is a
religious basis for circumcision, and if so, whether it is required
for a male Muslim (Submitter).
Origin of Circumcision
The Quran does not mention circumcision. The reference to the origin
of circumcision is found in the Torah. Genesis (17:9-14) states:
God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you
and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout
the ages.
This is my covenant with you and your descendants
after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.
Circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall
be the mark of the covenant between you and me.
Throughout the ages, every male among you, when he
is eight days old, shall be circumcised, including the houseborn
slaves and those acquired with money from any foreigner who is not
of your blood.
Yes, both the houseborn slaves and those acquired
with money must be circumcised. Thus my covenant shall be in your
flesh as an everlasting pact.
If a male is uncircumcised, that is, if the flesh
of foreskin has not been cut away, such a one shall be cut off from
his people; he has broken my covenant.”
These are the clearest verses in the Old Testament regarding the
subject. Other references in Deuteronomy 30:6 and Jeremiah 4:4 are
not as clear.
New Testament References
There are many references to circumcision in the New Testament.
For example, in the Gospel of Luke, a section regarding the birth
of John (Yahya) states the following:
When they came on the
eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him
Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No.
He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There
is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished
him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is
his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was
opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke praising God. (Luke 1:59-64)
In the Gospel of John, it is clear that Jesus was aware of all
Mosaic laws, including circumcision:
The Jews were amazed and said, “How does he
know scripture without having studied?”
Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching
is not my own but is from the one who sent me. Whoever chooses to
do his will shall know whether my teaching is from God or whether
I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on his own seeks his own glory,
but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful,
and there is no wrong in him. Did not Moses give you the law. Why
are you trying to kill me?”
The crowd answered, “You are possessed! Who
is trying to kill you?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “I performed
one work and all of you are amazed because of it. Moses gave you
circumcision—not that it came from Moses but rather from the
patriarchs—and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man
can receive circumcision on a sabbath so that the law of Moses may
not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole person
well on a sabbath? Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.”
(John 7:15-24)
Therefore, circumcision was practiced by the followers of Abraham
and Moses
up until Jesus according to many references
in the Gospels (the first four books of the New Testament). Nowhere
in them do we read that the practice was revoked by Jesus. Outside
the Gospels, the subject of circumcision sometimes becomes vague
and confusing:
And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision
as a seal on the righteousness received through faith while he was
uncircumcised. Thus he was to be the father of all the uncircumcised
who believe, so that to them also righteousness might be credited,
as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised,
but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked
while still uncircumcised (Romans 4:11-12).
While Jesus never revoked the practice of circumcision, it was
Paul in his letters (that later made it into the New Testament),
who advocated that people to abandon their customary practices and
not circumcise their children:
The next day Paul accompanied us on a visit to James,
and all the presbyters were present. He greeted them, then proceeded
to tell them in detail what God had accomplished among the Gentiles
through his ministry. They praised God when they heard it but said
to him, “Brother, you see how many thousands of believers
there are from among the Jews, and they are all zealous observers
of the law. They have been informed that you are teaching all the
Jews who live among the Gentiles to abandon Moses and that you are
telling them not to circumcise their children or to observe their
customary practices. (Acts 21:18-21)
Since Paul is the one whose doctrines and teachings became the
basis of today’s Christianity, one can see why Christians
abandoned or lost many
Page 3
Male Circumcision
practices that came through Abraham and Moses.
Arguments on Circumcision
Up until today, it has been a Muslim tradition to circumcise the
boys. Since the Quran does not mention the practice, some arguments
can be made on the validity of circumcision on religious grounds:
Since the verses regarding circumcision are in the previous
scriptures, one does not know their authenticity.
The practice applies only to Jews, not to Muslims. The Quran
does not mention anything about circumcision. Therefore, based
on the Quranic verse that God decreed for each religion its
own laws and rites (5:48), a Muslim is not responsible for circumcision.
Circumcision is based on Hadith (sayings) and old customs,
not based on the Quran.
God says in the Quran that He perfected us. Therefore it is
puzzling why the created should need to “remedy”
the perfect handiwork of the Creator.
On the other hand, counter arguments can be made for the following
reasons:
God describes how the Torah, like the Quran, is a beacon and
mercy,
and it contains guidance (5:44). There is no reason to think
circumcision is a man-made innovation because the practice does
not have an economic or political consequence that would cause
it to be invented or even changed with time.
The argument that man should not have circumcision since God
created him perfect does not make sense if we start using this
argument on other issues. Should we not have any surgery, remove
a tumor, a bad tooth, and so on, based on that logic? Furthermore,
God created all creation perfect, including pigs. Why does He
ask us not to eat the meat of pigs then?
The Quran comes to confirm and supersede the previous scriptures.
It does not give us information on a religious matter if it
is already practiced correctly and there is no change from the
previous practice. For example, the percentage of Zakat and
the units of Salat have not been mentioned. But some practical
change in the nights of fasting has been pointed out. (2:187)
Abraham was neither Jew, nor Christian. He was a monotheist
submitter (3:67). The people most worthy of Abraham are those
who follow him, and the prophet Muhammad, and those who believe
(3:68). The messengers that came after Abraham, including Moses,
Jesus and Muhammad were followers of Abraham (16:123). All practices
of our religion came through Abraham.
The unanimous practice of male circumcision among the Muslims
up until today confirms that circumcision is one of the religious
practices that came through Abraham, and it will be practiced
by those who follow the religion of Abraham.
Still, one can counter all the above arguments saying that God
deliberately left circumcision out of the Quran to leave the practice
up to us because of His incredible mercy.
Therefore, there are always two sides of a coin. As part of our
test, there is a decision each of us must make, and we will be responsible
for whatever we do, and whatever we believe in. God always gives
us an alternative way to choose and justify our actions. We can
only ask God to direct us to make the right decision.
And we gave Moses the scripture, complete with the
best commandments, and detailing everything, and a beacon and mercy,
that they may believe in meeting their Lord. This too is a blessed
scripture that we have revealed; you shall follow it and lead a
righteous life, that you may attain mercy. 6:154-155
Abdullah Arik
[Note: This discussion has been only on male
circumcision. People bring the issue of female circumcision as practiced
by certain groups in some Muslim countries. There is no scriptural
basis for such practice. It is gross and blasphemous, especially
since it is done in the name of religion. The practice has been
banned and made illegal in some countries.]
Page 4
Hold Fast to the Rope of God
To paraphrase the message of the Civil Defense people: “This is
a test. For the rest of your earthly life God is testing you in preparation
for the Hereafter. This is only a test. In case of emotional and physical
attack from the idol worshipers around you, resort immediately to prayer,
patience, and self-defense if physically attacked. This has been a message
from one of your brothers.”
We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish
those among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose
your true qualities. 47:31
Did you think that you will be left alone without God distinguishing
those among you who strive, and never ally themselves with God’s
enemies, or the enemies of His messenger, or the enemies of the believers?
God is fully Cognizant of everything you do. 9:16
May God continue to bless us all.
William Albert Lewis
[Editor’s note: The Quranic verses were added
to the original text.]
God willing, let’s get together
11th Annual International Conference
United Submitters
August 9-11, 1996
Houston, Texas
The conference registration fee is $57 per person. The fee is $29
for children 5-12 years old. Children under 5 are free. The registration
fee covers two lunches and two dinners, and miscellaneous conference
expenses. It does NOT include the hotel room charges.
We made special arrangements with a first class hotel and reserved
rooms for our group. The special rate is $72 per room per night
(for example, a single adult pays $72 total for 2 nights assuming
double occupancy). The room rate includes full breakfast. Participants
pay the room charges to the hotel directly on departure.
Please make your plans right away to attend the conference. If
you travel by air, you need to fly into Houston Intercontinental
airport. The hotel has free shuttle service from the airport.
Registrations for the conference must be received by July 21. Please
send the registration fees to:
ICS/MASJID TUCSON
PO BOX 43476
TUCSON, AZ 85733-3476
Registration highlights and notes:
Adults: $57
Children (ages 5-12): $29
Children under 5: Free
Room charges paid to the hotel directly at check-out.
You do not have to make reservations for the hotel. We make
the reservations for you. Please do not delay your registration.
You can stay at the hotel before and after the conference dates
at the special rate for ICS.
Notify us right away if you would like give a talk at the conference.
Indicate your topic. The time allowed for talks is 15-20 minutes.
God willing, we will see you at the conference.
About this work
Kind
Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson