By: E.Zaenal.Muttaqin
A. Introduction
Noted as a blueprint of life and arranged of all social order for its followers,[1] Islam derived its religious notion and conception from Qur’ān and Prophet Tradition (hadīth). Thus, it becomes so obvious that every Muslim must be in line with Islamic way. However the perception of both Qur’ān and hadīth among Muslims is different due to the variety of their cultural background and religious school (Hambalī, Syafi’ī, Malikī, and Hanafī). Thereof, the different perception resulted in different perceptions of some legal status like Female Genital Circumcision (FGC) for instance, though male circumcision is well accepted among Muslims. Nevertheless, the issue may become debatable either regionally or internationally due to the reasons of either to ban or to allow it, the contending arguments is showed in this matter. Notably, as the biggest Muslim country in the world, indeed Indonesia[2] also faced the same problem dealing with the notion of circumcision in female genital. Many researches dealing with female genital operation in Indonesia have been conducted since the colonial period up to recent days as well as Nicolas Gervaise, G.A Wilken, B.J.O Shriecke, Mesriani, Andree Feillard, Musyarofah and other Indonesians. The Indonesian context in this issue, however, reflects a different experience from what has been found in Africa that the custom is derived from the tradition and each tribe has a different method[3], even though there are Muslim tribes in Indonesia believe it as a tradition. (more…)
