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=Islam & the Social Origins of FGM=
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This page addresses the question of why some people, both today and throughout history, engage in Female Genital Mutilation.
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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM for short) is commonly associated with Islam: recent data suggests that about 80% of FGM is carried out by Muslims<ref>https://fgmtruth.wordpress.com/what-percentage-of-global-fgm-are-moslems-responsible-for/</ref>, and that, considered globally, about 20% of Muslim females are subjected to the practice. It is tempting to conclude that Muslims engage in FGM because the Prophet Muhammad decreed favourably on the practice [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Female Genital Mutilation|in four hadiths]]. This conclusion is made all the more tempting by the fact that discussions as to whether or not FGM is Islamic are conducted as if the question were resolved simply by determining whether Muhammad decreed favourably (or otherwise) on FGM in the Sunnah and in the Qur'an.  
To create sandboxes for articles that you are working on, use the format: [[ WikiIslam:Sandbox/Article name]]. You can also create sandboxes under your username such as [[Special:Mypage/Sandbox 1|User:Your username/Sandbox 1]] if you expect yourself to be the only editor of the page. '''''Use the private sandbox formatting for drafting longer pieces that you don't want others to meddle with. If unable to create a private sandbox, leave a message on an admin's talk page.'''''


But social phenomena don't only happen because powerful men decree them. Social phenomena can happen because other social phenomena cause them. Pollution increased in the 19th Century England because the Industrial revolution happened. It is unlikely that many 19<sup>th</sup> century industrialists ''intended'' their factories to increase pollution. But their factories ''did'' increase pollution, and did so reliably and predictably. We rightly consider certain forms of pollution as being an inherent property of 19<sup>th</sup> Century industrialism, despite it being an unintended by-product. 
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Likewise, even if FGM were nowhere mentioned in the Sunnah, there is reason to think that Muslims would nevertheless be practicing FGM at a higher rate than non-Muslims, since Islam tends to reproduce the conditions that make FGM useful or necessary. 
==Did Quran tell that universe is steadily expanding?==


The political scientist Gerry Mackie, in his paper ''‘Ending Footbinding and Infibulation: A Convention Account'''<ref>http://webarchiv.ethz.ch/soms/teaching/OppFall09/MackieFootbinding.pdf</ref> identifies polygyny as creating conditions in which Chastity and Fidelity Assurance Practices solve real problems faced by girls, the parents of girls, and other members of the community. Chastity and Fidelity Assurance practices are technologies, institutions and behaviours that act to preserve the sexual purity (whether actual or reputational) of girls and women. Examples of Chastity Assurance practices are footbinding, veiling, gender segregation, arranged marriages, child marriage, chaperoning, 'honour' culture, brideprice ([[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]]) and FGM.   
This article analyses the claim that Quran told that universe has been constantly expanding, and it is [[Islam and Science|scientifically]] accurate, and thus it is is Quranic miracle.   


Gerry Mackie makes no reference to the decrees of powerful men or prophets in his analysis of how polygyny gives rise to Chastity and Fidelity Assurance practices; likewise his explanation of how such practices become 'locked-in' - persisting long after the originating conditions have lapsed. Mackie's work demonstrates that FGM is not caused not only by Muhammad's decrees, but also by social factors - laws, traditions, institutions, systems, beliefs - that make FGM in some way 'useful' or 'necessary'.
==Apologetic Claim==
Apologists present the following verse
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/47/default.htm Quran 51:47]|وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُون


In brief: there are two   
'''Muhammad Assad:''' AND IT IS We who have built the universe with [Our creative] power; ''and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it''.


*it is a practice that solves certain problems caused by polygyny;
'''Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri:''' And We built the heavenly universe with great might. ''And surely, We are expanding (this universe) more and more''.
*Muhammad, in inventing Islam, codified and sacralisied the norms, values, beliefs and institutions of Medina under his rule (and to a lesser extent of pre-Islamic Mecca and Judaism). This included the sacralisation of FGM and the causes of FGM - polygyny in particular. In doing this he ensured that FGM and its causes would persist long after they would normally have disappeared.


==Who Practices FGM? Statistics==
'''The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab:''' We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, ''and We are certainly expanding ˹it˺''.
Who practices FGM?
==Pre-Islamic & non-Islamic FGM==
We will also consider that that FGM predates the origins of Islam. This suggests that FGM has its origin in social factors as much as in the decrees of Mohammed.  


<br />But any explanation for the existence of FGM has to account for the existence of four groups:
'''Safi Kaskas:''' We built the universe with power, ''and We are steadily expanding it''.}}
[[Zakir Naik]] writes regarding this verse:
{{Quote|[http://web.archive.org/save/https://sunnahonline.com/ilm/quran/qms.pdf The Quran and Modern Science by Zakir Naik]|The Arabic word mûsi‘ûn (in verse 51:47) is correctly translated as ‘expanding it’, and it refers to the creation of the expanding vastness of the universe. Stephen Hawking, in his book, ‘A Brief History of Time’, says, “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the
20th century.” The Qur’aan mentioned the expansion of the universe, before man even learnt to build a telescope!}}


#Muslims who practice FGM
==Criticism==
#Muslims who don't practice FGM
Critics point out that:
#non-Muslims who practice FGM
#non-Muslims who don't practice FGM


The existence of the third group (non-Muslims who practice FGM) undermines the idea that Muslims engage in FGM simply because Muhammad decreed favourably on the practice. However, most non-Muslims who practice FGM today do so as a consequence of living for centuries under the dominance of an FGM-practicing Islamic culture - the most notable example being the Egyptian Copts. For the Copts, maintaining the practice of FGM has been a centuries-old strategy to minimise persecution and stigma from a Muslim majority who would treat 'uncut' women, their families and communities as impure and contaminating.  So the existence ''today'' of non-Muslims who practice FGM does not necessarily undermine the hypothesis that Muslims engage in FGM simply because Muhammad decreed favourably on the practice. The Copts, for example, practice FGM because their Muslim neighbours require them to do so.  
*This translation of verse 51:47 is not correct.
*Only modern apologists started doing this translation, otherwise no earlier translator did this translation.
*And none of the Qur'an Mufassirin (i.e. Quran interpreters) of last fourteen centuries ever come to this conclusion from this verse.


But we should also noteremember that non-Muslims existed before Islam and some of these practiced FGM. Why? Why would people engage in this practice
===Correct translation of verse 51:47===
The dispute is only about the last two words of the verse 51:47 (i.e. وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ wa-innā lamūsiʿūna''')'''


==The Origins and Causes of FGM==
CorpusQuran website gives word by word grammar and translation of Quran. It writes<ref>[https://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=51&verse=47 Quran Corpus, verse 51:47]</ref>:
intro


===Gerry Mackie's 'Convention Hypothesis'===
*وَإِنَّا (wa-innā) Translation: "and indeed, We (Allah)"
fdfdfd<br />
*لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna)  Translation: "(are) surely (its) Expanders".


===Problems with Gerry Mackie's 'Convention Hypothesis'===
Therefore, the correct translation of this verse should be:
dfdfd


==Islam as the sacralisation of polygyny and the consequences of polygyny==
<blockquote>(Quran 51:47) ''And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, '''We (Allah) are [its] expander'''.''</blockquote>


==FGM: a Solution to Problems Caused by Islamic Doctrine==
The term “lamūsi‘ūn” in this verse is a "'''NOUN'''"  and not a "'''Verb'''", and it '''describes "God" and not the "heaven"''' (i.e. the term “lamūsi‘ūn” means "God is the Expander", and not "the Universe is Expanding").
intro


===Polygyny and its consequences===
The earlier Quran Translators did the correct translation:
Mackie  - plus corrections and extensions


===Child Marriage===
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/47/default.htm Quran 51:47]|'''Yusuf Ali:''' With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: '''''for it is We Who create the vastness of space'''''.
polygyny gives rise to child marriage, drives down age of FGM


===Mahr (Islamic Brideprice)===
'''Pickthal:''' We have built the heaven with might, and '''''We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof)'''''.
putting financial value on perceived chastity of girls and women...


===The Polygynous Family===
'''Shakir:''' And the heaven, We raised it high with power, '''''and most surely We are the makers of things ample'''''.
less emotional investment in children, esp girls, more financial investment at stake


===Cultural Congruence===
'''Word by Word Translation:''' And the heaven We constructed it with strength, '''''and indeed, We (are) surely (its) Expanders'''''.}}
other brutal practices relativise and make acceptable violenc of FGM (MGM, halal slaughter, wife beating, violence of Qur'an, jihad...)


==FGM and the uses of Trauma==
===Wؒord "وسع''":'' Literal Meaning vs Figurative Meaning===
xcxc
The root word of لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna) is وسع . However in Quran, this word and it's derivatives have been used in the meanings of "'''Encompassing"'''.
<br />
 
<references />
Look at the following verses:
{{Quote|[http://quranx.com/6.80 Quran 6:80]|وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا
 
'''Sahih Intl:''' My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge
 
'''Yusuf Ali:''' My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things}}
Also see verses [https://quranx.com/7.89 7:89] and [https://quranx.com/20.98 20:98].
 
Also see verse 65:12, where directly the word of "'''احاط'''" (encompass) has been used instead of "wasi'a"
{{Quote|[http://quranx.com/65.12 Quran 65:12]|وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا
 
'''Sahih Intl:''' and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.
 
'''Pickthall:'''and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.}}
So, then verse 51.47 must be understood as follows: '''"And the heaven We built it with might and We lamūsi‘ūn (encompasses it)."'''
 
This verse confirms that the heaven is completely within and under God’s control. There is no reference whatsoever to expansion of the heaven. The term “''lamūsi‘ūn''” '''describes God not the heaven'''.
 
ٖThus few translator used this figurative translation:
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/47/default.htm Quran 51:47]|'''Farook Malik:''' We have built the heavens with Our hands, ''for We have the power to do so''.
 
'''Abdul Majid Daryabadi:'''  And the heaven! We have built it with might, ''and verily We are powerful''.
 
'''Maududi:''' And heaven – We made it with Our Own Power ''and We have the Power to do so''.}}
 
===Next verse 51:48 also exposes this wrong translation===
Critics also point out that exactly the same grammar has been used in the next verse 51:48.
{{Quote|[http://quranx.com/51.48 Quran 51:48]|'''Yousuf Ali:''' And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: ''How excellently We do spread out!''}}
 
In this verse, the word الْمَاهِدُونَ (spreader/smoother) has exactly the same grammar (Active Participle Form I) as the word لَمُوسِعُونَ (i.e. expander) in the previous verse. Therefore, according to the translation pattern of modern Islam apologists, then the translation of this verse should be:<blockquote>(Quran 51:48) We have spread out the earth; '''and We are still steadily spreading/smoothing it'''. </blockquote>
Since this is against the modern science, and earth is not steadily spreading, thus here modern Islam apologists did the correct translation:
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/48/ Quran 51:48]|'''Asad:''' And the earth have We spread out wide - and how well have We ordered it
 
'''The Clear Quran:''' As for the earth, We spread it out. How superbly did We smooth it out!
 
'''Safi Kaskas:''' And the earth We spread it out, How well We smoothed it out.}}
 
Therefore, this next verse 51:48 also proves that in the earlier verse 51:47, the term “lamūsi‘ūn” means "God is the Expander", and not "the Universe is Expanding".
 
===Universe consists of "Space", while Quranic HEAVEN is a solid canopy which could not expand===
Critics also point out that according to science, universe consists of space and galaxies are travelling away from each other in this space and thus it is considered as an expansion of the universe.
 
But according to the writer of Quran, : {{Quote|{{Quran|2|22}}| الذي جعل لكم الارض فراشا والسماء بناء وانزل من السماء ماء فاخرج به من الثمرات رزقا لكم فلا تجعلوا لله اندادا وانتم تعلمون </br>Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth). }}The word translated as canopy is binaa or binaan ( بِنَاء ). This word means "building"<ref>بِنَاء binaa - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000298.pdf Lane's Lexicon] page 261</ref>. Here, the heavens are described as a multi-story building over the earth. There are seven layers or stories to this building called the heavens. The heavens are built on a foundation called "the earth". The tafsir of Ibn Kathir, among others, elaborates this<ref>[https://tafsir.app/2/22 Tafsirs 2:22]</ref>:{{quote |[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid&#61;2&tid&#61;1494 Tafsir Ibn Kathir]| These Ayat indicate that Allah started creation by creating earth, then He made heaven into seven heavens. This is how building usually starts, with the lower floors first and then the top floors}}And according to Ahadith, prophets are residing upon these solid heavens along with their nations.
 
Thus, it is impossible for a solid canopy to expand.
 
==References:==
{{reflist}}<br />

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Did Quran tell that universe is steadily expanding?

This article analyses the claim that Quran told that universe has been constantly expanding, and it is scientifically accurate, and thus it is is Quranic miracle.

Apologetic Claim

Apologists present the following verse

وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُون

Muhammad Assad: AND IT IS We who have built the universe with [Our creative] power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it.

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri: And We built the heavenly universe with great might. And surely, We are expanding (this universe) more and more.

The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab: We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, and We are certainly expanding ˹it˺.

Safi Kaskas: We built the universe with power, and We are steadily expanding it.

Zakir Naik writes regarding this verse:

The Arabic word mûsi‘ûn (in verse 51:47) is correctly translated as ‘expanding it’, and it refers to the creation of the expanding vastness of the universe. Stephen Hawking, in his book, ‘A Brief History of Time’, says, “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century.” The Qur’aan mentioned the expansion of the universe, before man even learnt to build a telescope!

Criticism

Critics point out that:

  • This translation of verse 51:47 is not correct.
  • Only modern apologists started doing this translation, otherwise no earlier translator did this translation.
  • And none of the Qur'an Mufassirin (i.e. Quran interpreters) of last fourteen centuries ever come to this conclusion from this verse.

Correct translation of verse 51:47

The dispute is only about the last two words of the verse 51:47 (i.e. وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ wa-innā lamūsiʿūna)

CorpusQuran website gives word by word grammar and translation of Quran. It writes[1]:

  • وَإِنَّا (wa-innā) Translation: "and indeed, We (Allah)"
  • لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna) Translation: "(are) surely (its) Expanders".

Therefore, the correct translation of this verse should be:

(Quran 51:47) And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We (Allah) are [its] expander.

The term “lamūsi‘ūn” in this verse is a "NOUN"  and not a "Verb", and it describes "God" and not the "heaven" (i.e. the term “lamūsi‘ūn” means "God is the Expander", and not "the Universe is Expanding").

The earlier Quran Translators did the correct translation:

Yusuf Ali: With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: for it is We Who create the vastness of space.

Pickthal: We have built the heaven with might, and We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof).

Shakir: And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and most surely We are the makers of things ample.

Word by Word Translation: And the heaven We constructed it with strength, and indeed, We (are) surely (its) Expanders.

Wؒord "وسع": Literal Meaning vs Figurative Meaning

The root word of لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna) is وسع . However in Quran, this word and it's derivatives have been used in the meanings of "Encompassing".

Look at the following verses:

وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا

Sahih Intl: My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge

Yusuf Ali: My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things

Also see verses 7:89 and 20:98.

Also see verse 65:12, where directly the word of "احاط" (encompass) has been used instead of "wasi'a"

وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا

Sahih Intl: and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.

Pickthall:and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.

So, then verse 51.47 must be understood as follows: "And the heaven We built it with might and We lamūsi‘ūn (encompasses it)."

This verse confirms that the heaven is completely within and under God’s control. There is no reference whatsoever to expansion of the heaven. The term “lamūsi‘ūndescribes God not the heaven.

ٖThus few translator used this figurative translation:

Farook Malik: We have built the heavens with Our hands, for We have the power to do so.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi: And the heaven! We have built it with might, and verily We are powerful.

Maududi: And heaven – We made it with Our Own Power and We have the Power to do so.

Next verse 51:48 also exposes this wrong translation

Critics also point out that exactly the same grammar has been used in the next verse 51:48.

Yousuf Ali: And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: How excellently We do spread out!

In this verse, the word الْمَاهِدُونَ (spreader/smoother) has exactly the same grammar (Active Participle Form I) as the word لَمُوسِعُونَ (i.e. expander) in the previous verse. Therefore, according to the translation pattern of modern Islam apologists, then the translation of this verse should be:

(Quran 51:48) We have spread out the earth; and We are still steadily spreading/smoothing it.

Since this is against the modern science, and earth is not steadily spreading, thus here modern Islam apologists did the correct translation:

Asad: And the earth have We spread out wide - and how well have We ordered it

The Clear Quran: As for the earth, We spread it out. How superbly did We smooth it out!

Safi Kaskas: And the earth We spread it out, How well We smoothed it out.

Therefore, this next verse 51:48 also proves that in the earlier verse 51:47, the term “lamūsi‘ūn” means "God is the Expander", and not "the Universe is Expanding".

Universe consists of "Space", while Quranic HEAVEN is a solid canopy which could not expand

Critics also point out that according to science, universe consists of space and galaxies are travelling away from each other in this space and thus it is considered as an expansion of the universe.

But according to the writer of Quran, :

الذي جعل لكم الارض فراشا والسماء بناء وانزل من السماء ماء فاخرج به من الثمرات رزقا لكم فلا تجعلوا لله اندادا وانتم تعلمون
Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).

The word translated as canopy is binaa or binaan ( بِنَاء ). This word means "building"[2]. Here, the heavens are described as a multi-story building over the earth. There are seven layers or stories to this building called the heavens. The heavens are built on a foundation called "the earth". The tafsir of Ibn Kathir, among others, elaborates this[3]:

These Ayat indicate that Allah started creation by creating earth, then He made heaven into seven heavens. This is how building usually starts, with the lower floors first and then the top floors

And according to Ahadith, prophets are residing upon these solid heavens along with their nations.

Thus, it is impossible for a solid canopy to expand.

References: