Question
My husband and myself are reverts, having accepted Islam. I have given birth to a baby boy. We have a dispute regarding the circumcision of the baby. I want it to be done immediately as all Muslims do. But my husband says that we have to wait until the child is 18 years old then the circumcision will be done in the mountains. It is necessary to follow the tradition of the community. What is the view of the Shariah?
Answer
It is Waajib (Compulsory) to have your child circumcised as soon as possible. It is not permissible to unnecessarily delay, and it is HARAAM to postpone it until he is 18 years old for the sake of fulfilling a kuffaar ritual. To do so is kufr. It is HARAAM for Muslims to adopt any ritual of a kuffaar religion even if the specific ritual does not entail any specific act of shirk. But adoption of a kuffaar religious practice is HARAAM. During circumcision in the mountains, kuffaar ritual will have to be followed, and this will render the person a murtad.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 23 No 11
- PDF page
- 3
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).