Where did the Muslim practice of removing a woman's clitoris come from?

Question

I assumed that it is a Muslim practice because it's done to all Muslim women. If it's not solely Muslim, then where did the practice itself come from?

My intention is to get information, not make people angry..

Answer 1

It has not been possible to determine when or where female circumcision originated. Theories and supposition date it as far back as the 5th century, BC. Herodotus stated that the Egyptians, Phoenicians, Hittites, and Ethiopians practiced female genital excision 500 years before the birth of Christ. Although it is commonly believed that female circumcision originated in Egypt at the time of the pharaohs, there is no evidence of infibulation in the Egyptian mummies. The practice has been documented in pre-Islamic Arabia, ancient Rome, and tsarist Russia.l As late as 1870, British surgeons performed female circumcision to treat psychological disorders. In the United States, as late as 1954, clitoridectomy was practiced for the treatment of melancholia and had been recommended for nymphomania, hysteria, epilepsy, kleptomania, and even truancy.2 Today, female circumcision is common in 30 African countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Yemen

Answer 2

I gotta look that up.
Just the other day I stumbled upon the same subject.
I just can't remember where at this moment.

Practiced by certain groups in Africa.
Predates Islam.
___
quote from link
Debate Among Muslims:
As noted above, FGM is a social custom, not a religious practice. However, in those Muslim countries where it is practice, FGM is often justified by a controversial saying attributed to the Prophet Mohammed that seem to favor sunna circumcision. The authenticity of these sayings are unconfirmed, and some scholars have refuted them. Even if true, they only permit the practice; they do not mandate it.

FGM has probably been performed for at least 1,400 years (some references estimate 2,000 years), and started during what Muslims call "al-gahiliyyah" (the era of ignorance). The Qu'r'an, Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and Christian Scriptures (New Testament) is silent on the subject. The Sunnah (the words and actions of the Prophet Mohammed) contains a reference to female circumcision

http://www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm

Answer 3

I do not have the answer as of yet but am sure someone will I hope. I did however, just today sign a petition to stop this horrid cruelty through Amnesty International.. I am very interested in information on other religions, Buddhism,Tibet, etc. and found a site I believe called Humanitarian..I will know more in a few days as I did subscribe to newsletters etc., archival material on a number of issues and that is one of them. I am sorry but I got so excited as I spent so much time in the last month reseaching various issues from the Congo on that I had to say something to you when you showed interest. When I get more I will post if you like...The stories you will read will make you all the more determined to do whatever, even if it is sign a petition to do a little something. A woman you might want to check out is an American born Tibetan Nun, Pema Chodron, a remarkable woman.
Sorry, I got carried away and hope we get the answer..Like minds.....
Magnolia

Answer 4

My understanding is that there is nothing "Muslim" about such a practice at all. It was a practice in some pre-Islamic cultures where Islam spread, and the practice was kept, because it was believed to be an expression of modesty, which is stressed in Islam. But many Muslims are totally against this practice.

Answer 5

It is not apart of Islam to remove the woman's clitoris.

It is a cultural practice of Northern Africa.

The people who practice the mutilation of women are people who just happen to be Muslim.

Answer 6

And you are calling yourself professor. Who told you that it is done to all muslim women. In all women in my family, I do not know a one had it. As many people told you before, it is not an Islamic practice but cultural one in some parts of Africa and it is now fading away.

Answer 7

Its not a muslim practice at all, and neither is mutilation of any sort. It is a cultural practice in Somalia, and some other countries, as a way to mutilate women , it predates the religion of Islam by the way.

Answer 8

Its not a Muslim practice. Its an ignorant cultural practice done by certain people.

Answer 9

I don't know for a fact it's a Muslim practise, it seems to be a tribal practise that is no forbidden by Islamic law, hence it can be done.

I don't know of a specific reference, maybe someone here will quote a Quran passage.

I know not every tribe or culture does it.

Answer 10

That is NOT, I repeat NOT a muslim practice. Islam never has heard of such horrible thing to do to women.

Its some strange african tribe that lives in a muslim country that does such thing.

The Qur'an speaks clearly of the rights to women, and the holy Qur'an never says that. It doesn't say its forbidden, but still Islam should condemn it!

Peace to christians froma muslim brother.