Female doctors circumcising boys

29-11-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. In some medical centres, female doctors circumcise children and adult boys. They are very expert at this, but is it permissable in Islam? Similarly, some female surgeons perform operations of adult male genitalia, like hydrocele, epididmocele, herniorhaphy; these operations involve male testes; is this permissible? These female doctors or surgeons show no hesitation in examining male private parts in case of an emergency. How can this be avoided?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We have already highlighted in fatwa 33122 that it is permissible for a woman doctor to circumcise a minor who is below the age of distinction. As for a boy who has reached the age of distinction, it is not permissible for a woman doctor to touch his ‘Awrah (what should be covered of the body) without a necessity or a dire need.

We have also clarified in fatwa 85230 that it is not permissible for a man to reveal his ‘Awrah to a female doctor except in case of necessity, such as if there is no male doctor, even if he is a non-Muslim.

Being lenient in this matter and not abiding by the Islamic conditions is a very serious matter. So one has to denounce that and advise those who do it in a gentle and lenient manner and take the matter to the responsible authorities if necessary to prevent them from all that may cause temptation.

Allah knows best.