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Despite being perceived as a practice linked to [[Islam]], organizations such as the [[World Health Organization ]] deny that female genital cutting has any basis in it, and that any religious texts prescribe it. The organization Human Rights Watch says that the practice of female genital cutting is "erroneously linked" to Islam, and that it is "not particular to any religious faith."<ref name="Newsweek 2016-2-22">{{REFnews

}}</ref> The Muslim code of religious law (AKA Shariah) recommends performance of [[circumcision ]] at the age of seven days. In practice, however, Muslim boys are circumcised at varying ages before puberty.<ref>Morgenstern, Julian. ''Rites of Birth, Marriage, Death and Kindred Occasions among the Semites.'' Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1966. pp. 48-66 "...in modern Moslem practice the rite is performed generally between the ages of two and seven years... as late as the thirteenth year.’’</ref><ref>Mehta, Depak. "Circumcision, Body, Masculinity." ''In Violence and Subjectivity'', ed. Veena Das, Arthur Kleinman, et al. Berkeley: {{UNI|University of California|UCBE}} Press, 2000. pp. 82 "...two to six years."</ref><ref>Peletz, Michael G. Reason and Passion: Representations of Gender in a Malay Society. Berkeley: {{UNI|University of California|UCBE}} Press, 1996. pp. 240 "[Among Muslims in Negeri Sembilan, West Malaysia, boys] are usually circumcised when they are about twelve years old."</ref><ref>Crapanzano, Vincent. ‘‘Rite of Return: Circumcision in Morocco.’’ In Hermes’ Dilemma and Hamlet’s Desire: On the Epistemology of Interpretation. Cambridge, Mass.: {{UNI|Harvard University|HU}} Press, 1992.</ref> According to Genesis 17, Abraham circumcised Ishmael, who is supposed to be the the ancestor of Arab peoples, at the age thirteen, which is why this age is generally taken as the latest acceptable date.

Finally, according to the Qur'an, [[circumcision ]]may be seen as an act of evil:

| Text=Abu Musa reported: There cropped up a difference of opinion between a group of Muhajirs (Emigrants and a group of Ansar (Helpers) (and the point of dispute was) that the Ansar said: The bath (because of [[sexual intercourse]]) becomes obligatory only-when the semen spurts out or ejaculates. But the Muhajirs said: When a man has sexual intercourse (with the woman), a bath becomes obligatory (no matter whether or not there is seminal emission or ejaculation). Abu Musa said: Well, I satisfy you on this (issue). He (Abu Musa, the narrator) said: I got up (and went) to 'A'isha and sought her permission and it was granted, and I said to her: 0 Mother, or Mother of the Faithful, I want to ask you about a matter on which I feel shy. She said: Don't feel shy of asking me about a thing which you can ask your mother, who gave you birth, for I am too your mother. Upon this I said: What makes a bath obligatory for a person? She replied: You have come across one well informed! The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When anyone sits amidst four parts (of the woman) '''and the ''circumcised parts'' touch each other''' a bath becomes obligatory.

Their evidence is to be found in the saheeh ahaadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah Allah be upon him), which prove that it is prescribed, for example:

:The hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari (5889) and Muslim (257) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ''"The fitrah is five things – or five things are part of the fitrah – circumcision, shaving the pubes, cutting the nails, plucking the armpit hairs, and trimming the moustache."''

:Muslim (349) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah Allah be pleased with her) said: ''The Messenger of Allaah Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah Allah be upon him) said: “When a man sits between the four parts (arms and legs of his wife) and the two circumcised parts meet, then ghusl is obligatory.”''

:The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah Allah be upon him) mentioned the two circumcised parts, i.e., the circumcised part of the husband and the circumcised part of the wife, which indicates that a woman may be circumcised just like a man.