Circumcision for the male consists of removing the fold of skin covering the glans. For the female, it consists of removing a small excess piece of flesh above the point of penetration; the jurists said that it resembles a rooster’s comb.

The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that it is obligatory for both males and females, and this is the established position of the school. It was also said that it is obligatory for males but not for females; this was the view preferred by al-Muwaffaq (1), may Allah have mercy on him. Another view is that it is a sunnah for both males and females (293).

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, discussed the evidences behind this disagreement at length in Tuhfat al-Mawdud (2), but did not give preference to any view. It seems—and Allah knows best—that no particular view appeared stronger to him in this matter.

The view closest to what is correct is that it is obligatory for men and a sunnah for women. The reason for distinguishing between them is that, for men, it serves an interest connected to one of the conditions of prayer, namely purification: for if this skin remains