David Wood Responds to Linda Sarsour and Reza Aslan on FMG

Hat tip Vlad Tepes

David Wood, an expert and critic of Islam, has produced this interesting video as a response to Islamic activist Linda Sarsour, who was an adviser on Islam to President Obama. Sarsour, who is one of our more obnoxious Muslim activists, describes herself as “every Islamophobe’s worst nightmare”, a dubious claim at best. She has weighed in on the controversy over female genital mutilation calling it a barbaric practice (correct) but not an Islamic practice (wrong). In this video, we also hear from Reza Aslan, who everyone thinks is a moderate Muslim as well. He also says that FMG has nothing to do with Islam.

Let’s be fair: FMG is also practiced in parts of Africa by non-Muslims. Not all Muslims practice FMG. However, for Sarsour to argue that there is no basis for FMG in Islamic teaching is wildly inaccurate, as Wood clearly points out. Keep in mind that it is the Islamic scholars who are the authority in Islam based on their understanding of the Koran, the hadith and the reported words and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad. Clearly, scholars will disagree on points over time, and Wood has shown the disagreements. For example, some authorities say the entire clitoris should be removed while others say only a part. Some scholars say circumcision is mandatory while others say it is recommended. Nowhere does it say that  female circumcision is forbidden.

Whether you agree with the scholars or not (and I disagree fervently), they represent the authority within Islam. Linda Sarsour and Reza Aslan are Muslims, but they are not Islamic scholars. Muslims searching for answers on this question will turn to the scholars and the leading Islamic schools of Islamic teaching, but they well not turn to Sarsour or Aslan. Only gullible non-Muslims looking for reassurance will turn to these two.