Melvyn's Circumcision Day

Our eldest son, Melvyn Kairupan, has been circumcised last July 25th 2007 at Omni Medical Centre in Rawamangun, Jakarta.

At first, we took Melvyn to visited the hospital just for checked, because he had a problem since he was 1 (one) month of age in his penis. He had a balanitis, and the description below about balanitis was taken from www.patient.co.uk:

Balanitis is an inflammation of the end of the penis (the glans). Often the foreskin is also inflamed at the same time as the glans. (The foreskin is the loose skin that covers the glans if you have not been circumcised.) Balanitis is common, and it can occur at any age.

Symptoms include redness, irritation, and soreness of the end of the penis. It can range from a small patch of redness confined to part of the skin surface of the glans, to the whole glans becoming red, swollen and painful. Sometimes there is a thick clumpy discharge which comes from under the foreskin.

Melvyn had this problem since he was a baby, and all of these times we just gave him antibiotics based on doctor prescriptions. So when it started getting worst, we decided to have further treatments for Melvyn.

We went to the hospital to be examined by the doctor, at that time the penis was swollen red because of the infection, so the doctor just gave Melvyn some medicines to cured the infections, and instructed us to came back within 10 days to check again. If the infection and the swollen has been cured, then the surgery can be performed. The purposed of the surgery was to circumcised Melvyn, so he won't get a balanitis again.

The circumcised is to cut the foreskin off male babies or teenage boys. The description below about circumcised was taken from http://www.aqiqahkorban.com/:

Circumcision (Khitan)

Khitan literally means incise. It is the procedure where the outer skin covering the penis head (hasyafah) is incised.

It was reported in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, that Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said :
"Five things are included in instinct (fitrah) : circumcision, shaving of pubic hair, removal of hairs in the armpit, cutting the nails and shortening of the moustache."

And the description below was taken from www.bbc.co.uk:

After the surgery at kids room

Circumcision of boys

1) Islam and male circumcision

Muslims are still the largest single religious group to circumcise boys. In Islam circumcision is also known as tahara, meaning purification.

Circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur'an but it is highlighted in the Sunnah (the Prophet Muhammad's recorded words and actions).

The main reason given for the ritual is cleanliness. It is essential that every Muslim washes before praying. It is important that no urine is left on the body.

Muslims believe the removal of the foreskin makes it easier to keep the penis clean because urine can't get trapped there.

Supporters of circumcision also argue that excrements may collect under the foreskin which may lead to fatal diseases such as cancer.

Some Muslims see circumcision as a preventive measure against infection and diseases.

2) Belonging

For the majority of Muslims, circumcision is seen as an introduction to the Islamic faith and a sign of belonging.

In Islam there is no fixed age for circumcision. The age at which it is performed varies depending on family, region and country.

The preferred age is often seven although some Muslims are circumcised as early as the seventh day after birth and as late as puberty.

There is no equivalent of a Jewish mohel in Islam. Circumcisions are usually carried out in a clinic or hospital. The circumciser is not required to be a Muslim but he must be medically trained.

In some Islamic countries circumcision is performed after Muslim boys have recited the whole of the Qur'an from start to finish.

In Malaysia, for example, the operation is a puberty rite that separates the boy from childhood and introduces him to adulthood.

3) An essential practice

Circumcision is not compulsory in Islam but it is an important ritual aimed at improving cleanliness. It is strongly encouraged but not enforced.

The ritual dates back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. According to tradition Muhammad was born without a foreskin (aposthetic). Some Muslims who practise circumcision see it as a way of being like him.
Circumcision was also practised by past prophets.

Dr. Bashir Quereshi, author of Transcultural Medicine, explains: "Every Muslim is expected to follow the way and the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Therefore, all Muslims - devouts, liberals or seculars - observe this ritual. Muslim are obliged to follow not only Allah's message in the Holy Qur'an but also what the Prophet said or did, as proof of their dedication to Islam."

Traditionally, adult converts to Islam were encouraged to undergo the operation but this practice is not universally endorsed particularly if the procedure poses a health risk.

Back to Melvyn story, finally he went to the operation room and had surgery. It was done less than 30 minutes. But Melvyn need to stay in the hospital for observation at least one night, and the following day he had release from the hospital and went back home.

The Day of Leaving the Hospital