I heard a Saudi Shaykh say on Iqra' TV that the Hadeeth concerning female circumcision are all weak or fabricated. This is contrary to what I know and what I have read about the issue. I know that there is a Hadeeth where the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said that female circumcision is an honor for the woman. I just need some clarification about this issue please!

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars spoke about the chain of narrations regarding female circumcision. Some of them are of the view that such narrations are weak while some others classified some of the narrations as authentic; this is in general. As regards to the narration mentioned in the question, it is a weak narration reported by Imaams Ahmad, Al-Bayhaqi and others . The wording of the narration is as follows, “Circumcision is a Sunnah for men and a noble trait for women.” Al-Bayhaqi commented on this narration saying, “The chain of narrators of this narration is weak.”

Finally, the jurists differed about the ruling of female circumcision and the most preponderant opinion with us in Islamweb is that it is desirable, please refer to Fataawa 81776 and 82042 for more.

Allaah Knows best.