Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries of a female animal. In the case of non-human animals, this is also called spaying. It is a form of sterilization.

The removal of the ovaries together with the Fallopian tubes is called salpingo-oophorectomy. Oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy are not common forms of birth control in humans; more usual is tubal ligation, in which the Fallopian tubes are blocked but the ovaries remain intact.

In humans, oophorectomy is most usually performed together with a hysterectomy - the removal of the uterus. Its use in a hysterectomy when there are no other health problems is somewhat controversial.

In animals, spaying involves an invasive removal of the ovaries, but rarely has major complications; the superstition that it causes weight gain is not based on fact. Spaying is especially important for certain animals that require the ovum to be released at a certain interval (called estrus or "heat"), such as cats and dogs. If the cell is not released during these animal's heat, it can cause severe medical problems that can be averted by spaying or partnering the animal with a male.

Oophorectomy is sometimes referred to as castration, but that term is most often used to mean the removal of a male animal's testicles.

See also

• tubal ligation & birth control
• circumcision
• genital mutilation & female circumcision

Al-Ikhlas is the 112th Sura of the Qur'an, a short 4-verse declaration of God's absolute unity (tawhid), rejecting the doctrines of polytheism and trinitarianism.

Bismallahi Ar-Rahmanir Raheem

1. Qul huwa Allahu ahadun {Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;}

2. Allahu alssamadu {Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;}

3. Lam yalid walam yoolad {He begets not, nor was He begotten;}

4. Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun {And there is none comparable unto Him.}

In Islam the purpose of this surah in the Noble Quran is mainly to establish the oneness of the Creator. The fact that He is the only one who is eternal, and needs no one else's help, amplifies His greatness to Muslims.

It is disputed whether this is a Makkan or Madinan sura, although the former seems more probable, particularly since it seems to be have been alluded to by Bilal, who, when he was being tortured by his polytheist master, is said to have repeated "Ahad, Ahad!" (unique, referring as here to Allah.) It is reported from Ubayy ibn Ka'b that it was revealed after the polytheists asked "O Muhammad! Tell us the lineage of your Lord."

It was inscribed on the Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem by Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.

Preceded by: Al-Masadd	Sura 112	Followed by: Al-Falaq
	Qur'an

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Qur'an - Al Ikhlas (English)

• Mawdudi's commentary http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/maududi/mau112.html