Circumcision in Christianity
Fatwa No: 123088

Question

Is circumcising allowed in Christianity?

Answer

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.

 

We do not know whether or not circumcision was allowed in the original Christianity, but Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned some evidence that the Christians did not practice circumcision. He said that circumcision for Muslims is equal to baptism for Christians, the Cross worshippers. They claim that they cleanse their babies when they immerse them into the water of baptism, saying that the baby has thus entered the Christian faith. Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned the Hadeeth about Heraclius when his companions said to him, “Only the Jews perform circumcision.”

It is a possibility that circumcision was allowed in the original undistorted Christianity. Before the quotation mentioned above, Ibn Al-Qayyim said that circumcision is one of the merits of the laws that Allaah The Almighty ordained for His slaves with which He perfected their outer and inner features. He added, "Circumcision complements the Fitrah (natural disposition upon which Allaah created mankind) on which Allaah Created them. Hence, it was one of the perfect acts of the pure religion of Ibraaheem (Abraham)." For further information about the ruling of circumcision in Islam, see Fatwa 81632.

Allaah Knows best.

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