Circumcision of the Prophet

30-4-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Some say the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was born circumcised, some say not. Is there any Daleel (evidence) that he was circumcised on the seventh day or he was never circumcised by any human being?

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.

It is reported in many Ahaadeeth (narrations) that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was born circumcised. However, all of them are weak. At-Tabaraani  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him reported in his collection of Hadeeth "Al-Awsat", from Anas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "As a special form from my Lord to me, I was born circumcised and nobody saw my private parts". Al-Suyooti  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said regarding this narration, 'It is good'; however, al-Albaani classified it as weak. It is well-known among scholars of Hadeeth and biographies that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was born circumcised.

According to Ibn Al-Jawzi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him there is no doubt that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was born circumcised although the above-mentioned Hadeeth is not sound. According to al-Zain al-'Iraqi from Ibn Al-'Adeem that reports concerning the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was born circumcised are weak and nothing is proved in this concern. Abu 'Umar ibn 'Abdul-Bar  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him in his book al-Tamheed, reported from Ibn 'Abbaas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him that, “‘Abdul-Muttalib circumcised the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) on the seventh day of his birth, held a banquet on this occasion and named him Muhammad". Abu 'Umar  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said, 'This Hadeeth is mentioned with chain of narrators to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ); it is classified as a strange Hadeeth. Yahya ibn Ayoob said, 'I searched for this Hadeeth and did not find it among scholars of Hadeeth whom I met except Ibn Abu al-Sirri'.

Allaah Knows best.

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