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 was born circumcised. However, all of them are weak. At-Tabaraani reported in his collection of Hadeeth "Al-Awsat", from Anas that the Prophet said: "As a special form from my Lord to me, I was born circumcised and nobody saw my private parts". Al-Suyooti 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 was born circumcised.

According to Ibn Al-Jawzi there is no doubt that the Prophet 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 was born circumcised are weak and nothing is proved in this concern. Abu 'Umar ibn 'Abdul-Bar in his book al-Tamheed, reported from Ibn 'Abbaas that, “‘Abdul-Muttalib circumcised the Prophet on the seventh day of his birth, held a banquet on this occasion and named him Muhammad". Abu 'Umar said, 'This Hadeeth is mentioned with chain of narrators to the Prophet ; 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.