7 Islamic Rulings Regarding Children Born Circumcised — In Light of Sharī‘ah
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Volume 1, Page 437
❖ Question:
If a child is born already circumcised, is it obligatory to pass a razor over the area?
✿ ① Exemption from the Obligation of Circumcision:
◈ If a person is born such that the foreskin (qalafah) is completely absent from the private organ, then circumcision is not obligatory upon him.
◈ This is because the very skin that is supposed to be removed during circumcision does not exist.
✔ This ruling is agreed upon by the scholars.
✿ ② View of Later Scholars (Mutakhkhirīn):
◈ Some later scholars are of the opinion that:
➤ Passing a razor over the area is recommended (mustaḥabb) since the person is able to perform it.
◈ They cite the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
“When I command you to do something, do of it as much as you are able.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2/1082, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim fī al-Faḍāʾil 2/262)
✿ ③ Sharʿī Status of Passing a Razor Over the Area:
◈ Two actions are generally involved in circumcision:
- Passing a razor, and
- Cutting the skin.
◈ If the foreskin is entirely absent, then:
➤ Cutting is no longer applicable,
➤ Passing the razor remains — but it has no Sharʿī benefit.
✔ Therefore:
◈ Declaring it recommended (mustaḥabb) is not valid,
◈ Because it becomes a purposeless action.
◈ Such an act cannot be a form of worship or a means of drawing close to Allah.
◈ Sharīʿah is free of purposeless acts.
✿ ④ Comparable Examples Given by Scholars:
◈ Some scholars have said:
➤ A bald person should still pass a razor over his head during Hajj or ʿUmrah.
➤ If someone is mute, unable to recite Qur’an or any adhkār, he should at least move his tongue.
However, Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) responded:
➤ If it is said that moving the tongue in this way invalidates the prayer, then that view is closer to correctness,
➤ Because it is a purposeless action and contrary to khushūʿ (humility in prayer).
✿ ⑤ When Is Circumcision Still Required?
◈ If the foreskin is entirely absent, circumcision is not required.
◈ But if only part of the glans (ḥashafah) is visible, for example:
➤ The urinary opening is exposed, but the entire head is not visible,
➤ Then circumcision is required to fully uncover the glans.
✿ ⑥ Ruling for Male and Female Circumcision:
For males:
◈ It is obligatory to remove all the skin covering the glans so that the entire head is exposed.
◈ The best form is to remove it from the base of the glans.
◈ At the very least, no part of the glans should remain covered.
For females:
◈ A small portion of the skin above the vaginal opening (farj), at the upper part, is to be removed.
◈ As previously detailed, this does not require cutting at the root.
◈ Trimming from the top portion is sufficient.
✿ ⑦ References from Fiqh Literature:
From Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī (4/8), citing al-Māwardī:
◈ Male circumcision involves removing the skin that covers the glans, so the glans is fully exposed.
◈ The most complete method is cutting from the root, but at minimum, enough skin should be removed to ensure no covering remains.
Imām al-Ḥaramayn’s opinion:
◈ Complete removal of the foreskin is necessary; no part should remain.
Ibn al-Ṣabbāgh’s view:
◈ The goal of circumcision is to fully expose the glans.
Regarding female circumcision:
◈ Imām’s opinion:
➤ Remove only enough to qualify as circumcision.
◈ Al-Māwardī states:
➤ The skin above the vaginal entrance, which is like a fleshy crest, is to be trimmed from the top, not from the base.
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