Circumcision of the Prophet ﷺ ─ On the Seventh Day or at Birth? A Scholarly Review
Compiled by: Abu Abdul Aziz Muhammad Yusuf Madani
✦ Introduction
There are differing reports regarding the circumcision of the Prophet ﷺ. Some narrations state that he was circumcised on the seventh day after his birth, others say he was born circumcised, while yet others claim that Jibreel عليه السلام circumcised him. In this article, we will examine these reports in the light of hadith criticism to clarify the authentic view.
✦ The Reports
➊ Ibn Hisham and others:
“After the birth of the Prophet ﷺ, his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalib expressed joy, carried him to the Ka‘bah, supplicated, named him Muhammad, and circumcised him on the seventh day according to Arab custom.”
References: Ibn Hisham (1/159–160), Tarikh Khudari (1/62), Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom (p. 83–84)➋ Narration of Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما:
“ ‘Abd al-Muttalib circumcised the Prophet ﷺ on the seventh day, hosted a feast, and named him Muhammad.”
Reference: As-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah of al-Albani (6270)✦ Research and Analysis
The narration is weak (da‘eef).Chain Defects:
• Muhammad ibn Abi al-Sari → Sadooq but prone to many errors.
• Al-Walid ibn Muslim → Known for tadlees at-taswiyah.
• ‘Ata’ al-Khurasani → Sadooq but highly prone to mistakes, and a mudallis with many interrupted narrations.
Hence, the chain suffers from three major defects, making it unreliable (Al-Albani, As-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah 6270).
✦ Other Views
Born circumcised:
Some reports (via Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn ‘Umar) state that the Prophet ﷺ was born circumcised with his umbilical cord already cut.
→ These are not authentic in chain.
Circumcision by Jibreel عليه السلام:
Some narrations mention that during shaqq al-sadr (splitting of the chest), Jibreel عليه السلام circumcised him.
→ This too is weak and baseless in chain.
Circumcision by ‘Abd al-Muttalib:
The narration of Ibn ‘Abbas points to this.
→ Though weak, historians such as Ibn al-‘Adim, Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, and Al-Albani leaned towards this being the closest historical account.
✦ Summary of Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (Tuhfat al-Mawdood)
He mentioned three opinions regarding the Prophet’s ﷺ circumcision:
① Born circumcised.
② Circumcised by Jibreel عليه السلام.
③ Circumcised by his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalib on the seventh day.
• None of these are authentically proven with a sound chain.
• Even if the Prophet ﷺ was born circumcised, this is not a unique miracle, as it has occurred in some ordinary people as well.
• Historically, the strongest and most reasonable view is that ‘Abd al-Muttalib circumcised him on the seventh day, though the chain is weak.
✦ Conclusion
① The narration of circumcision on the seventh day is weak in chain.
② The narrations of being born circumcised or of Jibreel performing circumcision are also weak and unreliable.
③ According to researchers (Ibn al-‘Adim, Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, Al-Albani), the closest view historically is that his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalib circumcised him on the seventh day, though not established through a sound hadith.
Therefore, the correct position is that no authentic hadith exists regarding the circumcision of the Prophet ﷺ. The seventh-day account remains the most plausible historical view, but not a proven sunnah narration.