Is circumcision obligatory for men?

What the scholars agree on

There is no disagreement that circumcision is legislated for men. IslamWeb states plainly that the scholars differ only on whether it is obligatory — such that the one who leaves it sins — or a sunnah for which the one who does it is rewarded. Ibn Baz likewise notes that it is from the fitrah (the natural dispositions), and the Prophet ﷺ listed it first among them:

"The fitrah are five: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, and plucking the armpit hair."— Sahih al-Bukhari 5891 and Sahih Muslim 257, from Abu Hurayrah

What is disputed is the ruling, not the practice.

The case for obligation

Ibn Uthaymeen, after noting that the matter is one of legitimate difference, concludes that the nearest of the sayings is that circumcision is obligatory for men and a sunnah for women. He gives four lines of evidence.

• The Prophet ﷺ commanded it: multiple narrations report that he ordered those who accepted Islam to be circumcised, and the default ruling of a command is obligation.
• It is a distinguishing mark: circumcision set the Muslims apart from the Christians, to the point that Muslim dead were recognised on the battlefield by it. Distinguishing the Muslim from the disbeliever is itself required.
• It is cutting part of the body: cutting the body is forbidden, and the forbidden is only permitted for something obligatory.
• The guardian of an orphan does it: he pays the circumciser from the orphan's wealth and submits the orphan's body to it. Were it not obligatory, that would be an unlawful transgression against both.

Ibn Taymiyyah argues from purification: the foreskin traps urine, and removing the impurity that gathers there is obligatory, since impurity is to be removed. He notes that the Prophet ﷺ joined circumcision to the other practices of fitrah in a single list, and that the part removed is from the original creation — which is why, he says, mankind will be raised uncircumcised, showing the removal was not a mere trimming of hair or nail.

Ibn Qudamah, in al-Mughni, states the Hanbali position directly: circumcision is obligatory for men and a noble act for women, not obligatory on them. His proof is that covering the private parts is obligatory, so it would not be permitted to expose a man's private parts for circumcision unless it were itself obligatory; and it is one of the marks of the Muslims, so it is obligatory like their other marks.

The case for it being a sunnah

The Hanafis and Malikis hold it to be a sunnah for both men and women, and al-Shawkani reports al-Nawawi as saying this is the view of most scholars. Ibn Baz, in one answer, says the well-known position among the scholars is that it is a confirmed sunnah for everyone, while noting that some held it obligatory and some held it obligatory for men only. Al-Bayhaqi, writing as a Shafi'i, records the disagreement and argues for obligation, citing the command to follow the way of Ibrahim and the narration that Ibrahim was circumcised at eighty.

When it is not required

The scholars set a condition on the obligation: it applies only when it is safe for the person. Ibn Uthaymeen states that if one fears death or illness, it is not obligatory, because obligations do not stand with incapacity or fear of harm. Ibn Qudamah says the same — if a grown man fears for himself, it drops from him, and if he is safe, it becomes binding. IslamWeb adds that if a person dies having been able to do it and neglected it, he is sinful for neglecting an obligation, and he is not circumcised after death because accountability has ended.

In practice

• Have it done, and do it early. Ibn Baz says it has no fixed limit — the seventh day or later before puberty — and that before puberty is better, since it is easier and less harmful. Al-Shanqiti prefers it in childhood.
• If you are an adult and uncircumcised, the obligation still stands on you if it is safe. IslamWeb advises doing it provided there is no harm, and notes that being married makes no difference to the ruling.
• Use a skilled practitioner. Al-Shanqiti warns that the circumciser must know the procedure; if he exceeds its limits he is liable and sinful.
• The lawful circumcision is limited. Ibn Baz stresses that it is the cutting of the foreskin covering the head of the penis only. Peeling the surrounding skin or removing the organ entirely is forbidden — it is torture and mutilation, and he cites the prohibition of muthlah (mutilation) and the verses forbidding self-destruction.

Key takeaways

• Circumcision is legislated for men without dispute; the disagreement is whether it is obligatory or a confirmed sunnah.
• The Hanbali position, argued by Ibn Qudamah, Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Uthaymeen, is that it is obligatory for men.
• The Hanafis and Malikis hold it a sunnah, and Ibn Baz's preferred answer is that it is a confirmed sunnah for all.
• The obligation drops if circumcision would endanger life or health.
• It should be done early, by a skilled practitioner, and only the foreskin is removed.

Further reading

• Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, Book of Purification
• Ibn Taymiyyah, Sharh 'Umdat al-Fiqh
• al-Shawkani, Nayl al-Awtar, Book of Purification

And Allah knows best.