Is there a timing prescribed in the Shari'ah for circumcision?

Al-Halabi : Another brother asks, "Is there a timing prescribed in the Shari'ah for circumcision?"

The Shaykh : Yes, but the timing for circumcision on the seventh day is like the 'aqiqah. However, it appears that this is not on the basis of obligation, because it is established that some of the sons of the Companions were circumcised when they were of a later age. Therefore, the best is for the child to be circumcised on the seventh day; this is better in terms of the Shari'ah because the text has come: It is also better from a medical standpoint, because the boy's wound heals with astonishing speed when he is young, whereas if he is circumcised when older, some inflammation may result, as with any wound a person of that age might sustain. So both options are permissible. The Sunnah for which the questioner is rewarded is that the circumcision be on the seventh day. If it is circumcised before that, and this occurred during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or after that, all of it is permissible. But the Sunnah is the seventh day. Is that clear? Do you have anything else?
Al-Halabi : The brother says,The questioner : You said that circumcision occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on a day other than the seventh, while also saying before that that the Sunnah is the seventh day. Would not the Prophetic approval, if there was approval of its occurrence on a day other than the seventh, be a Sunnah?

The Shaykh : No, there is a Sunnah of approval or action. There is a verbal Sunnah: This has become a verbal Shari'ah. As for what occurred, such as the circumcision of Ibrahim when he was young, and the circumcision of Ibn 'Abbas when he was older, and similar cases, these were not accompanied by a statement; they only occurred as actions. The action is permissible; it indicates permissibility, not that it is a Sunnah. That concludes the questions.