“When a man embraced Islam, he would be ordered to be circumcised, even if he was advanced in age.” Its chain of transmission is authentic, but the report is either attributed to a Successor or attributed to a Companion. Apparently, Imam al-Zuhrī did not mean that this took place during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Because its chain to him is authentic, I included it in my new book, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad (484/948/1252). And Allah knows best.

Al-Bukhārī entitled the chapter containing it, “The Circumcision of an Adult,” and cited under it the hadith of Abū Hurayrah: “Abraham, peace and blessings be upon him, was circumcised when he was one hundred and twenty years old.” This is attributed to a Companion; the authentic version is attributed to the Prophet and reads: “...after eighty years.” Al-Bukhārī narrated it there several chapters earlier, as no. (1244), and it is documented in al-Irwāʾ (78).

Ahmad cited it as evidence for the circumcision of an adult. Al-Khallāl narrated in al-Wuqūf wa-l-Tarajjul (146/183), from Ḥanbal, that he asked Abū ʿAbd Allāh about a dhimmī who embraces Islam. I said to him, “Do you hold that he should purify himself through circumcision?” He replied, “He must do so.” I said, “What if he is an adult man or woman?” He replied, “It is preferable to me that he purify himself, because of the hadith: ‘Abraham was circumcised when he was eighty years old.’ Allah said: ‘The religion of your father Abraham.’” He was asked, “What if he fears for his life?” He replied, “Even if he fears for his life; his safety may still be hoped for.”

In another narration, he said: “He must attain ritual purity; this is an impurity”—meaning, the uncircumcised man. Al-Khallāl then narrated from Imam Ahmad that he was asked about the pilgrimage of an uncircumcised man. He replied, “Ibn ʿAbbās was strict concerning his case. It is reported from him that such a man has neither pilgrimage nor prayer.” He was asked, “Then what do you say?” He replied: