When is circumcision performed? At the time of puberty or during childhood?

It is recommended to circumcise the young boy in his infancy because it is easier for him, as Al-Nawawi said: "It is recommended for the guardian to circumcise the young boy in his infancy because it is easier for him."

There is no specific time for circumcision in the Sunnah. When Imam Ahmad was asked about its time, he said: "I have not heard anything about that." Ibn al-Mundhir said: "There is no report regarding the time of circumcision to refer to, nor a Sunnah to be practiced."

As for the time of obligation: Some scholars held that it is not obligatory until after puberty. Al-Nawawi said: "The time of obligatory circumcision is after puberty." Ibn al-Qayyim chose that it is obligatory for the guardian to circumcise the boy before puberty, so that the boy reaches puberty already circumcised. He said: "And in my opinion, it is obligatory for the guardian to circumcise the boy before puberty, so that he reaches puberty circumcised." Ibn Taymiyyah said: "As for circumcision, one may be circumcised whenever they wish, but when one approaches puberty: it is appropriate to be circumcised... so that one does not reach puberty except while being circumcised."