The Torah (Genesis 17:14) also says: "Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." Circumcision was also practiced by past prophets..

Muslims are still the largest single religious group to circumcise boys. In Islam circumcision is also known as tahara, meaning purification. Circumcision is not mentioned in the Quran but it is highlighted in the Sunnah (the Prophet Muhammad's recorded words and actions). In the Sunnah, Muhammad stated that circumcision was a "law for men." In Arabic the ritual circumcision is called “Khitan” ختان

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
Five are the acts of fitra: circumcision, removing the pubes, clipping the moustache, cutting the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits.
Sahih, authentic
Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Hadith 496

A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Ten are the acts according to fitra: clipping the moustache, letting the beard grow, using the tooth-stick, snuffing water in the nose, cutting the nails, washing the finger joints, plucking the hair under the armpits, shaving the pubes and cleaning one's private parts with water. The narrator said: I have forgotten the tenth, but it may have been rinsing the mouth.
Sahih, authentic
Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Hadith 502

The main reason given for the ritual is cleanliness. It is essential that every Muslim wash before praying. It is important that no urine is left on the body. Muslims believe the removal of the foreskin makes it easier to keep the penis clean because urine can't get trapped there. Supporters of circumcision also argue that excrements may collect under the foreskin which may lead to fatal diseases such as cancer. Some Muslims see circumcision as a preventive measure against infection and diseases.

If we look at the message in the hadith, each item one by one serve health and hygiene. It would be completely pointless to go through the items regarding nail care, removal of the hair at the armpit and private parts, keeping the mustache short not to reach the lips, the man of today knows exactly what is the importance of these prescriptions. We still need to think about the desert heat, the animals, the driving of camels on caravan routes and we can figure out what it all serves. But returning to the circumcision of men, there is another aspect comes also into play in addition to hygiene.

For the majority of Muslims, circumcision is seen as an introduction to the Islamic faith and a sign of belonging. In Islam there is no fixed age for circumcision. The age at which it is performed varies depending on family, region and country. The preferred age is often seven although some Muslims are circumcised as early as the seventh day after birth and as late as puberty. In Islam there is no equivalent of a “Jewish mohel” (Jew trained in the practice of brit milah, the "covenant of circumcision."). Circumcisions are usually carried out in a clinic or hospital. The circumciser is not required to be a Muslim but he must be medically trained. In some Islamic countries circumcision is performed after Muslim boys have recited the whole of the Quran from start to finish. In Malaysia, for example, the operation is a puberty rite that separates the boy from childhood and introduces him to adulthood.

Circumcision is not as compulsory in Islam as in Judaism but it is an important ritual aimed at improving cleanliness. It is strongly encouraged but not enforced. The ritual dates back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. According to tradition Muhammad was born without a foreskin. Some Muslims who practice circumcision see it as a way of being like him.