Circumcision of infant boys

Is it permissible to circumcise a baby boy before the age of seven days, especially when this is the practice in some hospitals? Someone told me that it is haraam (forbidden) to do this before seven days and makrooh (disliked) after that time.

Praise be to Allaah.

It is sunnah to circumcise baby boys, and it is neither haraam nor makrooh to bring it forward before the seventh day or to delay it. The ruling is not strict, and the interests of the child are to be taken into account. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Five things are part of the fitrah (natural disposition of man): circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hair.” (Saheeh: agreed upon).