Fatwa ID: 07853
Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Altaf Hossen
Question:
One of my friend is very young & she got early menopause & she is prone to osteoporosis. She wants to get hormone therapy. Is it halal to get hormone therapy done ?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Hormone therapy is a treatment that involves adding, blocking, or removing hormones to treat a variety of conditions, including cancer, menopause, and period problems.
The permissibility of hormone therapy in Islam depends on the intention, necessity, and whether it involves any prohibited elements
Seeking treatment is encouraged: Allah says:
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا
“And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:29)
سورة البقرة (2:173):
“فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ.”
(But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience or transgressing limits, then there is no sin upon him.)
Hadith:
عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ كَأَنَّمَا عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمُ الطَّيْرُ فَسَلَّمْتُ ثُمَّ قَعَدْتُ فَجَاءَ الأَعْرَابُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا وَهَا هُنَا فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَتَدَاوَى فَقَالَ “ تَدَاوَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ
وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلاَّ وَضَعَ لَهُ دَوَاءً غَيْرَ دَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ الْهَرَمُ ” Narrated Usamah ibn Sharik:
I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions were sitting as if they had birds on their heads. I saluted and sat down. The desert Arabs then came from here and there. They asked: Messenger of Allah, should we make use of medical treatment? He replied: Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age.: Sunan Abi Dawud 3855
.
Hormone therapy falls under this general permissibility of seeking treatment for ailments such as early menopause and its complications.
Hormone therapy would be impermissible if it involves unlawful substances (e.g., porcine-derived hormones) or procedures forbidden in Islam.
- Ruling on medical necessity:
According to Hanafi principles, it is permissible to use treatments that are necessary to avoid harm or hardship, provided they do not involve haram elements.
Ibn Abidin mentions:
“Necessities permit prohibited matters to the extent required.”
(Raddul Muhtar, Kitab al-Darurat and ibahat) (1)
Conditions for permissibility:
Hormone therapy will be permissible under the following conditions:
It must address a genuine medical need, such as preventing osteoporosis.
The substances used must be halal (e.g., not derived from haram animals or impure sources).
No alternative halal treatment exists that is equally effective.
Hormone therapy for early menopause is permissible in Islam under the following conditions:
- It addresses a genuine medical need (e.g., preventing osteoporosis).
- The substances and methods used are halal.
- There is no haram element or alternative equally effective halal option.
It is recommended to consult a trusted Muslim medical professional to ensure compliance with Islamic principles and discuss the ingredients and process of the therapy.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Muhammad Altaf Hossen
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
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(1)(Raddul Muhtar, Kitab al-Darurat and ibahat)
(2)(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3459)
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