Fatwa ID: 05186
Answered by: Alimah Mahdiyah Siddique
Question
I need your shariah advice on the issue of gender selection. Please advise if it is permissible to undergo medical procedures for having a baby of a particular sex. This is done by identifying the gender of the fetus through embryo screening. Whether this technology can be utilized by a couple who have all the babies of a particular sex and who wants to have a baby of the missing gender to balance the family. The intention is not to avoid a particular gender but to have a baby of the missing gender in the family.
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Answer
Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Quran, ‘To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants females to whom He wills and grants males to whom He wills. Or He combines for them couples, both males and females, and makes whom He wills barren. Surely, He is All-Knowing, Very-Powerful.’ [Verses 49 and 50, Surah Shūrā]
Verses 49 and 50 states the absolute power and perfect wisdom of Allah Ta’ālā in the creation of this universe.
It means that nobody’s intention or authority has anything to do with the creation of a human being, nor does anybody have its knowledge. What to say of anybody else, even the intention or choice of the parents, who are the apparent agents of the creation of a human being, does not have any bearing on the child’s creation. Let alone having a say in the child’s creation, the mother does not even know before the child is born. As to what is being formed in her womb, and how it is being processed.
It is Allah Ta’ālā alone who grants female children to whom He wills, and male children to whom He wills; to some He grants both male and female children, and He renders some females barren who do not have any children. (Ma’ariful Quran, p.702, v.7, by Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi, Publishing Company: Maktaba-e-Darul ‘Uloom, Karachi, Pakistan.)
With regards to your question, it would be impermissible to undergo medical procedures to attain a baby of a specific gender regardless of whether wishing to balance out the family as this could further lead to the opening of the doors of the acts of the times of ignorance during which having female children was deeply frowned upon. You should think of the situation in a way that whatever child Allah has given you it is because He has decreed it to be the best for you.
I would advise that you perform Salatul Haajah regularly and ask Allah the Almighty to fulfill your needs.
It is narrated by Saaiduna Abdullah Bin Abi Awfah that the Prophet of Allah said; “Whoever, has any need from Allah or anyone of his children, let him make Wudhu and let him make it well, then after two rakaats of Salah, praise Allah and invoke benedictions upon the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam then say;
LA ILAHA ILAL-LA HUL HALIMUL KARIM. SUBHANAL-LAHIL RABBIL ARSHIL AZIM. ALHAMDULILAHI RABBIL ALAMIN. AS ALUKA MUJIBATI RAHMATIK. WA AZAIMA MAGFIRATIK, WAL GANIMATA MIN KULI BIRR, WAS-SALAMATA MIN KULI ITHM LA TADA LI DHAMBAN ILLA GHAFARTAH WA LA HAMMAN ILLA FARAJTAH, WALA HAJATAN HIYA LAKA RIDAN ILLA QADIYTAHA YA ARHAMAR RAHIMIN.
There is no god but Allah, the most forbearing, most bountiful, glory be to Allah, Lord of the magnificent throne. All praises are for Allah, Lord of the Universe. I beg you for all that causes your mercy, determines Your forgiveness, a wealth of every form of piety and security from every sin. Allah, do not leave any sin of mine but that you have forgiven it, nor any worry but that you have uplifted it, nor any need which conforms with your pleasure but that you have fulfilled it, O most merciful of all that show mercy! (Sunan Timizi P.108 V.1)
Only Allah Knows Best
Written by Alimah Mahdiyah Siddique
Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
