It is said that a doctor can control the type of pregnancy, whether male or female or twins. Does this conflict with the Shari'ah?
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The questioner : It is said, my Shaykh, that a doctor can control the type of the child that may come, whether male or female, or more than one male, or more than one female in a single pregnancy. Is this permissible in the Shari'ah, or does it conflict with the Shari'ah?
The Shaykh : This second question is the correct one. As for whether it is permissible in the Shari'ah, this has no relation to the Shari'ah. But does this claim contradict the Shari'ah?
We say: Every discovery of a hidden matter for the general public is based on one of the scientific means that Allah the Mighty and Majestic has made easy for His servants. This has absolutely no relation to knowing the unseen. There is no difference between this new discovery, which is the subject of the question, and the old discovery, which is: announcing before I say months, but years, and even ages, that the sun will be eclipsed on such a day, in such a place, at such an hour, at such a minute, and even at such a second, and in another place or region or town at such an hour, at such a minute, at such a time. There is no difference between this and that, except in one aspect:
That people have become accustomed to receiving announcements from astronomers about the occurrence of an eclipse before its time. They became accustomed to this, so it became like any other customary thing. As for the specific medical procedure that discovers what is in the womb of a woman from fetuses, this is a recent matter. In a few years, it will become a forgotten thing, and its status will be exactly like the astronomical announcement of what the masses of people do not know. So this does not conflict at all.
The questioner : Controlling whether it is male or female?
The Shaykh : What do you mean by controlling?
The questioner : Do you mean that the doctor, by adopting certain specifications with the man, or with the man and the woman, can control the type of the child to be male or female?
The Shaykh : This also does not conflict. This also returns to the use of scientific means that Allah the Mighty and Majestic has enabled them to use. But my knowledge is that this has not become a known fact, but is merely an opinion or attempts.
The questioner : Some attempts have been made and succeeded in some cases, my Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes, but this may be by chance, because this does not become a scientific fact just because the case happens once, or twice, or three times.
The questioner : Well, if it becomes a scientific fact?
The Shaykh : I have already answered you, so rest yourself.
The questioner : Well, how do we understand the verse:[Ash-Shuraa 42:49]?
The Shaykh : And what is the difference? What is its relation? It is all by the will of Allah. Are these machines not by the will of Allah?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And those things also did not go out from the will of Allah.
The questioner : It is said, my Shaykh, that this doctor willed a boy and brought a boy, willed a girl and brought a girl, so does it relate to the soul?
The Shaykh : What does the human have to do with the will?
The questioner : He does.
The Shaykh : It is finished,[At-Takwir 81:29].
The questioner : Meaning, it is not he who created the male or made him male or female, but by scientific means, if they are correct?
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, the whole matter is that he acts upon what Allah created.
The questioner : Meaning, this does not conflict with the Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : Never.
The Shaykh : This second question is the correct one. As for whether it is permissible in the Shari'ah, this has no relation to the Shari'ah. But does this claim contradict the Shari'ah?
We say: Every discovery of a hidden matter for the general public is based on one of the scientific means that Allah the Mighty and Majestic has made easy for His servants. This has absolutely no relation to knowing the unseen. There is no difference between this new discovery, which is the subject of the question, and the old discovery, which is: announcing before I say months, but years, and even ages, that the sun will be eclipsed on such a day, in such a place, at such an hour, at such a minute, and even at such a second, and in another place or region or town at such an hour, at such a minute, at such a time. There is no difference between this and that, except in one aspect:
That people have become accustomed to receiving announcements from astronomers about the occurrence of an eclipse before its time. They became accustomed to this, so it became like any other customary thing. As for the specific medical procedure that discovers what is in the womb of a woman from fetuses, this is a recent matter. In a few years, it will become a forgotten thing, and its status will be exactly like the astronomical announcement of what the masses of people do not know. So this does not conflict at all.
The questioner : Controlling whether it is male or female?
The Shaykh : What do you mean by controlling?
The questioner : Do you mean that the doctor, by adopting certain specifications with the man, or with the man and the woman, can control the type of the child to be male or female?
The Shaykh : This also does not conflict. This also returns to the use of scientific means that Allah the Mighty and Majestic has enabled them to use. But my knowledge is that this has not become a known fact, but is merely an opinion or attempts.
The questioner : Some attempts have been made and succeeded in some cases, my Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes, but this may be by chance, because this does not become a scientific fact just because the case happens once, or twice, or three times.
The questioner : Well, if it becomes a scientific fact?
The Shaykh : I have already answered you, so rest yourself.
The questioner : Well, how do we understand the verse:
He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.
يهب لمن يشاء إناثًا ويهب لمن يشاء الذكورThe Shaykh : And what is the difference? What is its relation? It is all by the will of Allah. Are these machines not by the will of Allah?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And those things also did not go out from the will of Allah.
The questioner : It is said, my Shaykh, that this doctor willed a boy and brought a boy, willed a girl and brought a girl, so does it relate to the soul?
The Shaykh : What does the human have to do with the will?
The questioner : He does.
The Shaykh : It is finished,
And you do not will except that Allah wills - Lord of the worlds.
وما تشاءون إلا أن يشاء الله رب العالمينThe questioner : Meaning, it is not he who created the male or made him male or female, but by scientific means, if they are correct?
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, the whole matter is that he acts upon what Allah created.
The questioner : Meaning, this does not conflict with the Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : Never.