His question says: O esteemed Shaykh Muhammad ibn Uthaymeen, we have seen recently what has become widespread regarding the reality of determining the type of the offspring, whether male or female, and in fact
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The questioner : We have seen recently what has become widespread regarding the reality of determining the type of the offspring, whether male or female? And in fact, medical scientists in America and Japan have achieved this. Is this forbidden? And what is the connection to the noble verse in which Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan: [Al-Qiyamah 75:36-40] ? Yes.
The Shaykh : This question mentioned by the questioner is ambiguous, as he may mean by "determining the type of male and female" the knowledge that this is a male or a female. It is also possible that he means determining the type of the male and female, i.e., making this sperm a male or making it a female.
As for the first, which is the knowledge that the fetus is male or female, this, as the questioner said, has become well-known that they know this. And this knowledge does not contradict what the texts have come with regarding Allah, Glorified and Exalted, knowing what is in the wombs. Indeed, Allah the Exalted knows what is in the wombs without doubt, and it does not contradict His knowledge of it that one of His creation knows it. Allah knows, and others know as well. But the known matter concerning the fetus is divided into two categories: a category that is tangible, which creation can know, such as maleness and femaleness, size and smallness, color, and the like. This is known to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and it is known to those who reach knowledge of it through modern means, and there is no contradiction between the two.
And as for the second known matter concerning the fetus, it is the knowledge that is not tangible or perceivable, which is the knowledge of what will be the outcome of this fetus: will it be born alive or dead? And if it is born alive, will it remain long in this world or not? And if it remains, will its deeds be good or bad? And if it remains, will its provision be wide or narrow? And the like of these hidden matters that are not tangible. This type of known matter concerning the fetus, only Allah, Mighty and Majestic, knows it, and no one can know it. And whoever claims to know it is a liar, and whoever believes him in that has denied the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:[An-Naml 27:65] .
As for the second possibility of what the question impliesThe questioner : And that is that they have achieved making the male a female or the female a male. This is not possible, because this concerns the creation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and He is the One in whose hand is making male and making female. So it is not possible for any of the created beings to make what Allah has decreed as male into a female, nor is it possible for them to make what Allah has decreed as female into a male.
Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:[Ash-Shuraa 42:49-50] And likewise the verse that he citedThe questioner :[Al-Qiyamah 75:37-39] So what I say now is: that this is an impossible matter. And just as they cannot make the born male a female and the born female a male, so it is not possible for them to make the fetus that Allah has decreed as male into a female, or vice versa. This is what I believe in this issue. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. From the Arab Republic of Egypt, Minya Governorate, one of the listening brothers, Ashraf, says in his message.
(36) Does man think that he will be left neglected? (37) Had he not been a sperm from semen emitted? (38) Then he was a clinging clot, and [Allah] created [his form] and proportioned [him] (39) And made of him two mates, the male and the female. (40) Is not that [Creator] Able to give life to the dead?
أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنسَانُ أَنْ يُتْرَكَ سُدًى * أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِنْ مَنِيٍّ يُمْنَى * ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى * فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنثَى * أَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَىThe Shaykh : This question mentioned by the questioner is ambiguous, as he may mean by "determining the type of male and female" the knowledge that this is a male or a female. It is also possible that he means determining the type of the male and female, i.e., making this sperm a male or making it a female.
As for the first, which is the knowledge that the fetus is male or female, this, as the questioner said, has become well-known that they know this. And this knowledge does not contradict what the texts have come with regarding Allah, Glorified and Exalted, knowing what is in the wombs. Indeed, Allah the Exalted knows what is in the wombs without doubt, and it does not contradict His knowledge of it that one of His creation knows it. Allah knows, and others know as well. But the known matter concerning the fetus is divided into two categories: a category that is tangible, which creation can know, such as maleness and femaleness, size and smallness, color, and the like. This is known to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and it is known to those who reach knowledge of it through modern means, and there is no contradiction between the two.
And as for the second known matter concerning the fetus, it is the knowledge that is not tangible or perceivable, which is the knowledge of what will be the outcome of this fetus: will it be born alive or dead? And if it is born alive, will it remain long in this world or not? And if it remains, will its deeds be good or bad? And if it remains, will its provision be wide or narrow? And the like of these hidden matters that are not tangible. This type of known matter concerning the fetus, only Allah, Mighty and Majestic, knows it, and no one can know it. And whoever claims to know it is a liar, and whoever believes him in that has denied the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah
قُلْ لا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُAs for the second possibility of what the question impliesThe questioner : And that is that they have achieved making the male a female or the female a male. This is not possible, because this concerns the creation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and He is the One in whose hand is making male and making female. So it is not possible for any of the created beings to make what Allah has decreed as male into a female, nor is it possible for them to make what Allah has decreed as female into a male.
Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
(49) To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what he wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males. (50) Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.
لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ يَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ * أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَاثًا وَيَجْعَلُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ عَقِيمًا إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ(37) Had he not been a sperm from semen emitted? (38) Then he was a clinging clot, and [Allah] created [his form] and proportioned [him] (39) And made of him two mates, the male and the female.
أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِنْ مَنِيٍّ يُمْنَى * ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى * فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنثَىThe questioner : May Allah reward you. From the Arab Republic of Egypt, Minya Governorate, one of the listening brothers, Ashraf, says in his message.