In Sudan, doctors have acquired the ability to determine whether the fetus in its mother's womb is male or female. Does this contradict the noble verse (And He knows what is in the wombs)?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : In Sudan, doctors have acquired the ability to determine whether the fetus in the womb, its mother's womb, is male or female. Does this contradict the noble verse: [Luqman 31:34]?
The Shaykh : This does not contradict the noble verse, for they only know after the fetus has been formed, and the angel who is commanded to make the fetus male or female also knows that. If a thing is established by sensory perception, it cannot possibly contradict the Qur'an, for the Qur'an does not come with the impossible. On this basis, we say: The knowledge concerning what is in the wombs includes several things. First, whether it is male or female. This may vary from time to time; there may be a time when it is not possible to know whether it is male or female, and then medicine advances and it becomes known.
Second: The knowledge of whether it will die before being born or be born alive.
Third: If it is born alive, will its duration of life in this world be long or not?
Fourth: Will this person be written as having abundant provision or narrow provision? Will he be written as happy or wretched? All these sciences pertain to the pregnancy. Some of them we know with certainty that no one will be able to reach them. In that case, knowing whether the fetus is male or female does not contradict the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Luqman 31:34]. Yes.
and knows what is in the wombs
وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الأَرْحَامِThe Shaykh : This does not contradict the noble verse, for they only know after the fetus has been formed, and the angel who is commanded to make the fetus male or female also knows that. If a thing is established by sensory perception, it cannot possibly contradict the Qur'an, for the Qur'an does not come with the impossible. On this basis, we say: The knowledge concerning what is in the wombs includes several things. First, whether it is male or female. This may vary from time to time; there may be a time when it is not possible to know whether it is male or female, and then medicine advances and it becomes known.
Second: The knowledge of whether it will die before being born or be born alive.
Third: If it is born alive, will its duration of life in this world be long or not?
Fourth: Will this person be written as having abundant provision or narrow provision? Will he be written as happy or wretched? All these sciences pertain to the pregnancy. Some of them we know with certainty that no one will be able to reach them. In that case, knowing whether the fetus is male or female does not contradict the saying of Allah the Exalted: