As modern-day bad habits in eating, living, and performing certain bad actions have become normal, the infertility rate is also increasing. People are facing issues to have even their first kid for too many years because of the medical conditions of the parents. According to the WHO, 48 M couples and 186 M individuals are facing problems in getting pregnant naturally. But assisted reproductive technology has made it possible for infertile people. Therefore, here is our research on IVF treatment in Islam. Religion is not against having babies after medications, but there are certain conditions in Islam that are prohibited.
IVF Treatment in Islam
Modern science has made it possible to conceive even for those couples who are infertile. Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) has multiple options for infertile couples such as embryo selection, embryo transfer, and egg & sperm freezing technology. It also includes artificial insemination which is a huge success in many countries and then in vitro fertilization as well. But no matter how much technology has improved, science is not as dedicatedly followed as religion. Most importantly, Islam is a religion that innovates society but also limits certain aspects. Let’s see if IVF treatment in Islam is permitted or not.
Current Islamic Views on IVF
As we have told you that Islam is a religion that tells you how to live life and solve your problems the Islamic way. And not so surprisingly, Islamic ways of problem-solving are still applicable in all aspects of life. Similarly, Islam has also addressed the infertility issue and even told us about it to encourage talking about it and solving this problem of couples. But since Muslims are divided into branches, we have to explain it according to the branched views of Islamic scholars on this matter.
Branches of Islam and their Views on Infertility
There are majorly two main branches of Muslims in Islam – Sunnis & Shias. Both these branches have strictly opposite views on many different matters. Similarly, on infertility and its modern-day solutions as well. Sunni Muslims are huge in numbers up to 90% of the Muslims are Sunni Muslims and the remaining 10% percent are Shias. But 10% is still a huge number, so we have to discuss it according to their beliefs as well.
ART According to Islam
Yes, Islam allows for ART but please note that it is allowed with certain conditions on it. According to Islamic laws, if the couple who wants to have a baby is married according to the Islamic laws, only then they can go for IVF. But then comes the next condition if the couple is trying to conceive but there is any problem in their conception, only then they can opt for this solution to have children. If there is no couple and anyone is just trying to conceive for single parenthood, or there is an LGBTQ type of case, they cannot do this. It is haram to have children if the pair is not one man and one woman married according to the Shari’ah.
Now the next condition comes in which includes which procedure you can go for and which is prohibited in any case in Islam.
Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination includes taking eggs from the female and sperm from the male and going with the medical procedure to reproduce. Now here Islam allows Artificial Insemination but only on the condition that the eggs and the sperm are taken only from the married couple who wants to conceive but cannot naturally. Please note that masturbation is prohibited in Islam, therefore you can only take the sperm and eggs from the male and female respectively with their spouse having to release them. Otherwise, the whole procedure becomes HARAAM according to Islam.
Now there is a concept in medical science where the doctors take donor sperm or donor eggs and then go on with the rest of the procedure. Islam does not allow it considering it adultery. Therefore, you can only take the eggs and sperm from the same male and female who are married and want to conceive. Even though donation is encouraged in Islam but donating sperm or eggs is not allowed in Islam.
IVF and Embryo Transfer
IVF and embryo transfer are permitted in Islam but again with the same condition where the couple needs to be a man and a woman with a valid marriage according to Islam. IVF is a procedure of taking sperm from the male and eggs from the female and then fertilizing them in the lab outside of the woman’s uterus. This procedure is allowed in Islam but only if they both come from a validly married couple.
Then comes the embryo transfer which is a procedure of taking the eggs and sperm from a couple, fertilizing it in the lab, and then putting it inside the uterus of the woman. This is also permitted in Islam but with the same condition of a valid marriage of the couple.
Freezing of Eggs and Sperm
Eggs and sperm freezing is also permitted in Islam within certain conditions that the couple should have a valid marriage at the time of freezing and then at the time of implantation. Also, there must be a severe medical condition that one of the partners of a couple is going through like radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Implanting the frozen eggs and sperm is also allowed only on the condition that they both are still alive and married to each other. A divorce or death of the male after freezing their sperm and eggs doesn’t allow implantation because once the marriage contract is over, it is now haram to have implantation.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
This procedure involves checking the embryo right after three days of fertilization and diagnosing any diseases or disorders in the genetics of the embryo. It is done at the 8-cell stage of the embryo when the soul is not breathed into the embryo. The soul is put into the body of the becoming child on the time of 120th day after fertilization which way after the PGD is performed. This technique tells the parents that their child may have these diseases like cystic fibrosis, aneuploidies, muscular dystrophy, and hemophilia. Women go for abortion if they get their baby diagnosed with any serious disease and this technique saves a lot of abortions by telling you all about the baby before it is even formed.
Islam strictly prohibits the changes done in god’s creation but this technique is not considered as changing the creation. Instead, it only includes the diagnosis of any serious disease in advance.
Conclusion
There is a lack of any direct guidance in the Quran on the subject of IVF. However, there are some general principles that can be gleaned from its teachings. These suggest that Islam does not support Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) such as IVF. The main reason for this is because ART involves interfering with Allah’s plan for human reproduction. Additionally, Islam teaches that all children should be born into a marriage and have both a mother and father figure present in their life. This cannot always be guaranteed when couples turn to IVF to conceive a child. For these reasons, it is best to avoid pursuing fertility treatments if you are Muslim.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Is IVF allowed in Islam?
Yes, IVF and in fact, all the cure treatments for infertility are permitted in Islam. Not just permitted, but Islam also encourages those who have infertility issues to go for proper treatment. But the only condition is that both; the mother and the father must be legally married to each other from the start of their treatment will the end of the treatment.
What does Islam say about infertility?
Islam permits all kinds of infertility treatments but only on the condition that the eggs and sperms come from the same married couple that wants to conceive.
What does the Quran say about IVF?
According to Islamic laws, the Quran allows for IVF but only on the condition that eggs come from the woman and the sperm come from the man. They both have to be in a valid marriage relationship for this treatment.
Is IVF use a sin?
No, IVF is not a sin in Islam if the couple wanting to conceive has any serious medical condition and they cannot conceive naturally. Also, if they are in a valid marriage and they are both straight provided the eggs are taken from the mother and the sperm are taken from the father.
What religions are against IVF?
ART is a controversial topic in many religions but most religions permit ART under certain conditions. Roman Catholicism doesn’t allow ART but Sunni Muslims, protestants, Coptic Christians, and Anglicans allow ART with their conditions separately.