Question:
What do the scholars and expert of shari’ah say regarding a couple who have been married for five years and are unable to naturally conceive? The doctors have advised the couple to consider IVF (in vitro fertilisation) for pregnancy. Is this option permissible?
Answer:
All perfect praise is for Allah ﷻ, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
IVF is the process where the eggs are removed from the ovaries and combined with the sperm. They are put together in a petri dish where the sperm fertilises an egg cell resulting in an embryo. The embryo is left to develop for a few days and then transferred into the uterus of the mother.
IVF is only permissible when it is certain that the eggs and sperms are from the wife and husband. It is impermissible to use a donor sperm or egg from a 3rd person.
This procedure should only be carried out if the husband and wife are unable to conceive naturally and upon the recommendation of a doctor.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
This Fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari
