Q: Knowing the sex of the fetus
Asalaamu alaikoum wa rahmatuh Allahi wa barakatuh,
I was just wondering about something and hoping someone can help me out insha'Allah….
I am having an ultrasound done this Friday insha'Allah and my husband and I were planning on finding out the sex of our baby… but someone told me today that before we do that, I'd better look into seeing if that was halaal or not. Does anyone know the ruling on finding out the sex of your baby before it's born? Are there any fatwas regarding that? I just want to make sure that it's ok and not haraam, especially since it's in 2 days, and so if any of you could help me asap with the answer, I'd really appreciate it!! Jazak Allahu Khair!
Wasalaam alaikoum,
All praise be to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be on the greatest messenger, Muhammad.
There are two different types of “ghaib” (unseen), absolute and relative. The absolute ghaib belongs only to Allah, such as the knowledge of the future that he did not disclose to any of His creations. Examples on the relative ghaib would include what is taking place in a different country at this time, it is ghaib to us because of our limited capacities and lack of encompassing knowledge, but it is not of the absolute ghaib.
The sex of the fetus in the womb is of the relative knowledge of the unseen that is kept from some of Allah’s creations and disclosed to others. It is not, at least in the latter stages of the absolute knowledge of the unseen that belongs only to Allah.
The reason why the question is asked – I think – and some Muslims may have some hesitation about this issue is the following verse:
Allah says,
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ."
“ Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All Knower, All Aware (of things).”
That which is in the wombs here does not apply to the sex, though the sex may be at some earlier stage of the knowledge of the absolute ghaib. It is about everything about this creature and its future.
The proof on this is that we were told that the angel knows the sex of the fetus. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
" يَدْخُلُ الْمَلَكُ على النُّطْفَةِ بَعْدَ ما تَسْتَقِرُّ في الرَّحِمِ بِأَرْبَعِينَ أو خَمْسَةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً فيقول يا رَبِّ أَشَقِيٌّ أو سَعِيدٌ فَيُكْتَبَانِ فيقول أَيْ رَبِّ أَذَكَرٌ أو أُنْثَى فَيُكْتَبَانِ وَيُكْتَبُ عَمَلُهُ وَأَثَرُهُ وَأَجَلُهُ وَرِزْقُهُ ثُمَّ تُطْوَى الصُّحُفُ فلا يُزَادُ فيها ولا يُنْقَصُ”
“After the Nutfah [drop (of semen)] is in the womb for forty or forty five nights, the angel enters and says: My Lord, will he be good or evil? Both will be written. Then he says, My Lord, would he be male or female? Both will be written. In addition, his deeds, actions, death and livelihood will be recorded. Then his document of destiny is rolled and there shall be no addition to it or subtraction from it.” [Reported by Muslim from Hudhaifa ibn Aseed]
Since the angel knows the sex, it is not of the absolute knowledge of the unseen from which all creatures are barred. Based on this, the earlier scholars did not reprimand the physicians who attempted through their rather primitive means to guess the sex of the fetus.
There is no harm in trying to know the sex of the baby before its birth through the fetal ultrasound.
Allah knows best.
Ask A Question