AskImamDarul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah (AskImam)

Is it permissible to know the gender of the baby before birth?

Fatwa 3133English
PurityMenstruation

Question

As part of the routine tests for pregnant women the doctors in US suggest Ultrasound; to monitor the health of the baby. The test (Ultrasound) can also reveal the sex of the baby, is it permissible to know the sex of the baby before birth?

Answer

According to our understanding, a sensor is placed on the abdomen of a female and the picture of the womb is reflected on the screen.

If so, it is prohibited for a female to unnecessarily reveal her entire or part of her body to a male physician / gynaecologist. If the scan was conducted by a female, then it is not prohibited. As regards knowing the gender of the child through the scan, it is not prohibited. However, experience have revealed that the information is not always correct. That can be very disturbing to parents.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

Answered by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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