Islamic rules of pregnancy-II

In-vitro fertilization

 

All those situations in the test-tube method are impermissible in which the sperm of a man are entered into someone's uterus, other than wife, or the sperm and ova of the husband and wife are developed in someone else's womb. 

 

There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation of Hadith: It is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah Ta'ala and the Qiyamah that he should water someone else's field i.e. put into someone else apart from his own wife.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitab Un Nikah, Hadith No. 2160; Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No. 17453)

 

If the sperm and ova of somebody who are not husband and wife are being used, it is impermissible in light of the Hadith.  The way sexual relations between unrelated, (i.e. not husband and wife) man and woman and impregnating somebody else's wife constitutes adultery, in the same way mixing the sperm and ova of man and woman, who are not husband and wife, has the same ruling with respect to its result.  Though, on mixing of sperm and ova in this, the Shariah punishment will not be given, but it has the same ill-effects as adultery.  It shreds the fabric of modesty and destroys the system of parentage and ancestry.

 

Baseless beliefs during pregnancy

 

There is no concept of bad omen in Islam. These are all pre-Islamic things and wishful thinking, which are strictly forbidden in Islam.  There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari Vol. 2, The Book of Medicine:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ' …….there is nothing called bad omen."

 

Some people say that during an eclipse, a pregnant lady should not do any work, more specifically should not use scissors or knife or a needle and that they should not sleep with their fingers closed, otherwise the child will be born with a cleft lip.

 

The creator of the heavens and the earth is Allah Ta'ala.  Sun, moon and all other heavenly bodies and systems depend on the inimitable power of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and His unending dominion.  Let alone colliding with each other, each heavenly body moves in its own orbit and does not enter any other orbit.

 

Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Moosa 'Ash'ari (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: These eclipses of sun and the moon are the signs of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala). Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) reveals them. They do not happen because of the life and death of someone. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) invites His people to His fear with them. When you see any of these signs, then turn towards the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), remember Him, pray to Him and ask for forgiveness of your sins.

 

 

All the above mentioned acts are not prohibited in the Shariah and there is no fear of any harm from them either.  These are only dogmas which have no place in Islam.

 

Some people think that a person whose wife is pregnant should not shoulder a Janazah.  Shouldering a dead body is a virtuous act and is established by the Sunnah.  Glad tidings of reward have been given upon this act.  If the husband of a pregnant woman shoulders the dead body, it is surely a virtuous act.  Taking this as a bad omen is clearly wrong.  There is no such concept in Islam.  In the Shariah, many rewards of shouldering the Janazah and walking along with it have been mentioned.