Is It Permissible to Give Birth In a Catholic Hospital?

Answered by Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it permissible to give birth to my baby in a Catholic hospital?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, it is permissible to give birth in such a hospital. They do not usually impose their religious beliefs or practices on anyone. Unlike a church, there is no prohibition on entering a hospital funded or affiliated with Christians. [Maydani, Lubab]

Take the means to ensure safe delivery and have someone present to call the adhan and to perform the sunna of tahnik with a date. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) performed the call to the prayer in the ear of his grandson, Hasan when Fatima (Allah be well pleased with them both) gave birth to him. [Tirmidhi]

These acts are a means of connecting a person to the remembrance of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) right from the moment they enter this world. The aim is to have this dhikr and the sunna imbue our lives throughout until we leave with the testification of faith being our last words.

May Allah grant you a righteous child who is pleasing to Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.