Is Sperm Donation Allowed and Is There a Penal Punishment for It?


Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I have a question related to sperm donation. I need to know that sperm donation does not involve sexual intercourse. In the case when sperm were taken with the help of injection but is hadd punishment applicable to the one who donated his sperm and the one who used it?

I know that sperm donation is haram and not allowed in Islam, but what about the person who has done it?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Sperm Donation is not allowed, and there is no penal punishment for it; one needs to repent and seek forgiveness. Also, upon realizing it is a sin, one should withdraw and remove it from the bank.

“Indeed, we have dignified the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, granted them good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.” [Quran, 17:70]

This profound verse mentions the nobility of the human race showing each part deserves respect and honor. Based on what this jurist has said, it is impermissible to use any part of it personally and by donating it to a third party.

Islam seeks to maintain the lineage of every individual. The purpose of sperm donation is to allow other women to use artificial insemination without having to marry or who are unable to conceive naturally. This process will lead to confusion in lineage.

Therefore, it would be impermissible to donate to an individual, third party, or agency, neither free nor in exchange for money.

Check a few related answers here:
Can We Donate Eggs or Sperm? – SeekersGuidance
Permissibility of Using Donor Sperm 

I pray this helps with your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.

He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.

He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.