Is It Permissible To Choose A Male Embryo First In IVF?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it permissible to select a male embryo first in IVF if we plan to use all embryos, or should we opt for random selection despite the higher chance of female selection?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
It is permissible to select a male embryo first during IVF. However, we must always remember Allah Most High, who gives and chooses what is truly best for us. While we may desire to have a boy first or a girl first or prefer only boys or girls, ultimately, Allah Most High knows what is destined to be good for us.
Allah Most High said,
“To Allah (alone) belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates whatever He wills. He blesses whoever He wills with daughters, and blesses whoever He wills with sons, or grants both, sons and daughters, (to whoever He wills), and leaves whoever He wills infertile. He is indeed All-Knowing, Most Capable.” [Quran, 42:49-50]
It is important to emphasize the content of one’s decision regarding the gender of a future child. As stated in the Quran above, while choosing the gender of a child does not inherently reflect dissatisfaction with divine decree, it is preferable to leave such matters in the hands of Allah.
Praise Allah, Whether the Baby is a Boy or Girl
Kathir ibn ‘Ubayd (Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her); if a child was born to anyone from her family, she would not ask if it was a boy or a girl. ‘Aisha would say, “Was it created healthy?” If the answer was yes, she would say,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” [Bukhari, al-Adab al-Mufrad]
Prophet Praises Allah in Every Situation
‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her): If the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) saw something he liked, he would say,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ
“All praise is due to Allah, by whose favor good deeds are accomplished.”
If the Prophet saw something he disliked, he would say,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
“All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance.” [Ibn Maja]
May Allah (Most High) destine what is good for us, guide us to what pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
