Is It Permissible to Have a Male Doctor Remove My Gallbladder?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr

Question 

I am a female patient who needs to have my gallbladder removed. The only surgeon available at the hospital where I have been admitted is a man.

Is it permissible in Islam for him to perform the operation?

Answer

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

May Allah grant you a complete cure.

O Allah, Lord of the worlds, remove the harm and grant healing, for You are the Healer. There is no cure except Your cure. We ask You for a cure that leaves behind no illness. [Bukhari]

It is permissible in Islamic Law for a male surgeon to remove your gallbladder. Ibn Hajr says, ‘Cross-gender looking and touching is permissible for blood-letting, cupping, and medical procedures due to the need’. [Ibn Hajar, Tuhfa]

The above is on the condition that no qualified female surgeon is available to perform the procedure. [Ibid]

In addition, the following conditions should be kept in mind:

(1) preference should be given to a male doctor who is a mahram,

(2) females (doctor or patient) should be accompanied by a mahram or another trustworthy female, and

(3) Viewing and touching should be limited to necessity.  [Khatib, Mughni al-Muhtaj]

Maintain modesty of your heart and mannerisms at all times. Modesty is a Muslim Woman’s crown. Ibn Qayyim said, ‘The strength of the virtue of modesty is in proportion to the life of the heart.

A deficiency of modesty is a sign of the death of the heart and the soul. Thus, the more alive the heart is, the more complete a person’s modesty becomes. [Ibn al-Qayyim, Madarij al-Salikin]

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.

[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life. 

In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.