modern science

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. It is known that there are two kinds of sex chromosomes, X and Y. A female has two X chromosomes, while a male has one X and one Y chromosome. When a sperm containing an X chromosome fertilizes an egg, the resulting offspring will be female. When a sperm containing a Y chromosome fertilizes an egg, the offspring is male.Researches have been conducted in order to discover the differences between the sperms bearing the X chromosome and those bearing the Y chromosome. It has been proved that they differ in their mass, speed, electrical effect, ability to penetrate into and cross a viscid medium, and their degree of activity according to the chemical interaction of the surrounding environment. Such differences have been used to make one of them precede the other in fertilizing the egg and thus deciding the sex of the fetus.In experiments, female animals have been artificially fertilized to produce a certain sex, male or female. This often work in animals. This has not been applied yet to humans for many reasons, the most important of which is that it is difficult to subject human beings to the conditions of the experiments performed upon animals. But it is probable that scientists will progress in that regard and allow parents to choose the sex of the child.It is currently easy to know the sex of the fetus via amniocentesis (extracting a small amount of the amniotic fluid and analyzing the fetal cells in it). Many women use amniocentesis to know the sex of their baby, and some even abort their baby if it is not the sex they want. This occurs in countries that permit abortion. I know that Islam forbids abortion unless the mother’s life is at risk. But what if the difficulties regarding controlling the sex of the fetus were overcome without abortion, which is probable? Would it be allowed to choose the sex of one’s child?In my career, I notice that many women want to limit the number of their children, but when they find that they always have girls, they increase the number of their births hoping to produce a boy. But I wonder what would happen if scientists succeeded in determining the sex of the fetus? Would parents limit the number of their children from the beginning, being able to choose the sex of the baby? Would many people seek to have boys instead of girls?I wonder also if man’s attempt to play the role of “nature” in distributing the sexes would bring about more harm than good? Jazakum Allah khayran.

I am going for fertility treatment where hormones are taken to produce a larger than normal number of eggs. Multiple pregnancies are a possible outcome of this. Is embryo reduction permissible in view of the fact that the babies stand a lesser chance of survival, the mother may be unable to cope, etc. I know for example of the case in the UK a couple of years ago where a woman produced 8 embryos, she refused to have embryo reduction and none of the embryos/babies survived. What is the Islamic ruling on this?

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. I am interested to know the Shari`ah point of view of studying stem cell technologies for Muslims in the UK universities. As known, the UK is one of the countries that allow the research of donated Embryonic Stem Cells. Thus, studying in such field involves working with such cells. H owever, the studying course involves other things like tissue engineering, adult stem cells, cells culture, and cord blood stem cells which are promising fields to provide treatment for many diseases. Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

In some countries experimental surgery is being done to transplant some body organs taken from fetuses. They abort the fetuses to use their organs. Is that religiously halal?

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum! Please accept the following question which is tormenting our family: My father is suffering from heart disease and his doctor advised him to have a heart valve transplant from a pig. Is this acceptable for a Muslim? Thank you for considering this question.

As-Salamu `alaykum. A Muslim couple were tested positive for AIDS. They want to have children so they asked physicians a question concerning the risk of giving birth to a child. They were told there is a risk that the child would have AIDS, but that risk would be lower if there was continuous follow-up during the nine month gestation period. The question is: What is the Islamic ruling for a Muslim couple infected with the AIDS virus trying to give birth to a child knowing that this may result in giving birth to a child who is also infected. Also, is it permitted to abort a child infected with AIDS? May Allah bless you!

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. What is Islam's stand on test-tube babies? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Scholars of Islam, As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuh. One of the issues widely spread among the youth in the US is penis enlargement, so I'd like to know the Islamic legal ruling concerning that issue if one has a problem in enjoying his conjugal right. Jazakum Allah Khayran.

Dear `Ulama (scholars), sometimes the following question crosses one’s mind: Is there any significance for man’s existence on earth? Why was he created in the first place? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-Salamu `alaykum! Is there any life form on other planets? What reference to this is there in the Qur'an? Thanks.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keys to the knowledge of the unseen are five, which nobody knows but Allah. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow; nobody knows what is in the womb; nobody knows what he will gain tomorrow; nobody knows at what place he will die; and nobody knows when it will rain" (Reported by Al-Bukhari). This is referred to in the Qur’anic verse: (Lo! Allah! With Him is knowledge of the Hour. He sendeth down the rain, and knoweth that which is in the wombs. No soul knoweth what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knoweth in what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.)  (Luqman 31: 34) how can this be reconciled with the fact that scientists can now discover the sex of the fetus and the stages of its growth while it is still in its mother’s womb, and that meteorologists can forecast when and where rain will fall?

Could you please shed more light on the Islamic view on genetic engineering and its ethical principles?

Nowadays, there are many different rulings concerning Islam’s stance on euthanasia. I am really confused and would like you to furnish me with a detailed fatwa regarding the different types of euthanasia and the Islamic ruling regarding each.