Resolution No.(121),(8/2008): “Proposed Amendments to the Draft Bill of Licensing and Regulating Artificial Insemination Centers“
Date: 29/11/1429 AH, corresponding to 27/11/2008 AD.
All perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
On the above date, the Board reviewed the letter of the Director of the Awqaf Funds Development Foundation, No.5/5/3/321, 19/2/2007 AH, 12/1/1429 AD, whereby he asked the Iftaa` Board to clarify the ruling of Sharia regarding the draft bill of licensing and regulating Artificial Insemination centers.
After thorough researching and deliberating, the Board made the following remarks:
First: Article (10), paragraph (1) which pertains to the regulations to be adhered to by the licensed center in accordance to the provisions of this law, and reads: “Technology aiding in giving birth is the only means for giving birth after having established that natural conception is impossible, for at least one year, unless there is a pre-diagnosis indicating that the woman is barren, then the couple don`t wait for that period.“ The Board recommends deleting this paragraph since it isn`t permissible to provide technical aid for giving birth in case it has been established that both spouses, or one of them is sterile. Islamic Sharia forbids confirming sterility makes giving birth without the interference of a third party impossible, and any external interference in such situation.
The draft bill of birth giving aiding technologies for the year 2007, article (13), paragraph (D) states:
As regards medical technologies, the following is banned:
D- Aiding in giving birth in case sterility of either spouses or one of them was established.
Second: Article (14), paragraph (2), which pertains to the preservation of embryos and sperms, states: “ The preservation of embryos for no more than five years, and sperms for no more than ten years for future birth giving in favor of both spouses and in accordance with the regulations and decisions pertaining to this law.“
The Board views that these periods are long and recommends limiting them to the time when the fertilization process succeeds and a healthy baby is born. Thus, this paragraph should be as follows: “The mingled sperms, or embryos shall be preserved through a written request submitted by the concerned husband, as regards the sperms, and both spouses as regards the embryos until the fertilization process succeeds and a healthy baby is born as a result. Extra sperms and embryos are left unattended until they perish." And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.