Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(35): “Issues in Pregnancy and Childbirth“

Date Added : 28-10-2015

 

Resolution No.(35): “Issues in Pregnancy and Childbirth“

Date: 23/12/1413 corresponding to 13/6/1993

 

The Board has received the following questions:

Question (1):

What is the ruling of sharia on the use of the loop, taking into consideration that it prevents a sperm from reaching an ovum or causes the fertilized ovum to be aborted?

Answer: 

A loop is a contraceptive tool, and using it for a lawful reason is permissible with the consent of both spouses similar to practicing coitus interruptus, for Jabir (May Allah be Pleased with him) said: “We used to practice coitus interruptus during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle while the Quran was being revealed.” Muslim narrated on the authority of Jabir:” The Prophet knew about that (coitus interruptus) and didn`t prohibit us from doing it.”

Question (2): 

A pregnant woman whose fetus has water in his head (congenital malformation), what is the ruling of Sharia on drilling his head to allow the water to come out in order to be delivered naturally or by a caesarian section?

Answer: 

If it was verified that the water in the fetus`s head prevents delivering him naturally or by caesarian section, then we should distinguish four cases:

First Case: It is possible to treat him while in his mother`s uterus, and the doctors decide drilling his head and drawing the water out of it. In this situation, it isn`t permissible to resort to any other procedure.

Second Case: It is impossible to take him out of his mother`s uterus no matter what, because his head is big and treating him isn`t possible. In this situation, drawing the water out of his head is an obligation, even if it leads to his death, to save his mother.

Third Case: If the specialized doctors decide that this fetus has no chance to survive regardless of the procedure employed in delivering him, then it is permissible to drill his head to allow the water to come out.

Fourth Case: If the specialized doctors determine that there is a chance for the fetus to survive with being deformed, then drilling his head is impermissible and they are obliged to take the necessary measures to deliver him and preserve the life of the mother.

Question (3):

 A woman has given birth to two deformed babies. However, she got pregnant, and underwent a medical test, which proved that her fetus is deformed as well; what is the ruling of Sharia on aborting it?

Answer: 

If it became four months old or more, then aborting it is impermissible, even if it was deformed, in case the doctors determined that it is likely to survive. However, if it jeopardizes the mother`s life, then it is permissible to abort it. Moreover, if it didn`t become four months old, and it was confirmed that its deformity will make its life unstable, then it is permissible to abort it with the consent of both spouses.

Question (4): 

A woman got pregnant for the first time, but her husband wants her to give birth by undergoing a caesarian section, although she can have a natural delivery?

Answer: 

In principle, natural delivery is the norm because it is in the best interest of both, the baby and its mother. Therefore, it is impermissible to substitute natural delivery with a caesarian section, unless for a necessity assessed by the doctors.

Question (5): 

A woman has many children, but her income is insufficient, so she wants to have her tubes tied, and refuses to use any other means of birth control. Is this permissible?

Answer: 

It is impermissible to tie her tubes for the above reason because undergoing this procedure will stop her from giving birth, she will become barren, and this involves defacing the nature created by Allah. He states in the Noble Quran what Satan said to Him {what means}: “I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by God." Whoever, forsaking God, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest. “ {An-Nissa`/119}. Undergoing such a procedure also violates the intentions of Islamic Sharia as regards preserving the offspring. Allah, The Almighty Says {what means}: “And God has made for you mates (and companions) of your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and provided for you sustenance of the best: will they then believe in vain things, and be ungrateful for God’s favors? “ {An-Nahil/72}. In addition, it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will be proud of your great number before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.” And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice Izzaddeen Al-Tamimi

Acting Mufti General, Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

Mufti General of Jordanian Armed Forces: Mhamood Shwayat

        Dr. Abdassalam Al-Abbadi

Dr. Umar Al-Ashkaar

     Dr. Mohammad Yaseen

       Dr. Mahmood Al-Sartawi

         Dr. AbdulAziz Al-Khaiyaat

               Sheikh Ibrahim Khash-shaan

   Sheikh Ratib Az-zahir

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on one who vows to fast a specific or non-specific year? Are the two Eids, the days of Tashreeq, Ramadan, and the days of menstruation and postnatal bleeding included in them? And do these days break the consecutiveness if it was intended?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If someone makes a vow (Nadr) to fast a specific, designated year, this vow does not include the days of Eid, the days of Tashreeq (the three days following Eid al-Adha), Ramadan, or the days of menstruation (Hayd) and postnatal bleeding (Nifas). Furthermore, there is no requirement to make up (Qada) these specific days.
 
However, if someone vows to fast a year that is not specifically designated (i.e., any twelve-month period) and stipulates that the fasting must be consecutive, they are bound by that condition. They must not fast on the days of Eid, during Ramadan, or during menstruation, but they are required to make up these days afterward—with the exception of the days of menstruation and postnatal bleeding, which do not need to be made up.
 
It is stated in Hashiyat al-Bajuri ‘ala Sharh Ibn Qasim ({Vol.2/P.606): 'If one vows to fast a specific year, the Eid, Tashreeq, Ramadan, and days of menstruation or postnatal bleeding are not included. This is because Ramadan does not accept any fast other than its own, and the others do not accept fasting at all. Therefore, they do not enter into the vow, and no makeup is required for them because they are legally excluded—contrary to Al-Rafi’i regarding menstruation and postnatal bleeding.
 
If one vows to fast a non-designated year: if they stipulated consecutiveness (Tatuabu’) in their vow, they must fulfill it; otherwise, they are not bound to it. Consecutiveness is not broken by the days that do not enter into the specific year vow (Eid, Tashreeq, Ramadan, menstruation, and postnatal bleeding). However, one must make up the days missed—excluding the time of menstruation and postnatal bleeding—immediately following the end of the year. As for the time of menstruation and postnatal bleeding, it is not made up, contrary to Ibn al-Rif’ah, who argued that it must be made up just like Ramadan.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is a wife considered divorced if her husband refused to go to bed with her (for sexual intercourse) for two months?

A wife doesn`t get divorced no matter for how long her husband refuses to have sex with her, and she had better go to court.

What is the ruling on reciting the Chapter after Al-Faatihah , and what should a worshiper who forgets it do?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.                                                                                                                                                                  Any other part of Qur'an that a worshiper reads after Al-Faatihah during the first and the second Rak`ahs is a Sunnah, and forgetting to do so doesn`t nullify prayer, and doesn`t require performing Sujood As-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness). And Allah Knows Best.

 
What is the ruling on someone who eats or drinks while uncertain about the arrival of dawn, then later finds out that dawn had not yet broken?

If a person does this, their fast remains valid, as it is confirmed that they ate during the night. Similarly, if someone eats while uncertain and remains unsure whether they ate before or after dawn, their fast is still valid. This is based on the maxim of Sharia Law, which states: "Certainty is not removed by doubt." Certainty, here, is the presence of night, and the doubt concerns the arrival of dawn. Therefore, one relies on certainty and disregards doubt.