Fatwa: 510

Category: fatwas about woman

The ruling concerning revealing the sex of the fetus before birth

The question:

What is the ruling regarding a woman who goes to a woman gynecologist with the purpose of knowing the sex of a fetus (whether it is male or female)?

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Know that the principle in a woman is to cover herself and not discover her `Aura (private parts) only when she needs it, but the need should be evaluated in a proper manner. Moreover, the examination in order to know the sex of the fetus by a sonogram is not considered a need or a necessity in the Sharia. Thus, the obligation of covering herself for a woman remains persistent unless it is linked with medical treatment, since we allow something that is related with the principal element what we allow not in the latter, in accordance with the rule stipulating that: “We allow for the subsidiary thing what we do not allow for the wanted thing”.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Rajab 21^st, 1427H.
Corresponding to: August 15^th, 2006.