Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualaikum,

Are muslims allowed to know what the gender of their baby is through ultrasound?
I find that muslims are divided on this issue. Some say we should not ask what the gender of the baby is and some say that we can ask. Can you please tell me to the best of your knowledge which one is correct?

Jazakallah.

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Answer:

Gender of baby

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If modern technology has allowed man to use some instruments which can determine the sex of the unborn baby, or determine through using these instruments whether or not some complications has occurred during the course of the pregnancy or delivery, etc. there is absolutely nothing in Shariah which prohibits it; thus it is perfectly legal and there is absolutely no harm in gaining this knowledge or information.

But if one wants to learn the sex of the child so that he/she may determine which baby to keep and which baby to abort; then it would be absolutely against the laws of Islam. Thus it all depends on one’s intentions why one wants to know the sex of the unborn child.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.1 Narrated by Umar bin Al Khattab

I heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.”

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan