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:

Dear Brother Burhan

Assalaam o Alaikum

I would like to know if knowing the sex of the unborn child is allowed in Islam? Also I would like you to send me the books on the following topics-Salaah and Wudu Hadith

Hajj and any other useful information for Muslims.

I would like to send you my mailing address but would not like it to be published. How can i do this?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Sex of unborn child

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.

Your Question: I would like to know if knowing the sex of the unborn child is allowed in Islam?

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 no harm in it.

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.

Your Question: Also I would like you to send me the books on the following topics-Salaah and Wudu Hadith Hajj and any other useful information for Muslims.

Beloved and dear brother in Islam, as much as we would like to provide this service, we just do not have the resources to be able to provide all our brothers and sisters with the relevant books written in and on Islam. There are literally millions, if not hundreds of millions of titles on Islamic Books and these come in all conceivable languages of the world!

The best way if one is interested in studying a particular topic in Islam, is to visit the local library, or local Islamic Daawah (Propagation) Centre, or any good Islamic Bookstore they should be able to locate the books for you. Alternatively there are many websites which sell Islamic Books on various topics which can be purchased through the internet.

Beloved brother in Islam, we hope that you would understand our limitations on this issue and forgive us for not being able to fulfill your request, as much as we would love to do it. May Allah Subhanah increase your quest in seeking and studying this Knowledge of Truth and help you and guide you to the path that is Straight.

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