IVF to avoid Genetic disorders - Is this permissible?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Sister in Islam,

There are multiple issues raised in your query.

Firstly, we sympathise with you in your predicament. Indeed, a differently abled child is a test from Almighty Allah. But always remember, Almighty Allah does not burden a soul with more than what it is capable of bearing. Alhamdulillah, we know you love your son and will do anything for him. This is a sure sign of your acceptance of Almighty Allah’s will. There is no doubt of the immense reward that awaits both you and your child.

Respected Sister,

The conduct of your husband is unbecoming of a Muslim man. It is his duty to stick by you and his child through thick and thin. To forsake his duties is a sign of weak faith. You state he has also not fulfilled your conjugal rights for six years out of fear of pregnancy. This is not acceptable behaviour from a husband.

Our advice to you is to seek couples counsel and therapy. It is possible a medical professional may get through to your husband somehow and remind him of the error of his ways.  

You state that your husband has not been faithful to you for a couple of years. We ask you to consider, will bringing a second child of his into this world be a means of solace for you? It should not be that a second child with this man only adds to your responsibilities.

Furthermore, IVF provides a strong chance of a healthy child but in no way guarantees it. What if things do not go according to plan in your second pregnancy? What then will be the reaction of your husband? In this case, it is our advice that you make your husband sit down with senior members of your family as well as his family. It would also be prudent to include a local senior Aalim/Mufti to help in the matter. Get down to the root of your husbands’ behaviour. It is possible something else may be bothering him. It is not likely that the husband is abstaining completely from conjugal relations because of this issue. Your husband should also be advised by senior family members to seek medical help in order to rectify his current mindset.

As for the IVF treatment, if it is ascertained by certified Muslim professionals that the behaviour of your husband is only due to this issue, then there is leeway to undergo IVF with Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD[1]) if this may save the marriage and rectify the husbands mindset.[2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Bilal Yusuf Pandor

Student Darul Iftaa

Lusaka, Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

[1] Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for genetic disease consists of evaluating the status of an embryo with regard to a known specific genetic abnormality carried by one or both parents. A genetic abnormality in the parents may cause a specific disease or syndrome to occur in their offspring or may cause the pregnancy to miscarry. PGD can be accomplished as part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, commonly used to treat infertile couples. But, in this case, the embryos are tested for the presence or absence of the abnormality prior to transfer into the uterus (IVF-PGD).

فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا ج 6 ص 759-762   [2]