Test-Tube Baby: An Analytical Study in the Light of Islamic Jurisprudence and Modern Medical Research

ٹیسٹ ٹیوب بے بی: فقہ ِاسلامی اور جدید طبّی تحقیقات کی روشنی میں ایک تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

This article explores the multifaceted discourse surrounding the legitimacy of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), commonly known as the “test-tube baby” procedure, in the light of Islamic jurisprudence and modern medical research. As a significant advancement in reproductive medicine, IVF has offered new hope to couples experiencing infertility. However, its application raises complex ethical, legal, and religious questions that require careful examination. This study analyzes the permissibility of IVF through three principal dimensions: medical and social necessity, religious jurisprudence, and legal and ethical considerations. The medical and social dimension examines IVF as a therapeutic intervention for infertility, highlighting its role in enabling couples to conceive and establish families. The religious dimension explores the perspectives of major world religions, with particular emphasis on Islamic jurisprudence, which generally permits IVF when it is undertaken by a legally married couple during the subsistence of their marriage and involves only their own reproductive materials. The legal and ethical dimension addresses key concerns, including the status and management of surplus embryos, third-party involvement through gamete donation or surrogacy, and the preservation of lineage (nasab). The study concludes that IVF constitutes a significant medical intervention for addressing infertility; however, its application must be guided by appropriate ethical principles, sound medical practices, and relevant legal and religious frameworks to safeguard lineage, uphold the rights of the parties involved, and protect the welfare of the resulting child.