Question:
A husband and wife fertilized an egg and stored it in a fertility clinic. Since then, the husband has passed away and the wife would like to have the fertilized egg planted in her womb. What is the legal ruling for this scenario?
Answer:
It is unlawful that a husband’s sperm be used to fertilize his wife’s egg after his death since upon his death she did not become the wife of the deceased, but rather becomes foreign to him since death severed the legal tie between them. Likewise, when contemporary legists researched the subject of ‘renting one’s womb’ during an Islamic conference for medical issues, their opinion was unanimous that it is unlawful.
It is not permitted for an egg fertilized by the husband’s sperm after his death to be planted in his widow’s womb because marital relations ceased with his death.
And Allah Most High knows best.
Dr. Ali Gomaa Mohammad
Grand Mufti, Egypt
Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyya
Researched by Staff
