Ruling on Using Another Person’s Sperm for Conception

Source: Derived from the fatwas of Haramain scholars, as compiled in the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.

Question:​

If a man, while seeking external treatment for infertility, agrees to a procedure where a doctor combines his wife’s egg with another man’s sperm (instead of his own), and he then engages in marital relations with his wife, is this permissible in Islam?

Answer:​

This act is strictly prohibited in Islam and is equated to zina (adultery) in terms of its moral and legal implications. The use of sperm from any man other than the husband for conception is not permissible, as it violates the principles of lineage (nasab) and marital fidelity established in Islamic law.

Key Points:​

1. Violation of Lineage Preservation:
   
   • Islam places great emphasis on preserving lineage and ensuring that children’s parentage is clear and undisputed. Using another man’s sperm to conceive a child undermines this principle and creates uncertainty about the child’s lineage.
   • Allah says:
     "Call them [adopted children] by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah."
     [Surah Al-Ahzab (33:5)]
2. Moral and Ethical Boundaries:
   
   • Combining the sperm of a stranger with the wife’s egg is considered a grave transgression that goes against the sanctity of marriage.
   • Such an act is tantamount to introducing foreign genetic material into a marital relationship, which is prohibited.
3. Harmful Intentions Behind Such Practices:
   
   • Scholars have warned that some external influences aim to undermine Islamic values and reduce Muslim populations through such unethical practices, including encouraging the use of harmful contraceptives and unnatural reproductive methods.
   • This approach is seen as an attack on the integrity and growth of Muslim communities.
4. Islamic Alternative:
   
   • Couples facing infertility are encouraged to seek permissible medical treatments that involve the husband’s sperm and the wife’s egg without introducing third-party genetic material.
   • Adoption and fostering, while preserving the true lineage of the child, are also virtuous options.

Advice from Scholars:​

Shaykh Muqbil bin Hadi (رحمه الله):
Muslims must remain vigilant against such foreign ideologies and practices that contradict Islamic principles. While it is not suggested to confront these practices with hostility or aggression, Muslims must reject and distance themselves from them. Recognizing their non-Islamic nature is essential.

Conclusion:​

Using another person’s sperm for conception is haram (prohibited) and comparable to zina in its violation of Islamic laws on lineage and marital fidelity. Muslims must avoid such practices and adhere to permissible methods of addressing infertility within the boundaries of Islamic law.