Is Choosing a Child’s Gender Through IVF Permissible for Family Preference?
Question
There is science technology now around that you can genetically pick the gender of your child in most countries, to balance out our family having more of one gender (5 daughters and 1 son in my family ) is it permissible for my wife and I to use this technology of PGT-A IVF to conceive a male as our last child?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shari Context
Children and their gender are from the decree of Allah, and Islam teaches contentment with what Allah grants.
Allah says:
“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants to whom He wills females, and He grants to whom He wills males.”
Surat al Shura 42:49
At the same time, Islam permits medical treatment and interventions when there is a valid need, but it does not allow tampering with creation based on mere desire or preference.
Allah says:
“And I will command them, and they will alter the creation of Allah.”
Surat al Nisa 4:119
2. Scholarly Discussion
The scholars distinguish between:
- Medical necessity, such as preventing serious genetic disease
- Non-medical intervention, based on preference or personal desire
While certain medical technologies are permitted when used for treatment, scholars have been strict when it comes to altering natural processes without necessity, especially in matters tied to creation and divine decree.
Gender selection through IVF and genetic screening involves:
- Selecting embryos based on desired traits
- Intervening in a natural process without necessity
- Opening the door to preference-based manipulation of creation
For this reason, many scholars do not permit such procedures when the purpose is simply choosing the gender.
3. Application to the Question
In your case:
- You already have children
- There is no medical necessity
- The purpose is family balancing and preference
Therefore:
- This does not reach the level of necessity or need that would justify such intervention
- It falls under preference-based alteration, not treatment
So using IVF with PGT specifically to choose a male child in this situation would not be permissible.
However, if there were a serious medical reason, such as avoiding a genetic disease linked to a specific gender, then the ruling could differ under strict conditions.
4. Relevant Usul Principle
العبادات والتقديرات الكونية لا تبنى على مجرد الأهواء
Matters tied to Allah’s decree and creation are not to be manipulated based on mere personal desireسد الذرائع
Blocking the means to harm
This principle means that actions which open the door to broader harm or misuse are restricted, even if they may appear limited in individual cases. Allowing gender selection for preference opens the door to widespread manipulation of creation and undermines contentment with Allah’s decree.
Final Ruling
It is not permissible to use IVF and genetic selection to choose the gender of a child for preference or family balancing. Such matters should be left to Allah’s decree. Only in cases of clear medical necessity may exceptions be considered under strict conditions.
And Allah knows best.