Every couple out there once married, wishes to bring a beautiful, healthy child into this world. Many start planning their families way before their marriage and it is nothing but a beautiful feeling. But once married and not being able to conceive a child can be devastating for a couple and distressing. This is where all the advanced infertility treatments come into being.

Before we begin with the Islamic ruling on Surrogacy, here’s what we need to know about it, first. Surrogacy (also known as the hiring of a womb) is a method of assisted reproduction which involves natural or artificial insemination of a surrogate. Parents who have been trying to conceive for a very long time work with a gestational surrogate, a woman who carries a child to term.

Now, there are two methods of surrogacy:

Traditional Surrogacy: In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate becomes pregnant with the use of her own eggs. This means that a woman is artificially inseminated with the father’s sperm. She delivers the child and gives it to the parents to raise. She will be the biological mother of the child because it was her egg.

Gestational Surrogacy:  This method is done by IVF. In this method, they harvest eggs from the mother, fertilize with sperm from the father and place the embryo into the uterus of a gestational surrogate to carry the baby until its birth

Here’s what Islam has to say about Surrogacy:

According to Shariah, one group says that surrogate parenthood of ‘this’ kind isn’t permitted in light of the fact that it is associated to zina (adultery) since the surrogate is carrying the fertilized egg of someone who isn’t her legitimate spouse.

Perhaps, the most compelling evidence supporting this group of scholars is the ayah (verse) in Surah al-Mujadalah (58: 2) where the Quran says:

…their mothers are only those who conceived them and gave birth to them (waladna hum).

This ayah categorically denies any rights of motherhood to the surrogate ‘mother’.

However, another group argues on this matter and favors the permissibility of surrogacy. This group claims that Islamic law recognizes the preservation of the human species as one of its primary objectives (maqasid).  It follows that allowing married couples to pursue conceiving children is also part of this primary objective. Therefore, if a married couple is not able to conceive children themselves, they should be allowed to use means that override their inability to do so…

If we look back in history, not all couples have had children. The Quran acknowledges this fact in no uncertain terms:

To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills.

He bestows (children) male or female according to His Will; or He bestows both males and females, and He leaves barren whom He will: for He is full of Knowledge and Power.” Surah al-Shura (42): 49/50

We absolutely can’t contend against the reasonability of those methods as they don’t go by the Will of God. Muslims in the past have dependably sought halal medicine for impotency and for barrenness. In any case, it is very evident that Muslim couples who did not discover any cure for those sicknesses never found fault with Allah and hence, either, assented, surrendered, or submitted to Allah’s will at the end.

It is important to remember that it is completely unlawful to use a third party’s (donor) sperm or eggs.

Last but not the least, such a procedure, once more, abuses the pride and respect that Allah Almighty has given to a man and lady. It is also important that we leave things in Allah’s (SWT) hands and go according to his will. Maybe He has planned something better for us. For the couples who are trying to conceive, don’t lose hope and believe in the one who has control over everything.

And Allah (SWT) knows best.

Sources: Islamqa.org and ilmgate.org