Title: Regarding Test Tube Baby / IVF Question: Islamic point of view on modern techniques of having a baby including Test tube baby, IVF etc. etc. if either male or female has some problem Saeed USA Answer: According to my - layman's - information on the subject of Test-Tube babies/IVF, the process can entail two separate possibilities: Firstly, where both the husband and the wife are potentially fully capable of reproduction, but due to some reason cannot achieve conception through the natural process of copulation. In such a situation, the husband's sperm is placed in the wife's uterus, through injection or through any means other than natural sexual copulation, to allow the subsequent development of a fetus. Secondly, where either the husband or the wife is incapable of reproduction and, therefore, the sperm or the egg of a different person is used for the development of the fetus. In the case of the first situation - which is nothing more than externally facilitating the conception of a child based on the reproductive potential of the husband and the wife - the Shari`ah would have no objections. However, because the second kind of IVF is based on the fertilization of the sperm or the egg of a third person, which clearly has a biological and, subsequently, a social implication as it would affect the parenthood of the child. In view of this social implication of the second kind of IVF, it seems to be against the spirit of the Shari`ah to resort to it. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad May 20, 2002