Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Is sperm analysis permissible? Masturbation is involved in this process.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Kind
Thank you/ Jazāk Allāh Khayr for contacting Mathābah with your question.
Kindly note that if the sperm analysis is conducted due to a medical reason such as to determine if a man is infertile, has a low sperm count or there is sperm dysfunction when a husband and wife are having problems getting pregnant, then it is permissible otherwise not. Sperm analysis to become a sperm donor is forbidden in Islam.
“Success is really attained by the believers …. who guard their private parts except from their wives or from those [bondwomen who are] owned by their hands, as they are not to be blamed. However, those who seek (sexual pleasure) beyond that are the transgressors” – (Qurʿān: 23:1-7). [1]
“The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “It is unlawful for a man who believes in God and the last day that he waters the plant of another.” The meaning of watering the plant of another is to insert one’s sperm into the womb of another person’s wife.” – (Abū Dāwūd, 2158) [2]
Osāmah bin Sharīk (may God be pleased with him) reports, “Some Bedouins asked, “O Messenger of God (peace and blessings upon him) shall we treat our ill [and sickly]?” He replied, “Yes, O slaves of God! Use remedies [and medication], for indeed God has made a cure for every illness except one impediment.” They asked, “O Messenger of God! What do you refer to?” He replied, “Old age.” – (Abū Dāwūd 3855) [3]
Only Allāh knows best
[1] – المؤمنون ١ -٧ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ
[2] حَدَّثَنَا النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَرْزُوقٍ، عَنْ حَنَشٍ الصَّنْعَانِيِّ، عَنْ رُوَيْفِعِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ قَامَ فِينَا خَطِيبًا قَالَ أَمَا إِنِّي لاَ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِلاَّ مَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ يَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ قَالَ ” لاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرِئٍ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ يَسْقِيَ مَاءَهُ زَرْعَ غَيْرِهِ ” . يَعْنِي إِتْيَانَ الْحَبَالَى ” وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرِئٍ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ مِنَ السَّبْىِ حَتَّى يَسْتَبْرِئَهَا وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لاِمْرِئٍ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ أَنْ يَبِيعَ مَغْنَمًا حَتَّى يُقْسَمَ ” . – أبو داؤد ٢١٥٨
[3] عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ كَأَنَّمَا عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمُ الطَّيْرُ فَسَلَّمْتُ ثُمَّ قَعَدْتُ فَجَاءَ الأَعْرَابُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا وَهَا هُنَا فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَتَدَاوَى فَقَالَ “ تَدَاوَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلاَّ وَضَعَ لَهُ دَوَاءً غَيْرَ دَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ الْهَرَمُ ” – أبو داؤد ٣٨٥٥
