Question Summary:
Ultrasound

Question Detail:

As salaamu Alaykum
1. I am currently in the process of getting hospital plan with discovery medical aid, is this permissible and if so is it permissible to take it with gap cover.
2. My wife and I are expecting a baby, it is currently 20 weeks into the pregnancy, is it permissible to find out the gender of the baby during the pregnancy, for purposes of purchasing clothing for the child when he/she is born.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
1)    In principle, conventional medical aid schemes are not permissible as they contain haram elements of interest, deceit and uncertainty.
 
2)    It is permissible to find out the gender of the unborn child. However the process should be carried out by a female ultrasound technician/practitioner. [i]
 
One should keep in mind that these scans are not always accurate and the true and absolute knowledge lies with Allah.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Imran Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.