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Obstetrics
and Gynaecology
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Infertility
Unfortunately
some marriages are barren. Some cases of infertility do respond to medical
treatment, while others are not, and remain infertile all in accordance
with God's plan:
"To
God belongs the dominion of heavens and earth. He creates what He wills.
He bestows females upon whom He wills and bestows the males upon whom
He wills. Or He couples them in males and females and He leaves barren
whom He wills. For He is All-Knowledgeable All-Powerful." (42:49-50)
To
have a progeny is a great blessing from God. The pursual of a remedy for
infertility is therefore quite legitimate and should not be considered
as rebellion against the fate decreed by God. Prophets of God who were
childless encessantly asked their Lord to give rhem children, and the
Quran tells us time and again about the keen prayers of Abraham and of
Zakaria in this respect.
'This
is a recital of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariya. Behold!
He cried to his Lord in secret praying: O my Lord infirm indeed are my
bones and the hair of my head does glisten with whiteness but never am
I unblest, my Lord, in my prayer to you. Now I fear what my relatives
(and colleagues) (will do) after me: But my wife is barren so give me
an heir as from yourself (One that) will (truly) represent me and represent
the posterity of Jacob and make him, my Lord, one"with whom You are
pleased (His prayer was answered). O, Zakariya We give you good news of
a son: His name shall be Yahia. on none by that name have We conferred
distinction before." (19:2-7)
In
another verse the Quran makes another reference to Zakariya:
"And
(remember) Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: 0, my Lord! Leave me not
without offspring though You are the best of inheritors. So We listened
to him, and We granted him Yahya. We cured his wife's (barrenness) for
him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works. They used
to call on Us with love and reverance, and humble themselves before Us."
(21 :89-90).
Sarrah,
the wife of Abraham, remained barren for a long time during which she
convinced her husband to take Hagar who begot Ismail for him. When she
was well into old age she was rewarded. The angels visiting them brought
her in advance the happy news of she begetting Isaac and she was thrilled
for the surprise:
"(When
his angel guests did not eat), he (Abraham) conceived a fear of them.
They said: fear not. And they gave him glad tidings of a son endowed with
knowledge. But his wife came forward (laughing) aloud: she smote her forehead
and said: a barren old woman! They said: Even though, has your Lord spoken
and He is full of wisdom and knowledge." (51:28-39)
If
it is legitimate to yearn for something and ask God for it, it is without
doubt as legitimate to pursue every legitimate means that might fulfil
it. Attempts to cure infertility are therefore not only permissible,
but are even a duty so that a couple may contribute to the preservation
of the race and supplying society with useful human elements to take their
place in the future generation. But the treatment of infertility should
by no means trespass outside legitimacy as ordained by God. Modern times,
however, have witnessed a progressive degree of Godlessness and heedlessness
of his prescribed ways. Large segments of humanity have prescribed to
atheism, and those who acknowledge God deny him being in control of their
lives. In our age of scientific growth and spiritual atrophy, science
is inclined to be self-worshiping and scientists wish to send whatever
can be done into the arena of widespread application, without scrutiny
or heed to the far-reaching moral and spiritual consequences. Amongst
the sequelae is a real threat to the very existence of the family institution.
since it has become possible to remove sex out of marriage and to remove
reproduction out of marriage. Modern reproductive techniques have been
devised, and as far as they solve the problem of many barren marriages
they have to be praised and saluted, but the expansion of their application
put them in conflict with Isiamic principles in some situations as we
hope to point out in this review.
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