The Law of Freezing Egg Cells in Islam, Is It Allowed? This is the Explanation

YOGYAKARTA - The development of reproductive technology brings many alternatives for women in planning pregnancies, one of which is egg freezing. This method is often chosen by women who want to delay pregnancy and maintain egg cell quality due to age or certain medical conditions. However, is this method allowed in Islam? Here is the discussion.

Egg freezing is a medical procedure that is done by taking eggs from the uterus. The eggs are then frozen and stored in the laboratory for a certain period of time. This is done to keep the quality of the eggs in the best quality for future use when women are ready to get pregnant.

Usually, this method is chosen when women face the risk of decreased ovarian function. For example due to increasing age or certain medical conditions such as diseases that affect fertility.

With this technology, the opportunity to have offspring in the future remains open. The most fertile age for women is around 20-30 years. When in this age range, a woman must postpone pregnancy, then she can freeze eggs to keep the eggs in the best quality.

When you are ready to get pregnant, the frozen eggs will be thawed and then met with sperm through the test tube method (in vitro fertilization/IVF) so that fertilization occurs. After that, the embryo that is formed will be implanted back into the uterus.

In Islam, the issue of reproduction is not only seen from a medical perspective, but also from the aspect of marriage and nasab (lineage). Therefore, the practice of freezing eggs must meet certain conditions so as not to violate the principles of sharia.

Reported by NU Online, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in the Bayi Tabung Fatwa in 1979 emphasized that the fertilization process should only be carried out by a legal husband and wife. This means that the use of eggs must still be within the framework of marriage.

Thus, freezing eggs is basically allowed with some notes. The egg must come from the woman herself, and later it can only be fertilized by the husband's sperm in a marriage bond. If used outside of marriage, then it is haram.

The decision of the 1981 National Congress of Alim Ulama Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) also confirms the same thing. The in vitro fertilization process, including the use of frozen eggs, is only allowed if it comes from a legal husband and wife. This is based on a hadith quoted from Tafsir Ibnu Katsir and Kitab Hikmatut Tasyri' wa Falsafatuh by Sheikh Ali al-Jurjawi:

"There is no greater sin after shirk than the semen that a man places (adultery) in the womb of a woman who is not lawful for him," (Ibn Katsir, Tafsir Al-Qur'an Al-'Azhim, Juz III, page 50).

"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then do not fornicate with his brother's wife." (Hikmatut Tasyri', juz II, page 25).

In addition, fiqh books also emphasize the importance of maintaining clarity of lineage. Establishing the child's nasab to a man who is not his biological father is forbidden by law.

So it can be concluded, the law of freezing eggs in Islam is basically allowed, provided it meets the conditions mentioned above. Out of it, the law is haram. It is not allowed to use a donor or to perform fertilization outside of marriage.

So that's the discussion about the law of freezing eggs in Islam, follow other interesting articles on VOI.ID. So as not to miss the latest news, follow and monitor our social media accounts!