Search In Fatwa

Ruling on the surgical removal of the uterus

Question

"Is it permissible in Islam to remove uterus? One sister has got some problems in uterus and they r worried if the doctor will ask her to remove it"

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The basic principle is that it is impermissible for a woman to have her uterus removed because this entails permanent sterilization, and this conflicts with one of the most important higher objectives of the Sharee‘ah – fruitfulness in procreation. Anas ibn Maalik  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Marry fertile affectionate women, for I will be proud of your numbers in front of the Prophets on the Day of Judgment.” [Ahmad]

However, if there is concern of real or prevalent harm to the woman’s health if the uterus is not removed, or it is feared that it could cause her death or bring about considerable hardship beyond her ability to endure, and it is necessary, according to the advice of reliable and experienced doctors, for the uterus to be removed to ward off such harm, then it is permissible for the woman to have her uterus removed. This is based on the well-established principles that "elimination of harm takes precedence to realization of benefit" and "necessity makes something prohibited permissible". Allaah The Exalted says (what means): {…while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled.} [Quran 6:119]

Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There shall be no harm or reciprocal harm.” [Musnad Ahmad and Al-Muwatta’]

Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa