The Standard Bearers Islamic Organization (SB), Ile Ife on Sunday organized her second annual colloquium.
The colloquium tagged ‘An-Nadwa’ which was held at Enuwa Central Mosque in Ile Ife with the theme ‘Islamic Ethics and Fertility Intervention” was a positive life changing experience for all intending participants.
Speaking on the aim of the event, the Coordinator of SB Ile Ife, Ustadh Hassan AbdulFatai said, “The aim of organizing the event is to promote a comprehensive understanding of how Islamic ethical principles can guide and inform the use of fertility interventions, ensuring that these procedures are conducted in a manner consistent with Islamic values and moral guidelines.
“The event seeks to facilitate discussions, share knowledge, and provide a platform for healthcare professionals, scholars, and the community to explore the ethical considerations surrounding fertility treatments within an Islamic framework, ultimately leading to more informed and responsible decision-making in this sensitive area of healthcare.”
While addressing the congregation on the medical solutions to infertility, Prof. Ajenifuja Kayode, one of the guest lecturers of the day who is a Consultant, Obstetrics and gynecologist, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, said infertility is the inability of couple to achieve pregnancy after twelve months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
He said, “Infertility is of two types, primary and secondary. It is primary, when the couple has never achieved conception. While Secondary infertility is when pregnancy miscarriage is involved.”
He noted that the blame is often on the female when research affirms that the problem is mostly from the male side.
He highlighted the causes of male and female infertility which are Low sperm count, tubal blockage, exposing testes to high temperatures and many others.
While discussing Islamic rulings on assisted reproductive techniques, another guest lecturer, Dr Nafiu Ahmad Al-Juwhari who is a lecturer at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, described fertility as a manifest favour of Allah bestowed on man as narrated in Q16:72.
He mentioned that having children will serve as one’s favour after death due to the reward one will get from pious offspring.
He said, “Infertility is a disadvantage on the couple as they won’t have children to benefit them after death. Fertility is is a favor from Allah which he bestows on whom he wills.”
Dr. Jawhari explained that the only assisted reproductive technique acceptable in the shariah are those that involve mixing the spermatozoa and ovum from legally married couples. Donor eggs, donor sperms or surrogacy are forbidden in Islamic law. The program ended with prayers to Allah to answer the desire of all couples looking for fruits of the womb.
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