How will the Shariat court’s ruling on test tube babies help Pakistan?


The method is more formally known as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), which has been in use since the 70’s in other parts of the world and is now a common technique globally

Although it would be foolish to assume that IVF procedures were not taking place in Pakistan prior to this verdict, it is still heartening to know that couples will be able to seek alternative ways to have children with clear consciences and hopefully, a less judgmental society

In its verdict, the court declared, “If a baby is born through mechanical/medical process where the sperm belongs to the actual father and the egg to the actual mother and the child is born by the actual mother…the procedure would be legal and lawful

” However, it also stated, “The surrogacy procedure would be unlawful and against the injunctions of Quran and Sunnah

” Although a tad late to the party, the courts have galvanised a huge leap of progress in this matter

More so, the courts have helped relieve the pressure off of women who are infertile since infertility is seen as an unforgivable stigma in our society

There has always been, and most likely will always be, an opposition towards breakthrough reproduction methods

It is not just Pakistan that is squeamish when it comes to playing with nature as surrogacy remains a controversial and risky choice in the West till date as well

Despite the Shariat court’s recent ruling, many in Pakistan will still reject the concept of having test tube babies

The fact that countless women can now quote the Shariat court’s verdict to justify their desire to try IVF is an enormous step forward

After speaking to couples who have opted for IVF, I realised that having a test tube baby is not as convenient as it seems

It is in fact an arduous journey of injections, tests, poking and prodding with no guarantee of success

Sara Khan, who now has a healthy three-year-old daughter after a successful round of IVF treatment, says that it has been a difficult journey for her and her husband Ali

They kept the treatment a secret from people outside their immediate families simply because of the stigma that still surrounds opting for IVF in Pakistan

Sara and Ali were unsure of whether the cycles would work and felt vulnerable to the criticism that would be offered by people who did not understand the challenges they were facing

She reminisces the day her daughter was born and how Ali and her barely had any clothes for the baby; they did not want to make preparations until the baby was born and physically in their arms

She describes it as the happiest day of her life

Most women have to try the method more than once before their pregnancy reaches its full term

There are many failed cycles and broken dreams in this journey

But the moment one realises those dreams are coming true, the joy that is felt is incomparable

The older generation in Pakistan in particular are still reluctant to embrace the procedure, so much so that many couples choose to withhold their IVF struggle from their parents and in-laws

It will be interesting to see if the FSC’s ruling helps change the dogmatic mind-set which forces desperate couples to hide their battle with infertility

Moreover and most importantly, this verdict has brought the FSC to international relevance and integrated Shariah law into modern issues and medical advancements

The past decade has been slow for the FSC, and no significant ruling had passed through its doors until this week

It will undoubtedly clear the cobwebs out of the FSC and hopefully lead to progress by ruling on issues that tie Islam together with the modern world

I am optimistic that the FSC’s renaissance will lead to progress

Pakistan can only advance if it strengthens every state institution to reflect the voice of its people



Date:25-Feb-2017 Reference:View Original Link