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What is the correct Islamic action for a committed Muslim physician in the following situations: Firstly: When examining a married woman to ascertain her virginity at the husband's request, should he inform the husband of the presence of an old hymeneal tear? Secondly: When asked to repair an old hymeneal tear for a girl who presented alone or with her mother, should the physician refuse the repair or perform it based on his assessment of the situation? Thirdly: When the hymen of a child or girl is torn due to an accident or rape, should the physician refuse the repair or perform it, and when?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The basic principle is that it is not permissible to perform a hymen repair surgery due to the ensuing legal (Sharia) corruptions, except for a chaste woman whose hymen was ruptured by an accident (like a leap) and she fears harm to herself (such as abuse from her guardian or rejection by suitors). In such a case, it is permissible to perform the surgery out of necessity. Where the surgery is permissible, the doctor is allowed to perform it, and where it is not permissible, it is forbidden for him to perform it. It is not permissible for the doctor to inform the husband or anyone else of anything that would diminish the girl's standing or expose her honor to gossip.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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