Back to search

Is it obligatory for a woman to take fertility-enhancing drugs, knowing that there is a high risk of giving birth to a deformed child due to her advanced age, or should she leave the matter to the Provider, taking into account that Allah commanded us to take the necessary means?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The possibility of an elderly woman giving birth to a disabled or deformed child can be addressed through supplication (du'a) and abundant charity (sadaqah), for indeed, supplication lifts affliction. We advise keenness on procreation due to the legal encouragement of increasing offspring and your need for more children, while also acknowledging the permissibility of treatment with lawful medicine. Regarding istikhara (prayer for guidance), one should proceed with what the heart feels inclined towards. Visions have no connection to istikhara, nor do they result in a ruling, and they should not cause fear of pregnancy. It is recommended to consult trustworthy doctors and to persist in regular remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and prayers (salawat).

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

Read the full answer on Ftawy