Is what is narrated about our master Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding distinguishing the sex of an intersex person by counting the ribs correct, and can it be used as a دليل (proof)?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
The narrated report attributed to Ali, may God be pleased with him, concerning the differentiation between a man and a woman based on the number of ribs, is a reprehensible report that is not authentic. The majority of jurists do not rely on this statement. Rather, the majority of them have gone on to say that the distinction is made by examining the urinary openings of the intersex person. What has been narrated about a differing number of ribs between men and women is weak, just as anatomy indicates an equal number of ribs for both sexes.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
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- 24728
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