Sex-Change Operations

Question :

In some Arabic newspapers, I read about doctors in Europe who perform sex-change operations, transform- ing a male into a female and vice versa. Is this practice correct? Does it not constitute an infringement on the affairs of the Creator, Who alone creates and shapes human beings? What is the Islamic viewpoint in this issue?

Answer:

No human being-and nothing from the creation for that matter-can change a male into a female or vice versa. No matter how skilled or knowledgeable man becomes, this task is beyond his purview, beyond his abilities, this is only the capability of Allah Almighty:
"To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. Verily, He is the All-Knower and is able to do all things."

In the beginning of the verse, Allah Almighty informs that He alone has the ability to do that. At the end of the verse, the basis of this unique ability is clarified, and that is because of His perfect knowledge and ability over everything.

But there may be some confusion with some newborns; it might not be known whether it is a male or a female, it could at first appear to be a female, but in reality it is a male, or vice versa.

Usually this problem goes away, and the reality soon becomes clear by the time the child reaches puberty. So in some cases a doctor may perform some operation related to the sexual development, but there is no need to have any major surgery, rather probative surgery to help in the development of the sex of the child, not to change a male to a female or a female to a male.

So in such cases they are not infringing on the affairs of Allâh, only uncovering what Allah has created. And Allah knows best.

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