QUESTION:
I required some information regarding pregnancy in Islam, how it should be considered meaning, is it permissible to announce pregnancy or should it be kept hidden, also having a scan is it haram? Can you just give some advice generally on the etiquette’s of pregnancy and how we as women should conduct ourselves.
ANSWER:
Pregnancy is a blessing from Allah azzawajal. When becoming aware of your pregnancy, pray salat al-shukr alongside your husband to thank Allah azzawajal for this blessing.
There is no harm in telling friends and family members that you are expecting a child.
Make good intentions, for example if the baby is a boy you will name it Muhammad or if it is a girl you will call it Fatimah, or you will teach the baby the Qur’an, or guide it to become a Alim/Alimah of Islam etc.
Women should take care of their health and avoid junk food at all times, more importantly during pregnancy. The husband should try his best to help his pregnant wife with the house chores so that she is not overburdened, but at the same time she must offer all her prayers on time. Salah is compulsory in all conditions.
Furthermore, you should maintain a regular habit of reciting the Qur’an, waza’if and durood shareef (salawat) even during pregnancy. It is important for the mother to be engaged in virtuous acts maintaining a religious mindset; in sha Allah this will have a positive effect on the child.
Visit your doctor regularly and follow the medical advice given to you. Scanning is allowed due to necessity as it is done to protect the mother and her baby from ailments. If during these routine scans you are asked if you would like to know the gender of the child this would be permissible. However, getting a scan done specifically to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl would not be allowed as this would not be a valid reason to reveal the sitr e awrah infront of another person. Some people want to know the gender so that they may perform a foeticide (meaning they plan on aborting the child if it is not the gender they wanted), then in such a case it will also be haraam to have a scan done.
Allah knows best.
Answered by Mawlana Mohammed Kashif
Also see:
[Q-ID0411] Can women reveal their private parts to a female doctor?
