Posthumous Assisted Reproduction from Islamic Perspective

Rapid development in assisted reproductive techniques along with relieving the pain of childlessness has brought new ethical and policy dilemmas. Posthumous assisted reproduction is the most challenging, difficult and sensitive issue to be discussed ethically and religiously. In this paper the acceptability of the posthumous reproduction in Islamic contexts is evaluated and major concerns like Consent and ownership of the gametes after death, Family and Marriage vision and Welfare of the child are discussed together with some international legislation. We can conclude that upon Islamic vision to assisted reproductive techniques as treatment of families and relieving the serious problem of childlessness, posthumous assisted reproduction is unacceptable even with previously frozen gametes or embryos. Also, Islamic vision to marriage, consent and welfare of the child confirms the unacceptability. There must be some law or legislation to ban this procedure in Islamic contexts.