For most Sunni Muslims, surrogacy is considered haram because it involves a third person in reproduction between a married couple. The main concerns are lineage, motherhood, inheritance, and family relationships.
However, Islamic views are not entirely uniform. According to the review of assisted reproductive technologies in Islamic bioethics, Sunni jurisprudence generally rejects surrogacy, while some Shi’a authorities permit it under certain conditions.
Why Is Surrogacy Considered Haram in Sunni Islam?
Sunni jurisprudence generally permits IVF when the egg belongs to the wife, the sperm comes from her husband, and the embryo is transferred to the wife’s uterus during their marriage. The participation of another person changes the religious ruling.
Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta states that surrogacy is prohibited because another woman carrying the pregnancy raises questions about motherhood, lineage, and competing parental rights. A 2026 ruling similarly permits assisted reproduction using the spouses’ own egg, sperm, and uterus, but not those of a third person. The main concerns include:
| Issue | Why it matters |
| Lineage (nasab) | Islamic law places importance on clearly established family descent. |
| Motherhood | The woman providing the egg and the woman giving birth may be different people. |
| Inheritance | Recognized parenthood affects inheritance rights and family duties. |
| Kinship | Family relationships can affect mahram status and marriage rules. |
These concerns also apply to gestational surrogacy, even when the carrier does not provide the egg. The principal Sunni objection is therefore not limited to genetics.
Does Payment Change the Religious Ruling?
Generally, no. Under the prevailing Sunni interpretation, payment is not the main reason surrogacy is prohibited. The central issue is third-party participation in reproduction. A ruling considers transferring a married couple’s embryo to another woman impermissible whether she receives payment or not.
Unpaid surrogacy does not automatically become permissible when intended parents exploring how to find a surrogate mother choose a sister, relative, or friend to carry the pregnancy. Payment may raise additional ethical questions, but its absence does not resolve concerns about lineage and motherhood.
Are There Islamic Views That Permit Surrogacy?
Yes. Some Shi’a religious authorities take a different approach to third-party reproduction. A review of assisted reproduction in Islamic contexts explains that certain Shi’a scholars permit forms of gamete donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy, although the conditions vary.
This does not mean surrogacy is universally considered halal in Shi’a Islam. Questions remain about motherhood, inheritance, kinship, and the participation of third parties.
A 2022 study of Shi’a jurisprudence and gestational surrogacy describes different views of who should be recognized as the mother: the egg provider, the woman who gives birth, or both. There is therefore no single Islamic ruling accepted by every Muslim community.
Does a Genetic Connection to the Baby Matter?
Gestational surrogacy separates genetic parenthood from pregnancy. An embryo may be created using the intended mother’s egg and the intended father’s sperm, while another woman carries and gives birth to the baby.
Under the prevailing Sunni interpretation, the intended parents’ genetic connection does not by itself make surrogacy permissible. The participation of another woman’s uterus remains the objection. Islamic reproductive ethics identifies lineage and uncertainty over maternal status as central concerns.
Traditional surrogacy introduces another issue: the surrogate also provides the egg and is genetically related to the child.
What Should Muslim Intended Parents Clarify First?
Religious permissibility should be considered before selecting a medical program or country. Surrogacy may be legal in a particular jurisdiction without being permissible under the family’s Islamic interpretation. Religious rulings also do not determine legal eligibility.
For parents following an interpretation that permits gestational surrogacy, planning may include comparing surrogacy agencies United States and reviewing advice on how to find a surrogate mother before entering a program.
First, clarify:
- whose egg and sperm will be used;
- whether the carrier will be genetically related to the child;
- how the relevant religious authority defines motherhood and lineage;
- how legal parentage will be established;
- whether the chosen jurisdiction permits the arrangement.
A fertility clinic like ADONIS Fertility Solutions can explain the medical steps, while a reproductive lawyer can address legal parentage. Whether a particular arrangement is halal or haram should be discussed with a qualified scholar from the family’s own Islamic tradition.
Is Having a Surrogate Haram?
Under the prevailing Sunni position, surrogacy is generally considered haram, including arrangements using a married couple’s own egg and sperm. This position appears in Dar Al-Ifta’s ruling on surrogacy and in Islamic bioethics literature.
Some Shi’a authorities permit gestational surrogacy under defined conditions. The answer therefore depends on the school of jurisprudence and religious authority a person follows. Intended parents should clarify that position before considering medical and legal options.
