Nikaah & Marriage Issues

Finding out the gender of the foetus

Q:

  1. My wife is pregnant so she goes for ultrasound every month (because there is a little problem with pregnancy so doctors want to keep there eyes on it). Every time we go for ultrasound the dr ask us if we know the gender of the baby but I always tell them we don't want to know because this is blessing from Allah so boy or girl doesn't make a different as long as it's healthy but now somebody told my wife that it is ok to know the gender before birth so now she want's to know it which I totally don't agree. Please tell me if it permissible in Islam or not because it's a blessing from Allah?
  2. Once one find out that she's pregnant then until what time they can share the bed or we should stop as soon we find out what does Islam says about these two things please tell us?

Importance of consulting one's elders with regards to marriage

Q: I have found a spouse for myself and a very good one alhamdulillah, however he is from a different culture from me. I have nothing against interracial marriage or different cultures getting married in fact I find it very fascinating. I am scared what my family might say and that they will not accept. My brother is also a mufti and there are people in my area who have married from different cultures but my parents may have a different opinion when it comes to there own family. What should I do to overcome being scared and to be confident to tell my family?

Witnesses for nikaah

Q: When someone does nikaah at home. What is the procedure with witnesses? How many does the male need and how many the female? I have heard even without witnesses it is counted and it is only sunnat to have witnesses and to do khutbah. If someone has done nikkah without witnesses and khutbah is it counted?