Medical treatment

Subliminals

Q: I have a question regarding if something is haram and shirk. There's this thing called subliminals and they’re essentially these affirmations that reach your subconscious to help change some things or help improve yourself. For example, get longer eyelashes or improve your memory. Is it shirk? Also, some don’t have music playing, usually rain drops or silence.

Using a herbal remedy to give birth quickly

Q: Last year I gave birth and an African Muslim woman who I trust told me about a herbal remedy for speeding up the birth and dilating. She told me that she soaks maryam flower and drinks it like a tea 2 weeks before the due date. I did this and everything was okay. Allah Ta'ala granted me a quick natural birth.

This year I am going to give birth again but my sister in law sent me a post that she read about people saying that they use maryam flower for prosperity and wealth and so on. Basically, like witchcraft or something. I'm not sure now and I am scared to use it after reading this post.

I want to know if its okay for me to use it as a herbal remedy like I did the last time or should I stay away from it?

IVF treatment

Q: Me and my wife have been married for 7 years now Alhamdulillah, but unfortunately we have no children.

We are speaking to ivf specialists and when we asked about being able to see a female specialist during the egg collection and embryo implant procedure we were told that this is not possible and we will be seen by whoever is available on the day, male or female.

What is the ruling regarding this under Islamic law. I have been getting mixed responses from family and friends. Some people have told me because it is medical reason it is allowed while others say it is haram as the awrah (privates) is exposed to a non mahram (potentially male) and not a necessity.

Please can you elaborate on the conditions that would make ivf between husband and wife, halal or haram.

Taking hair loss medication that causes impotence

Q: I have a question regarding a medicine by the name of propecia (finasteride). It is a basically a hair loss medicine. I will put it this way:

1. This is the only proven oral medicine to stop hair loss and regrow some hair

2. It can have some side effects like loss of sex drive and impotency.

Being unmarried, loss of sex drive helps me to stay away from haraam as well as preventing further hair loss but on the other hand there is a chance of deliberate impotency which could be permanent. Please guide me which path should I take.

On the one hand I want to preserve my hair but on the other side I might not be able to marry if it causes sterility.