Islamic Center of Southern California

The Arguments of Islamic Law Rulings on Recent Medical Issues

Topic Twenty One

Hymen Patching Surgeries

Definition

What is meant by hymen patching is repairing its lacerations or forming a new hymen. The hymen is a membrane that partially covers the external vaginal opening. It consists of two layers of thin skin with a loose tissue between them, which has an abundance of blood vessels.

The hymen opening comes in various shapes: circular, crescent-like, sieve-like, and divided long-wise. In rare cases, it is solid, and it blocks the exit of ministration blood, causing it to accumulate in the vagina and then in the uterus.

The hymen may break before marriage due to various reasons, foremost among which are (1) an illicit sexual relationship and (2) an accident that causes injury in that location.

The Legal Position Chosen by the IOMS and Its Argument

A recommendation of the third seminar in 1987 says:

The seminar discussed the subject of plastic surgery and came to the conclusion that it is unlawful to perform surgeries that alter the fundamental nature of the body or of an organ or that are meant to allow the patient to escape justice or engage in fraud, or that are motivated by a whim.

I would like to add that this indicates the ruling over hymen patching surgeries, depending on whether it involves fraud or not. Islamic Center of Southern California