FatwaNegeri SembilanMarriage & Family
Menggunakan DNA Untuk Menentukan Status Anak
Can a DNA test be used to establish or deny a child's lineage?
Short answer
DNA is permitted to establish lineage under a court order in specific cases, such as disputed lineage, baby mix-ups at hospitals, test-tube babies and children missing due to disasters.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Fatwa Negeri Sembilan
- Topic
- Marriage & Family
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
DNA is permitted to establish lineage under a court order in specific cases, such as disputed lineage, baby mix-ups at hospitals, test-tube babies and children missing due to disasters. DNA may not be used to deny lineage, nor to take precedence over the li'an procedure, because it is only supporting evidence (qarinah) and not primary proof. The prompt period for li'an runs from the date the wife's pregnancy is confirmed until three days after birth, and a denial made after that is rejected and the child is established as the father's. Guidelines for DNA testing by the authorities are to be tightened, especially on lineage denial.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Majma'al-Fiqh al-Islami menetapkan bahawa DNA tidak boleh digunakan untuk menafikan nasab anak apalagi digunakannya mendahului kaedah li`an.
Read the full fatwa on the Negeri Sembilan website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Negeri Sembilan Mufti Department. “Menggunakan DNA Untuk Menentukan Status Anak”, date not stated. https://muftins.gov.my/fatwa/menggunakan-dna-untuk-menentukan-status-anak/. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/dna-test-establish-or-deny-child-lineage/