The theory of telegony (indirect heredity) is wrong

29-9-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the Islamic ruling on telegony (theory of heredity)? (Some scholars have used it to discourage adultery)

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is scientifically proven that the genetic traits of color, height, and the like are transmitted through the genes from the two parents to the offspring. This is the direct heredity.

As regards what is called telegony, which means that if a woman had intercourse with a previous male and then she gives birth to offspring from a later male, this offspring may take some genetic characteristics from the previous male, this theory was prevalent in the nineteenth century; however, modern scientific discoveries in genetics proved that this theory is wrong because the fetus takes features from the genes of the mother and father. The previous husband of the divorced or widowed woman has no relation in determining the genes of the fetus.

For clarification of some of the reasons for the prohibition of Zina (fornication or adultery) in Islam, please refer to Fataawa 85254 and 85425.

Allaah Knows best.