A prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Sharafdeen Gbadebo, has sparked debate after cautioning Muslim couples against the use of DNA tests for paternity determination, declaring it forbidden under Islamic law.
Speaking in a recent lecture delivered in Yoruba, Dr. Gbadebo explained that Islam already provides a clear framework for child paternity, making the use of scientific methods like DNA testing both unnecessary and un-Islamic.
According to the cleric, questioning the paternity of a child conceived within a legal Islamic marriage is prohibited.
“Why would Muslims do DNA tests? Islam does not allow us to doubt the paternity of a child born to a legally married wife. Anybody who engages in adultery will be entitled to nothing,” he said.
This stance reinforces the Islamic position that paternity is established by marriage and lineage rules, not by laboratory tests.
Dr. Gbadebo highlighted Lian, an Islamic procedure for addressing doubts about paternity. Under this process, both husband and wife swear solemn oaths before Allah:
The husband swears four times that the child is not his, invoking divine punishment if he lies. The wife swears four times that the child belongs to her husband.
If the husband maintains his stance, he permanently loses the right to claim the child, and the marriage may be dissolved.
The cleric stressed that even in cases of suspected infidelity, DNA tests hold no place in Islam:
“Two people engage in sex out of wedlock, and the child is born. Is there any DNA test in Islam that would grant the man paternity? None. It is forbidden. That child is always seen as a product of Zina.”
On the other hand, medical experts point to the accuracy of DNA testing. Miss Aisha Ahmad, a medical scientist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, explained:
“DNA tests are 99% accurate if conducted correctly. They remain the most reliable way to determine paternity when there is doubt.”
She clarified that while religious leaders may object on spiritual grounds, the scientific reliability of DNA testing is unquestionable.
This ongoing debate highlights the tension between religious teachings and modern science. For Muslim couples, clerics urge reliance on Islamic law and Lian, while medical professionals continue to advocate for DNA testing as a scientifically proven solution in paternity disputes.
