S p i r i t ua l i t y S t u d i e s 6 - 2 Fa l l 2 0 2 0 2 9 Monika Zaviš 1 Introduction The research in the field of reproductive bioethics in Islam constantly overlooks the dimension of spirituality of spouses who are in the treatment process of their infertility. Reputable experts in this field, such as Sachedina, Albar, Chamsi-Pa - sha, Inhorn, Tremayne, Gürtin, Shabana, Zaid, etc., are mainly dealing with medical, anthropological, doctrinal or philosophical aspect of treating infertility, which are surely very important, but needed to be supplemented by the existential and the most personal dimension of spirituality. The faith of infertile patients or clients passes through a unique existential test and they, under the influence of success or failure of steps in gaining fertility, interpret their responsive religious experience as miraculously healing or punishing. Likewise, doctors, jurists, religious authorities and other involved helping professionals must be aware of the role and quality of their clients’ spiritual condition, which can be both constructive and destructive for the outcome of the treatment as well as the overall quality of their lives. In our contribution, we will firstly focus on methodological issues that we faced regarding the study of this unique topic. Then we will approach to the background of our topic: what are conceptions of the marriage and the progeny in Islam; then we will face a complex question of the diversity of the approaches to reproductive health in Islam, that makes the situation of the believing patient even harder; finally, we have to consider the shift in interpretation of diseases connected to reproductive health as God’s punishment, which changes religious acceptance clima a lot. Based on all above mentioned analyses, in the conclusion of this study we formulate our findings on what is spirituality present in particular religious experience and what is its quality, dimensions, authority and legality on it, and how it correlates to everyday praxis in Islam in regards to Muslim couples fighting infertility. About the authors Doc. PaedDr. ThDr. Monika Zaviš, PhD. , is a theologian and religious studies scholar with special interest in current bioethical issues of reproductive health in the world religions and spirituality in the context of psychology of religion and neuroscience. She is the faculty member of Department of Pedagogy and Social Pedagogy at the Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Her email contact is zavis@fedu.uniba.sk. Prof. PhDr. Pavel Procházka, PhD. , currently serves as Professor of Ethics at Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. His main area of expertise and research is applied theology in the inter-cultural and inter-religious settings. He is available at pavel.prochazka@umb.sk.
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