Medical Issues: Is Gender Reassignment Surgery Permissible in Islam?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Medical Issues: Is Gender Reassignment Surgery Permissible in Islam?

English:

Question #1271:

Is it allowed to undergo an operation in order to change one’s gender?

Answer #1271:

It is not permissible to change gender unless it is proven through convincing scientific and customary methods that the external organs and body parts are contrary to the real gender. In this case, it is permissible per se to change and adapt the external organs to the real gender. Also if the true gender is not determined even by scientific tests and the applicant is in a state of extreme mental distress, the permissibility of the said action is not unlikely.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Medical Issues