Fatwa ID: 06946
Answered by: Mufti Syed Johir Miah
Question:
A sister has asked regarding the permissibility and impermissibility to Islamically take a break from having children and use contraceptive methods.
She was also saying that she feels as though it is difficult to look after her children and feel as though she can’t emotionally and mentally look after another if she was to become pregnant again.
She was also saying that does it go against something which is blessed from Allah SWT.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Islam encourages having children.
Sayyiduna Maqil Bin Yasar ( رضى الله عنه ) narrated that Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
تَزَوَّجُوا الوَدُودَ الوَلُودَ فَإنِّي مُكاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الأُمَمَ
“Marry women who are loving and very prolific, for I shall outnumber the peoples by you”.1
Under normal circumstances, irreversible contraception is absolutely prohibited in Islam.
Sayyiduna Saad Bin Abi Waqqas ( رضى الله عنه ) narrated that;
رَدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلى عُثْمانَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ التَّبَتُّلَ، ولَوْ أذِنَ لَهُ لاَخْتَصَيْنا
Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade Usman Bin Mazun ( رضى الله عنه ) to abstain from marrying (and other pleasures) and if he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had allowed him, we would have gotten ourselves castrated. 2
Sayyiduna Jabir ( رضى الله عنه ) relates;
«كُنّا نَعْزِلُ عَلى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ والقُرْآنُ يَنْزِلُ»
“We used to engage in contraception (Azl) while the Quran was being revealed”. 3
“It is disliked to engage in preventative ejaculation (Azl) with one’s wife without her consent. This is because intercourse with ejaculation is the method to having a child, and having a child is the right of a wife. By resorting to contraception, without her permission, having a child is prevented, which is akin to being a reason for not fulfilling her right. However, if the contraception was with the wife’s consent, then it is not disliked. In such a case, she will have voluntarily waived her right from it.”4
Where it has been approved by a specialist, practicing and a Muslim doctor that pregnancy may cause possible harm to the mother, contraception will be permitted.
Contraceptives such as; condoms, pills or other such methods which temporarily makes the woman incapable of conceiving is permissible.
However, it is impermissible to take any permanent methods, procedures or surgical procedures which are available.
Permanent contraception is permissible only if the woman’s life is in danger or her health is seriously permanently threatened and is advised by a practicing and a pious Muslim doctor.
Some of the reasons are:
Physical condition of a woman such as repeated pregnancies have an unwell impact on her physical condition and health.
Spacing out children in order to give them attention and adequate care.
On the contrary, if contraception is practiced due to the fear of poverty, then it will not be permitted: Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has said:
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلاقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُم إنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْءًا كَبِيرًا ﴿٣١﴾
“And do not kill your children for fear of poverty.” (Surah Bani Israeel, Verse 31)
In the aforementioned case, the sister can take a break from having children and would be permitted to practice contraceptive since she feels as though it is difficult to look after her children and feel as though she cannot emotionally and mentally look after another if she was to become pregnant again.
1 (وَشَرْطُ افْتِرَاضِهَا عَقْلٌ وَبُلُوغٌ وَإِسْلَامٌ وَحُرِّيَّةٌ)
ص259 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – كتاب الزكاة – المكتبة الشاملة
2 (قَوْلُهُ عَقْلٌ وَبُلُوغٌ) فَلَا تَجِبُ عَلَى مَجْنُونٍ وَصَبِيٍّ لِأَنَّهَا عِبَادَةٌ مَحْضَةٌ وَلَيْسَا مُخَاطَبَيْنِ بِهَا، وَإِيجَابُ النَّفَقَاتِ وَالْغَرَامَاتِ لِكَوْنِهَا مِنْ حُقُوقِ الْعِبَادِ وَالْعُشْرِ، وَصَدَقَةِ الْفِطْرِ لِأَنَّ فِيهِمَا مَعْنَى الْمُؤْنَةِ.
ص258 – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ط الحلبي – كتاب الزكاة – المكتبة الشاملة
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Mufti Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
