Fatwa ID: 07672

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah limvoonheek

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum wrwb.

The question is about a married couple relative. They are in their early 50s and do not feel like they are ready to have any more children due to various external factors.

The couple had relations last night. They are wondering if it is jaaiz to have emergency contraception to try prevent a pregnancy. Medically, although there is a chance that a fetus might have developed in less than 24h, it is unlikely, but not impossible. The emergency contraception would be aimed at preventing a fetus forming in the first place, and would not be classified as an abortion of a fetus which has already been developed in the last 24h since their relation last night the 24th June. If the fetus has already developed, then this emergency contraception would also destroy this fetus and that would be called an abortion. Would any of these be jaaiz?

Also, this emergency contraception would be in the form of a copper coil which is a small device inserted inside the woman’s uterus by a doctor. The device would remain in place for as long as a patient wants. However, if the patient wants it removed, then it will be removed no earlier than 3 weeks after insertion. If the patient wants to keep it, then it can be left on permanently for at least 5 years and it will also act as ongoing contraception. Is this jaaiz?

جزاك اللهُ خيرًا

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa alaikumus salaam

The purpose of marriage is to procreate and to increase the number in the ummah. As Allah says in the Quran (Surah Baqarah Ayah 187):

“So now hold intercourse with your wives and seek (the children) what Allah has ordained for you.”

In the hadith it is also mentioned, when a person gets married then he should choose a spouse who is loving and can reproduce.

However due to some necessity, temporary methods of contraception is only permissible with the permission of the wife and under some valid Shar’ee reasons

Therefore if there is a dire need, then one can adopt contraception. The method you mention is permissible but disliked and discouraged by the scholars. Because one will have to expose the Awrah for the doctor to insert it. This should be done in dire necessity.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdoullah limvoonheek

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

Reference:

وَقَوْلُهُ: وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَنَسٌ وَشُرَيْحٌ الْقَاضِي وَمُجَاهِدٌ وَعِكْرِمَةُ وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ وَعَطَاءٌ وَالرَّبِيعُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَالسُّدِّيُّ وَزَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ وَالْحَكَمُ بْنُ عُتْبَةَ وَمُقَاتِلُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ وَالْحَسَنُ الْبَصْرِيُّ وَالضَّحَّاكُ وَقَتَادَةُ وَغَيْرُهُمْ: يَعْنِي الْوَلَدَ

تفسير ابن كثير ج١ ص٣٧٧

عَنْ مَعْقِلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ امْرَأَةً ذَاتَ حَسَبٍ وَجَمَالٍ وَإِنَّهَا لاَ تَلِدُ أَفَأَتَزَوَّجُهَا قَالَ ‏”‏ لاَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّانِيَةَ فَنَهَاهُ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ تَزَوَّجُوا الْوَدُودَ الْوَلُودَ فَإِنِّي مُكَاثِرٌ بِكُمُ الأُمَمَ ‏”

Sunan Abi dawood hadith 2050

عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ يَنْظُرُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَلاَ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى عَوْرَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَلاَ يُفْضِي الرَّجُلُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ وَلاَ تُفْضِي الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْمَرْأَةِ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ ‏”‏ ‏

Sahih Muslim hadith 338