Fatwa ID: 06460

Answered by: Maulana Abdul Malik

Question:

I have three children and my husband wants to have two more children I want children too but I am afraid because having a baby is a difficult period. When I had my third child I was pregnant and sick. Now I don’t feel healthy even in normal conditions due to age. So can I stop my husband from having more children?

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

Answer:

Children are indeed a great blessing from Allah and they should be viewed in this manner. one of the main aims of marriage in Islam is procreation. Muslims are encouraged to have many children so that the ummah of the messenger of Allah (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) will be increased.

It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast of your great numbers” (Sunan an Nasai, hadith 3227)

Islam encourages its followers to abstain from birth control. However, whenever there’s a genuine reason, temporary contraception will be permissible. As for permanent contraception, this will not be permissible. Temporary contraception must be done with the permission of the wife.

Some genuine reasons that would make temporary contraception permissible are;

• Health risks to mothers and children.

• The life of the mother is endangered by becoming pregnant.

• Repeated pregnancies weaken the mother’s body.

• If another pregnancy would seriously affect the care and upbringing of the existing child.
If these conditions are present then temporary contraception will be allowed.

In conclusion, if having more children will be a health risk for the mother then this is a genuine reason for temporary contraception. You should sit and discuss your health situation with your husband in a respectful way so that he will be aware of the implications of having more children and the negative effects that it will have on your health.

Hopefully with dialogue between each other both of you will find a suitable solution insha Allah.

Reference:

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وسلم):”تزوجوا الولود الودود فإني مكاثر بكم”

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdul Malik

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham