Family Planning

[Writer]

What is the ruling on

1. Family Planning
2. Contraceptives

Can a state publicize that "Small Family Healthy Home" Concept...isnt this Kufr that if one has a small family then one is not going to be poor...and can a state dictate this to people>

[Noor ul Islam]

AssalaamuAlaikum
No it is not permissible to use birth control measures due to the fear of poverty. The state cannot dictate people to do so.Wassalaam

[Hamood]

What is the ruling on

1. Family Planning
2. Contraceptives



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

First of all, it should be known that, one of the main aims of marriage in Islam is procreation. Islam encourages its followers to reproduce in large numbers in order to increase the size of the Ummah of our Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace).

Allah Most High says in the Qur’an:

“So now hold intercourse with your wives and seek (the children) what Allah has ordained for you.” ( Surah al-Baqarah, V: 187)

In a Hadith recorded by Imam Abu Dawud, Imam an-Nasa'i and others, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Marry women who are loving and reproduce in abundance, for I shall outnumber the other nations by you.”

It is clear from the above, that Shariah encourages its followers to abstain from practicing birth control, especially, when it is given a formal, organized and general approach. Therefore, one should refrain from practicing contraception unless necessary.

As far as the Shar’i ruling is concerned, there are two categories of birth control and the ruling of each is different. The ruling of each category is as follows:

1) Permanent Irreversible Contraception

This type of contraception is carried out when the couple decide never to have a baby. It is done with a sterilization operation carried out either on the man (Vasectomy) or the woman (Tubectomy) and renders the couple incapable of ever having children.

The ruling with regards to this is that, it is unlawful (Haram) to carry out such operations. There are many Narrations of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and clear texts of the Fuqaha (Jurists) which determine this.

The Companion, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) said:

“We use engage in Jihad in the company of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) and our wives did not accompany us. We said: O Prophet of Allah! Shall we not castrate ourselves? He forbade us from doing so.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

The great Hanafi Jurist, Allama Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) says:

“Castration of humans is Haram.” (Radd al-Muhtar).

Imam al-Ayni (Allah have mercy on him) says:

“Castration (and sterilization, m) is prohibited with the consensus of all the scholars.” (Umdat al-Qari)

However, in cases of extreme necessity, Irreversible contraception will become permissible. For example, a woman’s life is in danger or repeated pregnancies gravely damage her health, etc. This however, should be advised by a Muslim qualified doctor.

2) Temporary Reversible Contraception

There are many methods by which reversible contraception can be performed. Coitus interruptus (Withdrawal method), the pill, using of the condom, i.u.d, spermicidal, just to mention a few.

The ruling on reversible contraception is that, it is somewhat disliked (makruh tanzihan) if practiced without any reason. If there is a genuine reason, then it will be totally permissible with the permission of the wife. Some of the reasons (for the permissibility of reversible contraception), which the Fuqaha mention, are:

a) Physical state of the woman,

b) Weakness and illness,

c) The couple are on a distant journey,

d) The couple’s relations are unstable and divorce is likely,

e) Spacing out children in order to give them adequate care and attention,

If contraception is practiced due to a reason contrary to the teachings of Shariah, then it will not be permissible. Some of these reasons are:

a) Fear of poverty and not being able to provide,

b) For the fashion of keeping small families and imitating the Kuffar,

c) Being ashamed of having a girl,

There are many narrations from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) which signify the permissibility of reversible contraception, but at the same time indicate it to be undesirable.

Sayyiduna Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) says: “We used to practice Coitus interruptus (Withdrawal method) while the Qur’an was being revealed. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) knew of this and did not prohibit us.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim )

This has more or less been mentioned by the scholars in their books. (See Imam Nawawi in his commentary of Sahih Muslim, Mulla Ali al-Qari in al-Mirqat, Ibn Abidin in his Radd al-Muhtar and others.

For more details, please refer to my book on this subject titled Birth Control and Abortion (Revised Edition) (http://www.al-rashad.com/Birth-Control-Abortion-in-Islam/), available from the Darul Iftaa, Leicester, UK.

And Allah Knows Best

[mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

Source: Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence
http://daruliftaa.com/question.asp?txt_QuestionID=q-07335091

[AbulAsad]

Thanks it is really helpful for brother like me who are getting married soon inshaAllah'

[maymunah]

assalamu alaikum,

i'd like to make a point. It's all very well for brothers who don't have or carry a baby for almost a year that women should have babies non stop like machines, and not even consider how she will provide for them. Yes Allah ultimately provides but we have to work hard for it, it;s not given to us on a plate. That should be considered. Having children is a great responsibility it shouldn't be perceived as numbers, rather the quality of life we can give each of them.

When you have your first child brother you will know exactly what i am harking on about.

I'm not pro small families or pro large families, i'm not even thinking about how many children i want time will tell, Allah knows best. However i do know it takes its toll on both husband and wife, it is an extremely demanding job it's not to be taken lightly. For women the physical strains are unbelieavable. Some women cope better than others, and having an extended family helps a great deal.

personally i've had one and i'm due to have another. I left very little gap between and to be honest i am totally drained. For my own physical and mental health i really think i need to take a few years break from having any more kids. That's surely no sin? Allah can see my dilemma so i'm not so concerned about certain men who say i shouldn't be using contraception at all.

I don't agree with the usage of the pill though, far too many side effects, but each to their own.

[Writer]

Thanks it is really helpful for brother like me who are getting married soon inshaAllah'

So the Family Planning Association of Pakistan, Green Star and the rest of the Gang of International Donors like UNFPA should be told this...

Because we conduct trainings in family planning NOT AS A OPTION for parents but as a NECESSITTY for population control...the motto of all these groups is that MORE CHILDREN MORE POVERTY...and to scare away the parents they show videos of dying children and hungry children holding out their hand for food because their parents have a large family and cannot provide...

What is to be done then?

[UmmIbrahimIsa]

However, in cases of extreme necessity, Irreversible contraception will become permissible. For example, a woman’s life is in danger or repeated pregnancies gravely damage her health, etc. This however, should be advised by a Muslim qualified doctor.


Assalamu alaikum wr wb

Yup. And people should understand this part.

It seems a lot of people rather assume the worst or point fingers than to know that there are some exceptions in these dire cases.

Allahu Alim

As for the advice someone is asking for help on, this is still not a good thing to do is scare them into that.
There are ways to still provide for the kids. I see a family that lives in a tiny one room house, their house is like a tent like hut. That's where they sleep, they have a tiny little hole for their washroom needs, and a small little place to prepare their food.
I wonder how a family of 6 can live in this tiny place. Don't they have any privacy? Where do they manage to keep their other things? Do they even have other things? Do they even have a NEED to have other things? Where's the proper bathroom facilities? Do they actually need it? Same for their kitchen, do they have the proper equipments and appliances? I think they still manage to survive and not complain.

I know some neighbors give them bread and sometimes more and these people are so generous as they do not ask for anything except dua'ahs.

Now if these people can live like that patiently through Allah's tests, than others can see their life as an example and try to do the same.
However for those that are raised in households in where they're given all that they can, then it is harder for them and I can honestly say for me it would be hard as I was raised a certain way. And these people are raised a certain way to know not to expect too much and just be grateful and appreciative for the things that they have in this short life here.

Allahu Alim

[MHU]

Well, if u make a trip to Pakistan or India.......u will see how people survive in one small room. I have seen 5 boys living in one room and three girls in the other with the parents sleeping with two lil newborns. All in two bedroom apartment. Honestly though......once you have lived like that once......you really realize how much time and money we really waste on making houses and homes.....for ourselves.

Okay.......now what I am about to say next may really offend some people......but so be it:cheesygri

Having a seperate room for each child is NOOTTTTTTT a neccesity. Homes with lots of space and roomy behaviour is also not a necessity. An area to eat in......an area to have the guest come and sit, an area to sleep, an area to sleep and lastly an area for the washroom. Personally, I think I have been spoiled all my life with a room, indeed I am thankful Alhamdulilah, but I think my parents gave it tooo much attention. They were going out on limbs to make ends meet because they wanted to have a four bedroom house. I am pretty sure in the Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) time there were no 4 or 5 bedroom places and most of the children stayed with their mothers. I know it is a task but our whole way of thinking has really gone bad.......the fact that we CANT live in those situations is really bad. I say, if you can EASILY afford it, then go and have those extra rooms, but do not make it the first priority..obviously. Some of our most respected scholars and elders have come from those houses with over crammed rooms. I am not saying we should stuff 6 kids in one room but 2 or 3 young boys....not too old in one room seems pretty okay. The first thing that most couples do before they have any kids is decide to get a bigger place, a lot of things in our lives need to be scraped because we need to put our money towards Islam and helping other people instead of the big portions going towards my house and my stomach. It may sound extreme but I personally have tried all these things, sharing rooms.....sleeping on the bare floor....sleeping on the streets even..in the cold winter of CAnada and the hot summers.....living in a stairwell......having NOOOOO privacy....etc. I only did these things not because I am a weird junkie, but because I wanted to appreciate on what I had and just be able to live with it. Planning is always good, planning ahead is good too, but planning for everything can sometimes batter our faith. Sometimes we really just need to have faith in Allah that everything goes well, because in the several experiences I have had.......I was visiting Pakistan when those earthquakes hit and luckily my uncle is a Associated Press Reporter.....so i got the helicopter treatment down to where the broken houses and torn buildings were. Everyone in SIGHT was helping to uncover living and dead people.......and it was just horrific. Even the reporters put the cameras and mics down to help........it was so devasting actually being there. It was the first time I had been at a natural disaster...Ahzab from Allah....because the rest of time I usually watched this stuff online......and it was a really bad experience that gave me several nightmares after. So my point was......that those people all worked for those homes and houses........and in an instant their lives, children, families and houses were all gone. Everything they had planned for, and no1 is safe from Ahzab or death in this world and it may hit anytime so we have to make sure our time and money is spent in the MAJORITY of ibadat and worship. It is all soooo easy to say and I am still on my path but ever since I have been striving to experience these things, I never complain about anything......not food, not cold or injuries, I try to thank Allah that he has given me LIFE and yet another chance. I have lots more work to do in my own life and with my family.

وَمَكَرُواْ وَمَكَرَ اللّهُ وَاللّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ

And they plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah.

Surah Ala E Imran - Ayat 54

So in closing.......plan to have children but dont make things and situations impossible. The more important thing would be the mental prep and not the financial prep, keep your kids safe but not in diamond boxes, save and spend on your house but not all your income, donate to actual poor people and not just some fundraising dinners, grab a homeless guy and feed him a meal.....dont give him money though..lol, if you live in the East part of the world then there is NO limitation to what good and help you can give to people around you. I wish I had a Billion.....but circumstances where I could only give and not keep any myself because I take it to the heart when I see a hungry child or an old working man.

[Noor ul Islam]

AssalaamuAlaikum
Quran has clearly prohibited the the act of controlling birth due to the fear of poverty. For other valid reaons(health etc) it is prmissible.

[AbulAsad]

Why taking just india and pakistan as an example, in every country who is in developing or below poverty line has same problem, i have seen many muslim families happy having more than 3 children and living with all basic needs Alhamdulillah.
Bro MHU im agreed partially with you, fate of a person can be one reason too

[maymunah]

erm on the issue of overcrowding, what's so enviable and praiseworthy about that? I'm sure if ppl could afford they would rather their girls and boys had separte sleeping quarters, it is a necessity for girls and boys who have reached the age of puberty they "need" their privacy.

If due to poverty this can't be done then they will have to make do with a curtain for separation which is better than nothing.

But an average person living say in the west on a basic salary can afford to give their mature children separate quarters to sleep in, there's no excuse for cramming them together, it's not right :confused:

I agree every kid does not need a separate room. If it's fairly well sized room boys can share one room, girls another.

Currently i'm managing with a two bed boxed house. However with another baby on the way there is no room to keep two babies in my bedroom. The newborn will be awake more regular for feeds anyway and disturb the others sleep, and i don't want to sleep with a small baby next to me, i;m, not used to this, and i don't wana get the child comfortable with this habit either for varuous reasons.

so i will have to slog it out straight after birth downstairs on the sofa with newborn in a crib next to me. Do i want a house with another room yes? Is that being greedy i don't think so. Currently there is no space to even accomodate babies clothing and other equipment.

Am i worse off than ppl in third world countries no, but is it fair to compare our standards of living with theirs? it's hardly realistic is it?

As for crammed houses i know all about that. I;m one of seven children. Parents were poor when they came to the uk. Father worked in a factory. First 3 of my siblings along with my mother lived out of one room in a three bed house. In those days each room was classed as a flat, and the bathroom and kitchen had to be shared with strangers. usually non muslims. So my older siblings suffered, my parents suffered. by the time i was born there were six children in all. Boys and girls were sharing rooms when they really needed their privacy. Some of us shared with our mum and dad, what of our parents privacy?

This isn't a pleasant situation i lived like this most my teen life, i had no privacy. Only when my elder sis got married did i get my own room, but even then my mother made a huge deal about it, said i needed to share with some of my brothers. But since i was the only girl left i thght it was my right to get the privacy not the boys, they could share cramped rooms together without a problem.

So i figure why should i lived crammed like this now when i don't have to? When the government will provide council housing? I;m not gona get a mortage to buy a house i'll take council accomodation gladly long as i get the space required. sadly most ppl look down on council housing they see it as a status thing to have their own house, so they will incur interest to buy one, and debt.