Birth control in islam

BIRTH CONTROL

Author: Shaykh Muhammad Bin Saalih al Uthaymeen

Source: Fataawa al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah and Liqaa al-Baab al-Maftooh

Published: January 2002

In response to a question on whether or not a woman can use birth control like the pill or coil, Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said:

What the Muslims should do is to have as many children as they can, because this is the command issued by the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) when he said:

"Marry the one who is loving and fertile, for I will be proud of your great numbers."

Because increasing the number of children increases the size of the Ummah, and being of great numbers is a source of pride, as Allaah said, reminding the Children of Israel of that:

"And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in man power"

And Shu'ayb (alayhis-salaam) said to his people:

"And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you"

No one would deny that if the Ummah is great in number this will lend it pride and strength. This is contrary to what is imagined by those who think evil thoughts, that the large numbers of the ummah is the cause of its poverty and hunger.

If the ummah increases in number and relies on Allaah, and believes in His promise, in the aayah:

"And no moving (living) creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah"

Then Allaah will make things easy for them and will grant them sufficient means from His Bounty.

On this basis, the answer to the question is as follows:

A woman should not use birth control pills unless the following two conditions are met:

• She should have a reason for that such as being sick and unable to bear a pregnancy every year, or being physically weak, or having other reasons why getting pregnant every year would be harmful for her.
• Her husband should give his permission, because the husband has the right to have children. This must also be done in consultation with a doctor, to find out whether taking these pills will be harmful to her or not.

If these two conditions are met, then it is OK for her to use these pills, but that should not be on a permanent basis, i.e., she should not use the type of birth control pills that prevent pregnancy permanently, because this is preventing progeny.

(Fataawa al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah, 2/657, 658)

Concerning the harms caused by contraception, the Shaykh (rahimahullaah) said:

Birth control pills: I have heard from a number of sources that doctors say they are harmful. Even if we do not know this from the doctors, we know it from ourselves, because preventing something natural that Allaah has created and decreed for the daughters of Aadam is undoubtedly harmful. Allaah is Wise, and He has only created this blood which flows at certain times for a reason. If we prevent it with these medicines, that is harmful without a doubt.

But I have heard that the matter is worse than we imagine, that they may be a means of damaging the womb, and a means of causing nervous disorders. This is something we must beware of.

(Liqaa al-Baab al-Maftooh, question no. 1147)