Author:
Laila Nasheeba
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Date Posted: 06:04:47 08/20/02 Tue
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As Salaamu Alaikoum,
Praise be to Allah.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
What the Muslims should do is to have as many children as they can, because this is the command issued by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in man‑power” [al-Israa’ 17:6]
And Shu’ayb said to his people:
“ ‘And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you’”
[al-A’raaf 7:86 – interpretation of the meaning]
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” [Hood 11:6 – interpretation of the meaning], 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:
(1) 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.
(2) 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)
AND ALLAH KNOWS BEST
Laila Nasheeba
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