The Ruling on Inserting an Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Question : Shaykh Muhammad, a woman is calling us on the line to inquire. She says: What is the ruling, in your view, regarding the insertion of the IUD for women? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer : It is known that inserting the IUD prevents pregnancy, and the best course is to avoid anything that prevents pregnancy. This is because having many children and offspring is something the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took pride in, as he said: “Marry those who are loving and fertile, meaning those who bear many children, for I will be boasting of you before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.” It is not befitting for the Muslim community to reduce its offspring; rather, it is required of them to increase their offspring. For this reason, Allah has blessed His servants with this, as He said to the Children of Israel: And Shu‘ayb said to his people: “And remember when you were few, so He multiplied you.” A large population is a source of strength for the community, not a cause of hardship in living, nor a cause of foolishness, as claimed by those who do not hold a good opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They say that having many children leads to increased spending and hardship in living, and that it leads to an inability to raise them. This is an error and misguidance. The more children there are, the more provision there is. Allah the Exalted said: It is not the case that the more children there are, the less control and upbringing they receive. How many people have only one child, and yet that child is one of the most foolish of the foolish? And how many people have many children, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has guided them to raise them well? I advise our brothers and sisters, men and women, who use anything that prevents pregnancy. I say that the more pregnancies there are, the better and more in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah. However, if there is a need, such as a woman who cannot bear a pregnancy every year and it is physically difficult for her, and the doctors have determined this, then there is no harm in her using the IUD, but only with the husband’s permission. If the husband refuses, she has no right to insert it, because the husband has a right to children. But according to what has reached us, when this IUD is inserted, the menstrual cycle becomes irregular and may increase; if it was seven or eight days, it may reach ten. So the woman should be aware of this, and if the number of menstrual days increases due to the insertion of the IUD, she should wait until she is pure. Then, when she is pure, she should perform the full ritual bath and pray.