Preventing pregnancy for fear that the child will be born with a defect
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Fatwa number ( 5546 )
Q: I have a wife who is very closely related to me. She has given birth to two daughters (deaf, mute, and dumb), a daughter whose tongue is heavy, though she speaks to some extent, and two sons with weak vision. Upon examining the two daughters, they said that this is the result of the close relationship between you and your wife. For these reasons, I have refrained from sleeping with my family out of fear for the future, and contraceptive pills cause complications for my family. My question is: Does refraining from sleeping with my family incur sin for me, and what should I do when they are convinced of these reasons? May Allah reward you with good.
A: It is not permissible for you to rely on what the doctors mentioned in this matter; because they base their reports on conjecture, and in such a matter, their opinion is not accepted; because the birth of the expected child being deformed or deaf or the like is among the unseen matters that no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Therefore, it is not permissible for you to stop procreation or to avoid your wife for fear that a child with a defective constitution or deformity will be born to you. Rather, it is obligatory for you to rely and place your trust in Allah the Exalted, and to remember His saying (Mighty and Majestic):[Hud 11:6]
the verse, and you and your wife should ask your Lord to grant you righteous offspring, sound and free from every defect. He is the One who said (Glorified is He):[Ghafir 40:60] and He is the One who disposes of His servants as He wills. May Allah facilitate your affairs and grant you sound, righteous offspring, and rectify for you the offspring He has given you, and grant them well-being from what has befallen them, for He is capable of all things. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I have a wife who is very closely related to me. She has given birth to two daughters (deaf, mute, and dumb), a daughter whose tongue is heavy, though she speaks to some extent, and two sons with weak vision. Upon examining the two daughters, they said that this is the result of the close relationship between you and your wife. For these reasons, I have refrained from sleeping with my family out of fear for the future, and contraceptive pills cause complications for my family. My question is: Does refraining from sleeping with my family incur sin for me, and what should I do when they are convinced of these reasons? May Allah reward you with good.
A: It is not permissible for you to rely on what the doctors mentioned in this matter; because they base their reports on conjecture, and in such a matter, their opinion is not accepted; because the birth of the expected child being deformed or deaf or the like is among the unseen matters that no one knows except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Therefore, it is not permissible for you to stop procreation or to avoid your wife for fear that a child with a defective constitution or deformity will be born to you. Rather, it is obligatory for you to rely and place your trust in Allah the Exalted, and to remember His saying (Mighty and Majestic):
And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage
وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَاthe verse, and you and your wife should ask your Lord to grant you righteous offspring, sound and free from every defect. He is the One who said (Glorified is He):
Call upon Me; I will respond to you.
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.