Encouraging the increase of offspring and the prohibition of limiting it

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, is there an encouragement to have many children?

Answer:
Yes, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Marry those who are loving and fertile." What is the fertile one? Seeking offspring and increasing the number of children is a desirable matter. Limiting the number of children is an action of the disbelievers. They do not practice it among themselves; rather, they practice it among the Muslims to reduce the number of Muslims. Those who accept this rumor do so either from weakness in their faith or because they are ignorant. They accept this rumor regarding limiting offspring.
It is not permissible to limit the number of children. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged having many children, specifically a large number of Muslims. As for provision, their sustenance is from Allah. This is why, during the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah), they used to kill their children out of fear of poverty. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) forbade that for them. He said: . Meaning, only. . And in the other verse: . Yes.