The Ruling on Obeying a Husband Who Prohibits Childbearing

Question:
And may Allah bless you. A questioner from Jordan, a woman, says: Honorable Shaykh, I have been married for ten years and I have two children. Now I say: I desire to have more children, but my husband does not want any more children. He says the reason is that he wants to protect me from fatigue and exhaustion, and from the problems of children and childbirth and their crying. He wants me to devote myself to raising these two children for the rest of my life. He says that I am content with that. So, am I to obey my husband in what he says? And is there a sin on me from the Shari'ah perspective?

Answer:
Childbearing is required, and having children is required by the Shari'ah. It is not permissible to limit offspring, so do not obey your husband in this invalid idea, and do not agree with him on it. Because the desire for children and having children is intended by the Shari'ah; the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged it. The idea of birth control came from the West, and from the enemies who want to reduce the number of Muslims and weaken them. So this idea spread in the minds of people with weak faith. Yes.