What is the ruling on delaying pregnancy and childbirth for the purpose of taking a leave from teaching?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
She says: Some teachers arrange their childbirth, with Allah’s permission, during the school term so that they can obtain a sixty-day leave. Is that permissible for them, even though some lessons are delayed for the students?
The Shaykh:
If the intention is that she takes medication to delay the pregnancy so that the birth occurs, in her opinion, according to her circumstances, then this is nonsense and among the matters that may harm her health. She should rely on Allah and leave the pregnancy as it is, and not take anything that prolongs or delays the pregnancy, due to the harms involved and because it prevents the pregnancy. Pregnancy is required in Islam, except if she fears harm to her health. If she fears harm to her health, and the doctors determine that there is harm from consecutive pregnancies, then there is no harm in her taking what delays it for her until she is able to bear it. Yes.
The questioner:
It seems she is asking about intentionally taking the leave, Shaykh, intentionally arranging it so she can get the leave from work and call the student?
The Shaykh:
The leave is according to the system; she takes from the leaves what the state’s system permits. Yes.
The questioner:
If she intends to arrange the birth so that she can catch the leave according to the system.
The Shaykh:
The important thing is that the matter of leaves is according to the system; she takes from them what the system permits for her. Yes.
She says: Some teachers arrange their childbirth, with Allah’s permission, during the school term so that they can obtain a sixty-day leave. Is that permissible for them, even though some lessons are delayed for the students?
The Shaykh:
If the intention is that she takes medication to delay the pregnancy so that the birth occurs, in her opinion, according to her circumstances, then this is nonsense and among the matters that may harm her health. She should rely on Allah and leave the pregnancy as it is, and not take anything that prolongs or delays the pregnancy, due to the harms involved and because it prevents the pregnancy. Pregnancy is required in Islam, except if she fears harm to her health. If she fears harm to her health, and the doctors determine that there is harm from consecutive pregnancies, then there is no harm in her taking what delays it for her until she is able to bear it. Yes.
The questioner:
It seems she is asking about intentionally taking the leave, Shaykh, intentionally arranging it so she can get the leave from work and call the student?
The Shaykh:
The leave is according to the system; she takes from the leaves what the state’s system permits. Yes.
The questioner:
If she intends to arrange the birth so that she can catch the leave according to the system.
The Shaykh:
The important thing is that the matter of leaves is according to the system; she takes from them what the system permits for her. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 5683- ما حكم تأخير الحمل والولادة لغرض أخذ إجازة من التدريس؟ - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.