Is it permissible to limit childbirth in marital life, or is it not?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to limit childbirth in marital life, or is it not?
The Shaykh : The answer is that it is not permissible. Rather, it is prescribed that a person should have many children, for in that lies the increase of the Muslim community and the realization of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) boasting with his Ummah, and for the good and righteousness in it. Perhaps these children will be righteous and benefit their parents in their religion and worldly affairs.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Moreover, limiting offspring is not entirely up to a person in reality. A person may limit his offspring to four or five, and then these children may die, or some of them may die, leaving him childless or with few children.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, limiting offspring is not permissible. However, regulating it—meaning that instead of a woman giving birth twice in two years, she wishes to give birth once in two years for a legitimate Shari'ah interest—there is nothing wrong with that.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The following message is from the sender, a girl H.M.M.M. from al-Kharj.
The Shaykh : The answer is that it is not permissible. Rather, it is prescribed that a person should have many children, for in that lies the increase of the Muslim community and the realization of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) boasting with his Ummah, and for the good and righteousness in it. Perhaps these children will be righteous and benefit their parents in their religion and worldly affairs.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Moreover, limiting offspring is not entirely up to a person in reality. A person may limit his offspring to four or five, and then these children may die, or some of them may die, leaving him childless or with few children.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, limiting offspring is not permissible. However, regulating it—meaning that instead of a woman giving birth twice in two years, she wishes to give birth once in two years for a legitimate Shari'ah interest—there is nothing wrong with that.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The following message is from the sender, a girl H.M.M.M. from al-Kharj.