Ruling on the Use of Birth Control Pills

Your Eminence! Some women say: I want to take birth control pills until my child is weaned. Is there any prohibition for me in doing so?

First: May Allah reward you! I have been informed by several doctors that birth control pills are harmful. Even if we did not know this from the doctors, we know it from our own understanding; because preventing the natural thing that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) created and decreed for the daughters of Adam is undoubtedly harm. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is Wise; He did not cause this blood to be discharged by the veins at a specific time in a specific manner except for a wise purpose. Therefore, preventing it with these medications is undoubtedly harmful. However, I have been informed that the matter is worse than we imagine, and that it may be a cause of uterine damage, a cause of deformity in the fetus, and a cause of nervous diseases. All of this necessitates caution regarding it.
There are other methods of contraception that are easier than this, but the second point, or the second level, remains to be considered: Is it desirable to reduce pregnancy?Answer: No.
The more offspring there are, the better it is; especially since we are now in a time when we must increase the offspring of the Salafi community so that it is capable of facing its enemies. So the matter is not viewed from the perspective of worldly life only. And indeed, a person fears that the luxury which contradicts the Shari'ah will lead to being said about him on the Day of Resurrection: [Al-Waqi'ah: 45] .
Do not think that everything is comfort in this world. This world is a temporary enjoyment, and a woman must toil [Al-Ahqaf: 15] .
[Luqman: 14] So I do not see that we should ever reduce the number of offspring. Rather, we should be patient and count it as a good deed. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) helps a person according to his capacity. But sometimes a woman is ill and cannot bear pregnancy every year; in that case, there is no harm in preventing pregnancy every year; either through coitus interruptus, which the Companions practiced, or through another method by consulting doctors. Then, a woman is not permitted to use anything that prevents pregnancy absolutely without the husband's consent; because the husband has a right to children.
And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions.