What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding limiting the number of children for a temporary period without a pressing need for it, except that the woman simply wants to rest from the burden of annual pregnancy?
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The questioner : He asks about the ruling of the Shari'ah, in your view, O honorable Shaykh, regarding limiting the number of children for a temporary period without a pressing need for it, except that the woman simply wants to rest from the burden of annual pregnancy. He also asks about the claim of the enemies of Islam regarding population explosion?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. This is an important question, and that is because the enemies of the Muslims have confused the Muslims regarding the increase in offspring. They have deluded them into thinking that an increase in offspring leads to economic hardship and crises for the government and for individuals. It is well known that this, namely economic hardship and crises, causes chaos, aggression, and encroachment by people upon one another. They portray an increase in offspring in a frightening and terrifying manner, and those weak in character and faith imagine that this is a real matter. If a person had strength in faith and reliance upon Allah, he would know that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, will not create a creature without having undertaken to provide for his sustenance, as Allah the Exalted said:[Hud 11:6] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:31] And He the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:151].
And if the believer knows that an increase in offspring is a cause for an increase in sustenance, because if the community increases, that is a source of honor for it and a cause for its self-sufficiency without needing others. For this reason, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, favored the Children of Israel by increasing their numbers. He the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:6] And Shu'ayb reminded his people of this, saying: [Al-A'raf 7:86] And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: A woman who bears many children is one who gives birth frequently. So whenever the Muslim community increases, that is a source of honor for it, and that is a cause for its awe among the nations, and that is a cause for its self-sufficiency without needing others, as is apparent and known. Based on this, what is recommended for the ... is to strive for an increase in the ... I address both the man and the woman with this, and it is not recommended for them to attempt to have few children.
As for what the questioner mentioned regarding family planning, the truth is that this ... that a person should regulate his offspring, and that the woman's childbirth should be between one year and another, meaning one year for childbirth and one year for no childbirth. But the truth is that this matter is not up to the human being. A person may regulate it in this way, but he may not get what he desires. Perhaps the pregnancy will be delayed in the year in which he wants it to occur, or perhaps the children who were with him will die. If the children die and Allah, Mighty and Majestic, does not will that the woman give birth after that, she remains without children. Yes, if it is assumed that the woman needs this, such as if she is weak in constitution and cannot bear a child every year except with unusual hardship, then this is a reason that justifies for her to regulate her pregnancy. And even so, this is not to be done except with the permission of the husband. If the husband prevents that, the right is his. Similarly, if the husband asks her to use what prevents pregnancy, she is not obligated to accept that. Each of the spouses has a right ... For this reason, the scholars said: It is forbidden for a man to practice coitus interruptus with his free wife except with her permission, because she has a right to a child. And the stronger opinion is that if it is established that the husband is sterile, the wife has the right to annul the marriage, because she has a right to a child.
As for what the questioner mentioned regarding the statement of the enemies of Islam.
The questioner : Population explosion.
The Shaykh : Population explosion, or population inflation, or something similar to that. This is, as I pointed out at the beginning of the answer, an exaggeration of the matter by the enemies of Islam toward the Muslim. It is obligatory upon the Muslim not to be deceived by these people and their exaggerations, and to know that they are enemies, as Allah described them in His saying:[Al-Mumtahanah 60:1] The disbeliever is an enemy to the Muslim, whoever he is, in any time and in any place. For this reason, it is obligatory upon the believer not to trust him in anything, and to know that he, the disbeliever, if he does something that is in the interest of the Muslims, he will gain for himself from behind it what is more and more of the benefits ...
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. The listener E N F H from Qatar sent a message.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. This is an important question, and that is because the enemies of the Muslims have confused the Muslims regarding the increase in offspring. They have deluded them into thinking that an increase in offspring leads to economic hardship and crises for the government and for individuals. It is well known that this, namely economic hardship and crises, causes chaos, aggression, and encroachment by people upon one another. They portray an increase in offspring in a frightening and terrifying manner, and those weak in character and faith imagine that this is a real matter. If a person had strength in faith and reliance upon Allah, he would know that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, will not create a creature without having undertaken to provide for his sustenance, as Allah the Exalted said:
And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage
وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَاAnd do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.
وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلاقٍ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْئًا كَبِيرًاand do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them
وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ مِنْ إِمْلاقٍ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْAnd if the believer knows that an increase in offspring is a cause for an increase in sustenance, because if the community increases, that is a source of honor for it and a cause for its self-sufficiency without needing others. For this reason, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, favored the Children of Israel by increasing their numbers. He the Exalted said:
and made you more numerous in manpower
وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًاAnd remember when you were few and He increased you
وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ كُنتُمْ قَلِيلًا فَكَثَّرَكُمْMarry the loving and fertile women
تزوجوا الودود الولودAs for what the questioner mentioned regarding family planning, the truth is that this ... that a person should regulate his offspring, and that the woman's childbirth should be between one year and another, meaning one year for childbirth and one year for no childbirth. But the truth is that this matter is not up to the human being. A person may regulate it in this way, but he may not get what he desires. Perhaps the pregnancy will be delayed in the year in which he wants it to occur, or perhaps the children who were with him will die. If the children die and Allah, Mighty and Majestic, does not will that the woman give birth after that, she remains without children. Yes, if it is assumed that the woman needs this, such as if she is weak in constitution and cannot bear a child every year except with unusual hardship, then this is a reason that justifies for her to regulate her pregnancy. And even so, this is not to be done except with the permission of the husband. If the husband prevents that, the right is his. Similarly, if the husband asks her to use what prevents pregnancy, she is not obligated to accept that. Each of the spouses has a right ... For this reason, the scholars said: It is forbidden for a man to practice coitus interruptus with his free wife except with her permission, because she has a right to a child. And the stronger opinion is that if it is established that the husband is sterile, the wife has the right to annul the marriage, because she has a right to a child.
As for what the questioner mentioned regarding the statement of the enemies of Islam.
The questioner : Population explosion.
The Shaykh : Population explosion, or population inflation, or something similar to that. This is, as I pointed out at the beginning of the answer, an exaggeration of the matter by the enemies of Islam toward the Muslim. It is obligatory upon the Muslim not to be deceived by these people and their exaggerations, and to know that they are enemies, as Allah described them in His saying:
O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا لا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. The listener E N F H from Qatar sent a message.