His Eminence the Shaykh: Some women use birth control pills for many years until they reach menopause, and this is for a strong reason.
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The questioner : The questioner, Umm Mujahid from Riyadh, says: His Eminence the Shaykh, some women use birth control pills for many years until they reach menopause, and this is for a strong reason. Because her husband is a capable and wealthy man who does not provide for her or her sons and daughters. He is married to three women and does not treat them with justice. He has eleven daughters and six sons from them, so he does not care about raising them or looking after them, nor does he care about providing for their food, drink, clothing, and housing. One of his wives had to sell her gold.
The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The questioner : So that she could spend from it on her children's education and providing them with food and drink. She is uneducated and illiterate, and sometimes she acted as a nanny for her employed sister's children, for which her sister gave her a small amount of money in exchange for this childcare. Is there any sin on this woman for using these pills for many years, given that she cannot bear the responsibility alone of raising the children and providing for them? Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : Before giving the ruling, I say that it is obligatory for the husband to provide for his wives and his children, both sons and daughters, if he is able to do so. Let him know that if he spends his money in fulfilling the obligatory duty of maintenance during his lifetime, he will be safe from the harm of wealth and the sin of wealth. If he does not do so, it will be taken from him after his death by force, and he will bear the sin, may Allah protect us from that. He will gather the blame of these people whom he was stingy with during his life. So he should fear Allah and fulfill the obligatory duty of providing for the three wives and their children, both sons and daughters. If he does not do so, each one is permitted to take from his money without his knowledge what is sufficient for her and her children, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ruled for Hind bint 'Utbah when she complained to him that her husband was stingy and did not give her what was sufficient for her and her children. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) permitted her to take from his money what is sufficient for her and her children.
As for the ruling, I say: Do not use birth control pills. Do not use birth control pills in order to reduce the number of children, meaning to have fewer children. For their sustenance is with Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and the more children there are, the more doors of sustenance open up. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:[Hud 11:6] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:31] And in the second verse He said: [Al-An'am 6:151] But the abundance of sustenance through many children has an important condition, which is the fear of Allah and sincere reliance upon Him. As Allah the Exalted said: [At-Talaq 65:2-3] And as He the Exalted said: [At-Talaq 65:3] So I say to this questioner: Do not use birth control pills. Seek help from Allah and rely upon Him. Know that the sustenance of your children is not in your hands, but in the hands of the One who created them, Exalted and Majestic is He. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you for this blessed guidance, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
The questioner : So that she could spend from it on her children's education and providing them with food and drink. She is uneducated and illiterate, and sometimes she acted as a nanny for her employed sister's children, for which her sister gave her a small amount of money in exchange for this childcare. Is there any sin on this woman for using these pills for many years, given that she cannot bear the responsibility alone of raising the children and providing for them? Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you?
The Shaykh : Before giving the ruling, I say that it is obligatory for the husband to provide for his wives and his children, both sons and daughters, if he is able to do so. Let him know that if he spends his money in fulfilling the obligatory duty of maintenance during his lifetime, he will be safe from the harm of wealth and the sin of wealth. If he does not do so, it will be taken from him after his death by force, and he will bear the sin, may Allah protect us from that. He will gather the blame of these people whom he was stingy with during his life. So he should fear Allah and fulfill the obligatory duty of providing for the three wives and their children, both sons and daughters. If he does not do so, each one is permitted to take from his money without his knowledge what is sufficient for her and her children, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ruled for Hind bint 'Utbah when she complained to him that her husband was stingy and did not give her what was sufficient for her and her children. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) permitted her to take from his money what is sufficient for her and her children.
As for the ruling, I say: Do not use birth control pills. Do not use birth control pills in order to reduce the number of children, meaning to have fewer children. For their sustenance is with Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and the more children there are, the more doors of sustenance open up. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He 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. All is in a clear register.
وَما مِن دابَّةٍ فِي الأَرضِ إِلّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزقُها وَيَعلَمُ مُستَقَرَّها وَمُستَودَعَها كُلٌّ في كِتابٍ مُبينٍAnd do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you
وَلا تَقتُلوا أَولادَكُم خَشيَةَ إِملاقٍ نَحنُ نَرزُقُهُم وَإِيّاكُمand do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them
وَلا تَقتُلوا أَولادَكُم مِن إِملاقٍ نَحنُ نَرزُقُكُم وَإِيّاهُمAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجعَل لَهُ مَخرَجًا * وَيَرزُقهُ مِن حَيثُ لا يَحتَسِبُAnd whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
وَمَن يَتَوَكَّل عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بالِغُ أَمرِهِ قَد جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيءٍ قَدرًاThe questioner : May Allah reward you for this blessed guidance, O Shaykh.