What is the ruling on taking contraceptive pills and inserting the IUD, and what is prescribed in this matter?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. A woman asks: Is it permissible for a woman to insert what is called the IUD? Is it permissible or forbidden? And is the use of contraceptive pills permissible or not? If the latter, what is prescribed in that case?
The Shaykh : First, we should know that our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged having many children, saying: And if the Messenger encourages that, we should not deviate from what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged. There is no doubt that having many children is a source of strength for the Ummah. For this reason, Shu'ayb mentioned this to his people, saying: [Al-A'raf 7:86] What? And Allah granted the Children of Israel this blessing, saying: [Al-Isra 17:6] So, the more numerous the Ummah becomes, the more that contributes to its self-sufficiency, its strength, and its prestige among the nations.
However, need may call for reducing... for not becoming pregnant. For example, if the mother is ill or physically weak and cannot bear a child every year, then in that case, we use what prevents pregnancy for a specific period. One such method is 'azl (coitus interruptus), where the man withdraws from the woman. It is reported that The meaning of 'azl is that when a man has intercourse with his wife and intends to ejaculate, he withdraws from her so that the ejaculated fluid does not enter the woman's womb.
The second method is the IUD method. If there is a need for it, there is no harm in it.
The third method is the pill method. We do not point to this as a solution; in fact, the view may be that it is forbidden, because what has reached us is that these pills have great harms to the womb, the blood, and the nerves. The Shari'ah prohibits such things, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):Sunan Ibn Majah 2340Da'if (Darussalam) Yes.
The Shaykh : First, we should know that our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged having many children, saying:
Marry the loving and fertile women
تزوجوا الودود الولودAnd remember when you were
واذكروا إذ كنتمfew, so He multiplied you
قليلا فكثركمand made you more numerous in manpower
وجعلناكم أكثر نفيراHowever, need may call for reducing... for not becoming pregnant. For example, if the mother is ill or physically weak and cannot bear a child every year, then in that case, we use what prevents pregnancy for a specific period. One such method is 'azl (coitus interruptus), where the man withdraws from the woman. It is reported that
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to do that during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
كان الصحابة رضي الله عنهم يفعلون ذلك في عهد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمThe second method is the IUD method. If there is a need for it, there is no harm in it.
The third method is the pill method. We do not point to this as a solution; in fact, the view may be that it is forbidden, because what has reached us is that these pills have great harms to the womb, the blood, and the nerves. The Shari'ah prohibits such things, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):