Ruling on Delaying Pregnancy for the Sake of Study or Breastfeeding

Question:
Is it permissible for a woman to delay pregnancy using contraceptive methods on the pretext of completing her studies or breastfeeding? And is it permissible to supplicate to Allah to prevent pregnancy for these reasons?

Answer:
What appears to us from the pure Shari'ah is that it is not befitting for a woman: neither to prevent pregnancy with pills, nor with anything else, nor with supplication, nor with anything else; because pregnancy may contain great good and numerous benefits. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: . And because the Muslim is in need of more, and the desire for an increase in the Muslims—an increase in their number—is required. Then this also benefits the parents; the existence of a child benefits them in this world and the Hereafter. So it is not befitting to cause its prevention, neither with pills, nor with anything else.
But if she supplicates and says: "O Allah, decree what is best. O Allah, if my pregnancy is best, then make it easy. And if it is not best, then protect me from its evil," and the like of that, there is no harm. It is a matter conditioned upon the knowledge of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
As for saying: "O Allah, prevent pregnancy from me absolutely," this is not befitting. Or doing what prevents it, likewise, except for a cause mentioned by the scholars of knowledge: if she has an illness that doctors have determined that pregnancy will harm her and there is danger to her from it; then there is no harm. It is an excuse for her to take what prevents it if there is danger to her from pregnancy, or if the children have accumulated upon her and raising them has become difficult for them because they are young, and she has carried this upon that; it is permissible for her to take some preventatives in the first and second years during the days of breastfeeding, so that she can use them to assist in righteous upbringing. And if she leaves it and relies upon Allah and leaves this matter, that is better for her, more blessed, and superior.