Contraception
Is the practice of contraception allowed in Islam. If so, under what circumstances. Nowadays it is fashionable to have small families, and the government of different countries encourage or even restrict the amount of children each couple can have. In the third world countries, contraception is practiced on account of a fear of not being able to provide for a large family. Governments of different countries are worried that if the population keeps on increasing at this speed, there will not be sufficient food supply for all these people on Earth. What does Islam say regarding this issue?
Contraception is permissible on a limited scale for valid reasons, reasons considered by the Shariah to be valid. Man-made queries or doubts are not acceptable. There are two methods of avoiding conception (birth).
1. Temporary reversible contraception. Some reversible contraceptives prevent pregnancy by creating a barrier between the sperm and egg, others either stop the fertilised egg from developing or persuade the woman’s body that it is already pregnant. There are various methods of reversible contraception.
A few are mentioned here:
a) The pill. The pill has two hormone like substances called oestrogen and progestogen similar to those which occur naturally in the body. It works by preventing the release of the egg each month. The pill has revolutionized contraception. According to a survey three million women in this country take the pill every day.
b) Injection. It is possible to provide three months protection from the pregnancy by an intra muscular injection of progestogen.
c) Intra-uterine device (I.U.D.). Intra-uterine are often described as the loop, the coil or the curl. They are inserted into the woman’s womb and prevent a fertilised egg from implanting itself in the womb.
d) Condom (Sheath). A condom is a tube of fine rubber closed at one end, and is worn by the man on his penis during intercourse. When the man ejaculates the condom retains the semen, thereby preventing it from reaching the woman’s womb. It is known by a variety of names, including sheath, rubber etc.
e) Diaphragms and caps. These are round dome shaped contraceptives made of rubber which are inserted in the vagina and cover the cervix, preventing any sperm from entering the womb.
f) The rhythm method. This is known as the safe period or periodic practice of abstinence. This method depends on the woman calculating the time of ovulation every month by keeping a record of her periods and working out the average length of her menstrual cycle.
g) Spermicides. Spermicides create a barrier between the man’s sperm and the woman’s egg (the ovum). They contain chemicals which kill the sperm when they come into contact with them. Spermicides come in the form of a cream, jelly or pessary.
h) Azl (coitus interrupts or the withdrawal method). In this the man withdraws his penis and ejaculates the sperm outside the vagina. This method was practiced in the time of our beloved Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam . All modern day reversible contraception will have the same ruling as Azl (coitus interruption).
2. Permanent irreversible contraception. When a couple decide never again to have a baby, not even if anything were to happen to their children or their marriage, then they often opt for sterlisation operation.
a) Male sterlisation (vasectomy). This a quick operation performed on the male which can be done under local anaesthetic (substance causing loss of sensation). Two little cuts are made at the top of the scrotum and the duct on each side which carries the sperm to the outside.
b) Female sterlisation (tubectomy). This operation involves cutting, tying, clipping or blocking the fallopian tube. It is often done through a sort of telescope and renders a woman incapable of reproducing ever again.
The circumstances which will permit reversible and permanent contraception differ.
Reversible Contraception. Among the reasons accepted by the Shariah as valid for practicing reversible contraception are: 1) Physical weakness 2) Sickness 3) The wife maintaining her beauty or figure for the sake of her husband 4) The couple being on a journey or in a distant land. 5) Adverse political conditions, e.g. children are forcibly separated from their parents as is promoted by Communism etc 6) The wife is immoral 7) The couple decide to separate in the near future.
The above reasons are valid for practicing reversible contraception. Poverty or the fear of poverty are not valid reason for contraception. It is not permissible to practice contraception on account of a fear of not being able to provide for a large family. Such a fear is an attribute of non-Muslims. According to the Qur’aan: “There is not a living creature, but its sustenance is the responsibility of Allah Ta’ala.” (Surah Hood Verse 6)
Similarly, desire to control sexual desire which may derive out of piety is not lawful ground for contraception. If practiced for any reason which is unlawful in Islam, then the contraception will likewise be unlawful e.g. for indulgence in illicit (unlawful) sex.
Likewise it will be unlawful for economic reasons so that the few children first born can have the best of everything. Contraception is not permissible on the basis that it is fashionable to have small families. The fashion to have small families is the style of modern Kuffar.
It is not lawful for Muslims to imitate or follow the Kuffar in their tastes and fashions. The Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said : “Whoever imitates a tribe becomes one of them.”
In addition, small families is in direct conflict with the instruction of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam who said: “ Marry such women who are loving and produce in abundance, for I will challenge the other nations by your large numbers on the Day of Judgment.” Thus, it does not encourage Muslims to adopt a style, custom or fashion which is in opposition to the expressed desire of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam .
Many couple practice contraception for professional reasons – so that a wife can pursue a career. It should be borne in mind that it is not permissible for this reason. The Islamic career for a woman is her role at home– as a wife and mother. Allah Ta’ala has appointed the affairs of life between man and woman. All affairs of the home are the duties of women.
If the wife is immoral or she may refuse to look after many children and the father feels that he may not be in position to make adequate arrangements with suitable people to take care for the upbringing of the children, then contraception will be permissible.
It will also be permissible for the couple to use contraception for spacing children so that each child receive adequate attention.
If the couple have any disease and there is a high risk of the child inheriting that disease .(Certain inherited disorders are fatal e.g. muscular dystrophies) , then they can be advised to resort to contraception. However, if they prefer to have children, the doctor should not discourage them.
Permanent contraception – Permanent contraception is permissible if the woman’s life is in danger or health is seriously threatened.
Sterilization (vasectomy or tubectomy) etc. is a means of permanent prevention of reproduction which is strictly forbidden by the Shariah. Sterilization should be viewed in a very grave manner. In view of the gravity of the crime in the Shariah it is imperative that Muslim doctors do not treat it lightly. It is allowed only in severe cases. It should be resorted to only as a last resort. Such action is forbidden in the Qur’aan and it is described as transgression.
Once when the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam condemned sterilization and warned against it, He, Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam recited in support the following Qur’aanic verse:
“ O People of Imaan! Do not make Haraam the wholesome things which Allah Ta’ala has made Halaal for you, and do not commit transgression. Verily, Allah Ta’ala does not like the transgressors.” (Verse 87, Surah Maaidah)
The Hadeeth of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam prohibit sterilization or the elimination of the ability to reproduce most severely.
Allahmah Badruddin (R.A) states in his commentary of Bukhaari Shareef “Termination of reproduction is unanimously Haraam.”
A Muslim aware of the exhortation of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam regarding
reproduction in abundance, can never look with favour towards any act which cuts and terminates reproduction.
A Muslim doctor should ponder over these following statements of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam : before inclining towards this evil act.
1) “ Marry, reproduce and reproduce in abundance. Verily, I will vie with you (your large numbers) over the other nations on the Day of Judgement.”
2) “A black ugly women is better than a beautiful woman who is barren.”
3) “ Whoever abstain from marriage because of the fear of children, is not of us.”
Sterilization as well as reversible contraception resorted to unnecessarily come within the general application of the following Qur’aanic verse:
“(Shaytaan said to Allah Ta’ala) I will most certainly command them (people) to alter (interfere and transform) the creation of Allah Ta’ala.” (Verse 119, Surah Nisaa)
Sterilization is thus an act whispered in to the heart of man by Shaytaan who has promised at the time of his expulsion from Heaven that he will mislead mankind. Among the ways of misleading, is his trick of influencing man to interfere with and alter the natural and physical capacities, forms and attributes which Allah Ta’ala has created in His creatures. Reference to this is made in the above-cited Qur’aanic verse.
In short sterilization as well as reversible contraception are totally against the teachings and spirits of Islam. Unnecessary adoption of these evil practices is a major sin.
(Al-Mumin Volume 1, No 4)