Family planning and Islam

[PORTOFJOY]

“And kill not your children for fear of poverty — We provide for them and for you. Surely the killing of them is a great wrong” (17:31).

In no way does this verse refer to family planning because it is talking of ‘killing’ and you kill one who exists. No law in the world will permit killing one who is already born and hence the Quran rightly condemns the killing of children. Some people suggest that the verse in question refers to the practice of burying girl children alive and when asked they would say they could not provide for them and hence Allah responds that He provides for them.

Imam Razi suggests the verse refers to both male and female children being kept ignorant. Thus killing them has not been used as in killing the body but the mind which is as bad as killing the body. The word used here is ‘awlad’ i.e. children, which includes both male and female.

Imam Razi’s suggestion seems to be quite reasonable and in fact a large family means children cannot be properly educated by poor parents and hence parents ‘kill’ them mentally by keeping them ignorant.

They cannot even clothe them properly nor can they provide proper living space. In such circumstances one cannot raise quality human beings, and quantity does not matter much. That said, we should understand that at the time of the revelation of the Quran, the problem of family planning did not exist, nor did the need for population control.

It is a modern problem which has arisen in our time. Most nation states in the developing world do not have the economic means to support large populations, and when we say supporting large populations it does not mean only feeding them but also includes education and the provision of proper health services. These are the basic duties of modern nation states.

In fact, in view of the paucity of resources, it has become necessary to adopt family planning. When the Quran was being revealed there was neither any properly organised state nor education nor health services being provided by a state agency.
It is important to note that the Quran, which shows eight ways to spend zakat, does not include education or health which is so essential for the state to provide today. Thus what Imam Razi suggests is not only very correct but also enhances the importance of family planning in modern times as a small family can support better education and health services.

It would be interesting to note that as for verse 4:3 (which is used by Muslims for justification of polygamy) Imam Shafi’i interprets it rather differently. It ends with the words alla ta’ulu, which is generally translated as ‘you may not do injustice’ i.e. do not marry more than one woman so that you may not do injustice. But Imam Shafi’i renders it as ‘so that you do not have a large family’. The Quran has already mentioned that ‘if you fear injustice then marry only one’ woman and so there was no need to repeat it. That is why Imam Shafi’i feels it should be translated as ‘so that you do not have a large family’.

It can be seen that in understanding the Quran even very eminent imams and great scholars differed with one another. One should not impose one single meaning of a verse on all Muslims. The Quran could be interpreted differently by different people in their own context and circumstances, as has historically been the practice. Family planning being a modern need, one should not reject it out of hand and quote Quranic verses out of context.

Family planning does not mean killing children after they are born but to plan the birth of children in a way that parents can bear all the expenses for their education, health, living space, upkeep, etc. in a proper manner. The Quran also suggests that a child be suckled for two years, and it is well known that as long as the mother suckles she may not conceive. Thus, indirectly, the Quran suggests spacing between children.

In hadith literature, we find that the Prophet (PBUH) permitted prevention of conceiving in certain circumstances. When a person asked the Prophet for permission for ‘azl (withdrawal) as he was going for a long journey along with his wife and he did not wish his wife to conceive, the Messenger of Allah allowed him. In those days this was the only known method for planning the birth of a child. Today there are several more methods available.

Imam Ghazali allows even termination of pregnancy if the mother’s life is in danger and suggests several methods for termination. He even allows termination of pregnancy on health grounds or if the mother’s beauty is in danger, provided it is in consultation with her husband. Some scholars referring to the verse 23:14 conclude that one can terminate pregnancy up to three months after conception as the Quran, in this verse, describes the stages of development of the sperm planted in the mother’s womb; it takes three months for life to begin.

However, many ulema today oppose the termination of pregnancy. Whatever the case one cannot declare family planning as prohibited in Islam as it in no way amounts to killing a child. Even the termination of a pregnancy is allowed in order to properly plan the birth of a child according to one’s financial resources.

[hafeezullah solangi]

dear friend,the certain verse of the holy Quran which you mentioned is obviously against the killing of infants or children for the fear of the poverty,but not merely of that time,but of all times.the holy Quran is the guidance of all the times,not for the particular period or area.so far as the issue of family planning is concerned,it is religiously a controversial issue,some muslim scholars say it is allowed in islam some say not.scientifically ,all the methods of family planning except condum,are some thing like the kiling of infants in the evolutional process of life.so in fact the certain verse refers to the same issue that u negate.so far as the issue of population is concerned,if human resources are properly utilized,population is a boon,not a ban.

[PORTOFJOY]

dear read my artical in asthmatic way the aspects you mention all those in my articale are generally explained.

[mechrose37]

Family planning is a matter of common sense.Islam is against the killing of human beings;and family planning is in no way a departure from Islamic principles.Those clergymen who are raising voices against it belong to that stupidest breeds of humans who are exceedingly narrow minded and possess myopic vision.Islam is enlightenment for whole humanity till the day of judgement and this great religion has awarded latitude of freedom to its followers to make decisions as and when required by ever changing world.

[hafeezullah solangi]

Originally Posted by PORTOFJOY

dear read my artical in asthmatic way the aspects you mention all those in my articale are generally explained.

Dear brother,im very thankful to you for posting your concept/opinion about the controversial issue of family planning.Every one has a ritght to be content with either ideology.therefore,i separated the meaning of both:scientifically as well as religiously motives of the issue(shortly).however,once again i repeated your fantastic essay and once agaig i found your tendacy towards the same.you have a good apprach towads the issue.neverthless i want to share you some information about the issue in both scientific as well as religious manner.
In medical science family planning is termed under the scope of contraception:there are fundamentally two methods of contraception or family planning.

(1) Permanent methods.

(2) Temporary methods

(1) Permanent Methods: Permanent methods include, Vasectomy in males and Tubecotomy in females. All the scholars unanimously agree that permanent methods of family planning are prohibited since they involve changing human physiology.

Says Allah in the Qur'an: "So set you your face steadily and truly to the Faith: (Establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made humankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not." (Al-Qur'an 30:30)

The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said: "Marry the one who is loving and fertile, for I will be proud of your great numbers before the nations [i.e., on the Day of Resurrection]." (Abu Dawood Hadith no. 2050, Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 1805)

(2) Temporary Methods: Following are various different temporary methods.

a) M.T.P. (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) or Abortion: All scholars unanimously agree that M.T.P. or abortion is prohibited.

Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an "...kill not your children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and for them;" (Al-Qur'an 6:151)

"Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you: verily the killing of them is a great sin." (Al-Qur'an 17:31)

However, scholars unanimously agree that any permanent method of family planning, or even abortion, can be done if the life of the mother is in danger. For e.g. if the woman is suffering from certain diseases like heart disease or has under gone multiple caesarean operations and in her case the continuation of pregnancy or another pregnancy may be detrimental to her life, then the woman can be aborted or a permanent method of family planning can be adopted to save the life of the woman.

b) Taking birth control pills: Almost all the scholars including Shaykh Ibn Baaz, Council of the Senior Scholars [of Saudi Arabia] agree that it is not allowed to take birth control pills (Fataawa al-Marah) because of its side effects and changes in the normal physiology.

c) Copper-T: A very common temporary method of family planning or contraception is Copper-T. Though it is known as 'contraception' but technically it is contra-implantation. The sperm fertilizes the ovum but the zygote formed is destroyed by the Copper-T and is prevented from being implanted on the uterine wall (mother's womb). Thus it is a very early abortion, which is prohibited in Islam.

Some "scholars" out of ignorance permit this temporary method of family planning without knowing its detail.

d) Coitus Interruptus ('Azl): Coitus Interruptus is permissible as long as it is performed with mutual consent of both the husband and wife since both of them have equal right to have children.

This is based on the Hadith of Jabir (RA) who said: "We used to practice ('Azl) coitus interruptus during the days when the Qur'an was being revealed".

Jabir added: "We used to practice coitus interruptus during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger while the Qur'an was being revealed." (Sahih Bukhari vol. 7, Hadith no. 136)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
"With regard to 'azl, some of the scholars regarded it as haraam, but the view of the four imams is that it is permissible with the wife's permission. And Allah nows best." (Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 32/110)

e) As regarding other temporary ethods of family planning like condom etc., the scholars are divided whether their use is permitted or not. Allah (swt) has provided a natural method of planning the family, which is medically known as lactation amenorrhea. After the women gives birth to a child, till she breast feeds she does not have her menstrual cycle, thus the chances of pregnancy in this period of lactation is minimal.

Allah says in the Qur'an "The mothers shall give **** to their offspring for two whole years..." (Al-Qur'an 2:233)

Reasons for Family Planning: All the various reasons for family planning can be divided into two categories:

1. Either for poverty or

2. Giving special attention to children by having fewer children.

As for those who are poor and fear that they will not be able to meet the economic expenses of the additional child, Allah (swt) has prescribed the system of zakaat. Every rich person who has the savings of more than the nisab level i.e. 85 gms of gold, should give 2.5% of his excess wealth every lunar year in charity. Those who are poor have the right to take the zakaat money.

Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an "...Kill not your children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and for them;" (Al-Qur'an 6:151)

Allah (swt) also mentions in the Qur'an "Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you: verily the killing of them is a great sin." (Al-Qur'an 17:31)

Both these verses seems to convey the same message but on scrutiny we realize that the first verse is meant for poor parents, who fear that if one more child is born in the family neither they will be able to survive nor the child, thus Allah (swt) says we provide sustenance for you and for them. In the other verse Allah (swt) says We shall provide sustenance for them and as well as for you, referring to rich parents who feel that if they have less children they can concentrate on them better and give them better education and quality life. Here Allah (swt) reverses the order and mentions first the children and then the parents.

I am the fifth child of my parents. If my parents would have done family planning, then I would not have been born. Alhumdulillah, I have qualified as a medical doctor, which is supposed to be one of the best professions in society. However I have given it up for a better profession and become a daee'. Am I a boon or a bane to the society?

It is a misconception that if there are fewer children you can provide better education and quality life to your child.

However, its worth notable that one never knows which child could be a blessing from the Creator for the family. It is quite possible that the child, which the parents anticipate to be a bane, may turn out to be a boon for the family and the society. History bears witness to the fact that many of the great scientists, thinkers, and revolutionaries were not from only amongst the first two children of their parents.

Thus the child whom the parents consider unwanted may be a blessing to the family religiously and economically.

With regards to the claim of the people who say that the growth in population increases poverty, this was mainly based on Malthusian's theory. This theory states that, to maintain prosperity and welfare of human race, its increase should be checked to correspond with the production of foodstuff.

But now we have realized that Malthusian's theory has been proved wrong and there is no shortage of food grains. Moreover, in spite of the amount of land India uses in agriculture, there is still much more land in India, which can, with little more efforts in fertilizing it through the proper means be utilized in agriculture thus producing more food grains. It would be interesting to note that population density of Holland and Denmark is about four to five times more than that of India. Nevertheless the living conditions of the people there is far better off (economically) than the Indians.

Besides, even if one faces difficulties in upbringing of children, one should always remember that in these hardships could be a test from Allah as this life is a test for the hereafter. Allah says in the Qur'an: "He Who created Death and Life that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might Oft-Forgiving" [Al Qur'an 67: 2]

Allah also says: "Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." [Al Qur'an 2 :155]

Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an "And they plotted and planned and Allah too planned and the best of planners is Allah (swt)" (Al-Qur'an 3:54).

If you feel you can plan the family better, the choice is yours or else leave it to Allah (swt) to do the best planning for your family.

INDEED ALLAH IS BETTER PLANNER THAN THOSE WHO PLAN "FAMILY PLANNING".

[hafeezullah solangi]

Originally Posted by mechrose37

Family planning is a matter of common sense.Islam is against the killing of human beings;and family planning is in no way a departure from Islamic principles.Those clergymen who are raising voices against it belong to that stupidest breeds of humans who are exceedingly narrow minded and possess myopic vision.Islam is enlightenment for whole humanity till the day of judgement and this great religion has awarded latitude of freedom to its followers to make decisions as and when required by ever changing world.

Welcome mister so and so:you have clearly and hastely described the certain class of muslim scholars as

stupidest,narrow-minded and clergy men.i regret to say that despite your seniority,you have used

certain abusive language which is absolutely against the terms and conditions of this forum.dont forgat

that seniority doesnt mean superiority or priority over others.one thing more:after rechacking the rules of

this forum,you must repair your vocabulary as according to the latest oxford dictionary,clergymen

means:the body of the people ordained for religious duties in the CHRISTIAN CHURCH(not in the

islamic masajid).please always think before you do.
Islamic laws do contain certain cahanges in accordance with the need of time but certain permanent

methods of contracepion(usually practiced in family planning scope) are not allowed any way in

Islam.so for as temperory method is concerned,it is allowed but not in all normal circumstances. Birth

control undoubtedly carries with it many negative effects and has brought about fatal consequences.

Many Islamic scholars have written at great length on the harms of birth control. However, seeing that

there may be valid reasons to avoid a pregnancy, the jurists of Islam have given allowances in certain

cases and have not given a general non-restricted permission for it. As such, practicing birth control

simply to meet the demands of present day trends or social reasons has not been allowed. Practicing

birth control for the sake of remaining single, young and beautiful or for the sake of not being burdened

with children and other similar worldly reasons are not allowed in Islam. Sometimes, young women

practice birth control in order to keep-up with their social activities, and at times, in order to maintain

their ‘shape’ and ‘figure’. These are not valid reasons in the Shariah, and birth control in these cases

would not be allowed.

With respect to some of the valid reasons for reversible/temporary methods of birth control, the jurists

of Islam have mentioned the following: -

1) Where a woman is forced to seek employment to maintain her children or family, or on account of

desperate circumstances, temporary birth control can be adopted.

2) For the sake of spacing children, it is allowed to adopt birth control in order to allow a reasonable

time period between the births of two children so that each child receives adequate attention of the

mother in its upbringing. In the difficult task of nourishing, training and educating a child, the complete

attention of the mother is required. If a baby is born every year, then it is extremely difficult to provide

the necessary care and attention for each child.

3) For medical reasons, if an experienced and reliable physician in all honesty and sincerely, is of the

opinion that having children would endanger a mother’s physical health, then it is permissible for the

couple to practice reversible/temporary methods of birth control. The same ruling applies to the mother

who is physically cripple, and is unable to care for a child, or if she is suffering from psychiatric illness.

4) If it is the opinion of a reliable and experienced physician that there is a high risk of a baby being

born with a serious genetic disease, then it is permissible to adopt reversible methods of birth control.

5) In cases of sickness or physical weakness (of the wife), reversible methods of birth control is allowed.

6) In cases where a girl is too young for pregnancy or a woman is too old - reversible birth control will be

allowed.

Other similar cases will also bring about the allowance to adopt reversible/temporary methods of birth

control.

With respect to the methods that are permissible for birth control, then it must be understood that the

reversible forms are permissible once they do not bring about a permanent measure of barring the

woman from pregnancy in the future. A very common temporary method of family planning or contraception is Copper-T. Though it is known as 'contraception' but technically it is contra-implantation. The sperm fertilizes the ovum but the zygote formed is destroyed by the Copper-T and is prevented from being implanted on the uterine wall (mother's womb). Thus it is a very early abortion, which is prohibited in Islam.

Some "scholars" out of ignorance permit this temporary method of family planning without knowing its detail.

[sarmadalimahar]

sir, if you write in the paper of Islamiate, you will definitely get 70 and above. i got 61 marks despite i did not write a single verse of the Quran or hadith. most checkers in Islamiate are bigoted mullanas, so it is safer to write like a molvi sahib than a liberal, rational person. But in real sense, i will say that we should not mix everything with religion as it becomes controversial. if things had become better after the mingling of religion with everything , Pakistan would have been a heaven on the earth, rather than the haven of terrorists.Therefore, religion should not be allowed in every matter especially scientific matter as it is the domain of reason not belief. in belief you to forgo every reasonable things, but in science everything revolves around reason.

[hafeezullah solangi]

Originally Posted by sarmadalimahar

sir, if you write in the paper of Islamiate, you will definitely get 70 and above. i got 61 marks despite i did not write a single verse of the Quran or hadith. most checkers in Islamiate are bigoted mullanas, so it is safer to write like a molvi sahib than a liberal, rational person. But in real sense, i will say that we should not mix everything with religion as it becomes controversial. if things had become better after the mingling of religion with everything , Pakistan would have been a heaven on the earth, rather than the haven of terrorists.Therefore, religion should not be allowed in every matter especially scientific matter as it is the domain of reason not belief. in belief you to forgo every reasonable things, but in science everything revolves around reason.

dear brother assalam alaikum.thanks for your suggestions and congratulations.But here is the not the

matter of acquiring higher marks in the paper of Islamiat.CSS is an exam related with the success of

this world only but if you submit your will to the will of GOD and solve every matter of the world icluding

this exam accordingly,you can achive bot, success in this world and the world hereafter.Moreover it

is misconception about css that in order to achieve higher marks in any paper,you should follow the

differert trends in the answers of the questions.Always be honest to your every paper and expose your

real and positive ideas which must be in accordace with true Islamic culture and civilization.Instead of

being pro-western-ideologist,your answer every question like a true muslim,who dont care for himself

only,but for the welfare of the whole mankind.this sincerity deads to the success.One thing more,Islam is a

rational religion:it is not entirely based on suppersition,but science and reason.there are more than 776

verses in the Holy Quran dealing with science.However it is not the book of science,but the book of

signs.thus religious matters can not be separated from science.because science and religion are

complementary to each other.sciece without religion is lame and religion without sciencd is blind.so far

as the issue of family planning is concerned,it is not a scientific matter yet.population growth is a human

issue not a scientific issue.however most of the human issues can not be solved without the help of

science.so here is not the question of intermingling of science with belief.Being a controversial

issue,family planning is less discussed recently in the css,however if it is discussed,one should deal it

with the help of certain legal comments of the jurists,describing both positive and negative

consequences of the policy.my entire text posted above was based on the lecture of

molana-cum-medical doctor ZAKIR NAIK whom i respect and appreciate in this matter.in the

conclusion,however your tendacy should be towards your personal choice,which must not merely favour

the goverment policy but critically exmine it in the world experience.if you just type "adverse effects of

birth control"in google search,you shall be able to measure all pros and cons of this problem.Once again thank you very much.best of luck

[PORTOFJOY]

Originally Posted by hafeezullah solangi

dear brother assalam alaikum.thanks for your suggestions and congratulations.but here is the not the

matter of acquiring higher marks in the paper of islamiat.css is an exam related with the success of

this world only but if you submit your will to the will of god and solve every matter of the world icluding

this exam accordingly,you can achive bot, success in this world and the world hereafter.moreover it

is misconception about css that in order to achieve higher marks in any paper,you should follow the

differert trends in the answers of the questions.always be honest to your every paper and expose your

real and positive ideas which must be in accordace with true islamic culture and civilization.instead of

being pro-western-ideologist,your answer every question like a true muslim,who dont care for himself

only,but for the welfare of the whole mankind.this sincerity deads to the success.one thing more,islam is a

rational religion:it is not entirely based on suppersition,but science and reason.there are more than 776

verses in the holy quran dealing with science.however it is not the book of science,but the book of

signs.thus religious matters can not be separated from science.because science and religion are

complementary to each other.sciece without religion is lame and religion without sciencd is blind.so far

as the issue of family planning is concerned,it is not a scientific matter yet.population growth is a human

issue not a scientific issue.however most of the human issues can not be solved without the help of

science.so here is not the question of intermingling of science with belief.being a controversial

issue,family planning is less discussed recently in the css,however if it is discussed,one should deal it

with the help of certain legal comments of the jurists,describing both positive and negative

consequences of the policy.my entire text posted above was based on the lecture of

molana-cum-medical doctor zakir naik whom i respect and appreciate in this matter.in the

conclusion,however your tendacy should be towards your personal choice,which must not merely favour

the goverment policy but critically exmine it in the world experience.if you just type "adverse effects of

birth control"in google search,you shall be able to measure all pros and cons of this problem.once again thank you very much.best of luck

dear solangi Sb you didn't get my words in "family planning" post. First understand my post then reply, your all replies are useless according to my post. so im requesting you please first read my post carefully with hard attention then comeback. Thanks

[IrfanShahid]

Originally Posted by sarmadalimahar

sir, if you write in the paper of Islamiate, you will definitely get 70 and above. i got 61 marks despite i did not write a single verse of the Quran or hadith. most checkers in Islamiate are bigoted mullanas, so it is safer to write like a molvi sahib than a liberal, rational person. But in real sense, i will say that we should not mix everything with religion as it becomes controversial. if things had become better after the mingling of religion with everything , Pakistan would have been a heaven on the earth, rather than the haven of terrorists.Therefore, religion should not be allowed in every matter especially scientific matter as it is the domain of reason not belief. in belief you to forgo every reasonable things, but in science everything revolves around reason.

why each and everything not mingled with islam?As all know,Islam is a complete code of life.i disagree with u