Family planning methods
13-3-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I wish to know all acceptable family planning methods.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The Islamic jurisprudence encourages having many children, and it considers this as a blessing and bounty from Allah.
Allah has favoured His servants by Saying: {….and has made for you, from your wives, sons and grandsons,….}[16:72].
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Get married with women who are tender and loving, and who can bear children, because I am happy when my Ummah (nation) is greater in number than any other Ummah”. [Reported by Abu Dawud, Ahmad, and Nasa’e]
If the family is in need of family planning and weaning, there is no harm in using the lawful means like A’azl (taking out one’s penis before ejaculating), or using non-harmful contraceptives as well as setting a period between one baby and the following one.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {….the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months,…..}[46:15]. So here the period between one child and another is 30 months. This is an advised period of a time period between one child and another, not an obligation.
However, placing a loop in a woman’s uterus is Haram, except for a necessity, because when a woman avails of this, someone would see inside her private parts, and this is Haram without a necessity or urgent need.