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Birth Control
The following questions, hereunder, were posed by Mahomed Yunus Abdul Karrim, Durban, South Africa to Hadrat Allama Mufti Mohammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qadri Azhari on the issue of Birth Control. The Fatwa was given orally by Hadrat and recorded by Moulana Nassir Khan on paper at the Raza Academy, Durban, South Africa. It was during the year 1991.
QUESTIONS:
1. Is the permanent method (of birth control) permissible or not?
2. The tablets and injections prevent ovulation. It prevents the eggs from being formed in the ovary of the female. Are these methods (of birth control) permissible or not?
3. The loop method allows for ovulation and fertilisation. It allows the eggs being formed in the ovary and joining with the male sperms. It may work by preventing implantation of the fertilised egg. The time taken till implantation is approximately seven days. Is this method (of birth control) permissible or not?
4. When does a Muslim consider that there is life? Is it during fertilisation or after? Is it after implantation?
ANSWER
1:
Absolutely not. Simply because the Shari'at does not give permission to women to have birth control of a permanent nature. Almighty Allah does not grant permission that one should change the objective or the role of any creation. Almighty Allah states in the Holy Quran:
(Sura Nisa: Verse 119)
We should also understand that to change the nature of purpose or role in any creation is not permitted in Islam. We should also remember that the institution of Nikah is for the purpose of increasing mankind. Almighty Allah states:
(Sura Nisa: Verse 1)
So, therefore, this method of permanent contraception is nothing else but the changing of human creation. We should take note that this type of operation also requires that the female becomes naked in front of another person, which is in itself Haraam (prohibited). I have also written a complete treatise on this subject of birth control and its Islamic status, which is also available.
2:
As to the question of using tablets and injections, to use them for a short period, for instance, if after one child is born, another is born, and the mother would find it difficult to take care of the child, or in feeding (the child), or if she is too weak, then in these circumstances, the tablet or injection can be used. However, if one resorts to tablets and injections simply with this intention that one would not be able to feed the child, this thought is not permissible and shows that the person has no trust in Allah. Almighty Allah says:
(Sura An'aam: Verse 151)
Almighty Allah also states:
(Sura Bani Israel: Verse 31)
From this it is proven that when a child is born, the sustenance for that child is already allocated. Therefore, finally, we state that if one uses contraceptives with the fear of feeding one's child, then this is not permissible.
3:
As far as the third method is concerned, this also seems to be not permissible because when the loop is inserted, then the woman will either be treated by a male or a female and we have already stated that to become naked in front of another person is not permissible. Another evil of this method is that only after fertilisation (which is the beginning of birth) does birth control take place and this is not permissible.
One should refrain from this and only use condoms and certain injections.
4:
As to the question of life (Rooh), this only comes to the child after 120 days,
which is four months.
[Mufti] Mohammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qadiri Azhari
Footnote:
In the dire circumstances of absolute necessity whereby the patient
has to be treated by a male or female doctor, the part under examination must
be exposed for only a short period and quickly covered.