In modern times, some disputes are even more pronounced than ever before, and not just between some different societies (which are based on a completely different value, which makes this understandable), but when it comes to the same society as well, as people have completely different attitudes regarding some matters.
One of them is birth control, which causes controversies, now more than ever.
It is believed that in modern times there is not a single way that people do not agree that this is a given right and that women especially have the right to decide what will they do with their bodies, but things are not as simple as we think, and when religion, with rules just like Islamic faith tackles its fingers then things become even more complicated.
Here, we will discuss whether it is permitted to use birth control, for people of the Islamic faith.
If it is permitted and when, or is it simply seen as haram, without any element or circumstance which will make it halal?
But before all of this, we must know the difference – if the matter in question is to prevent pregnancy – then this means to prevent the unity of a sperm and a female egg.
When the matter in question is birth control, then it is a type of permanent prevention of pregnancy by determining the number of children a woman will give birth to, e.g. two or three, and in addition, contraceptives are used to prevent or abortion to eliminate “unwanted” pregnancy or permanent sterilization is conducted.
These practices exist in every society and are performed in a legal and sanitary way or vice versa.
Now, religions around the world, usually do not look positively on this matter, but, at the same time, some are more or less inclined to loosen up their attitude.
Did you know that the mention of birth control to a certain extent exists in the Bible -so this is not a matter of the new time, as people, and families have dealt with this matter since forever?
Islamic religion, known for the complete regulation of the believer’s lives also has its attitude toward this rather controversial topic.
It should be emphasized here that there is no disagreement among scholars regarding the prohibition of birth control as a form of permanent pregnancy prevention because it is contradicted by the clear texts of the Quran and Sunnah.
But, there are some exceptions, that is for sure, and simple worry will the family have anything to eat, is not one of them, as Allah will provide anything that is needed for the family.
Is Birth Control Haram or Halal In Islam?
Right away one thing must be clear – preventing pregnancy for no reason is wrong by Islamic laws and therefore it must be seen as haram.
This comes from the fact that all children are seen in the eyes of the Islamic faith as something that is a gift from Allah Almighty, and He is the only one who can give those kids their sustenance.
Islamic faith looks affirmatively and favorably on the number of births, and as many children as one family could have they should have it.
Children are seen as true blessings, both male and female offspring.
Therefore it is said that taking birth control is not necessary and wanted, unless there is a great for it, so just in the case of a necessity.
If it is required, then there is no obstacle, such as in case the patient is a woman, which, along with pregnancy, would only harm her.
There is, therefore, no obstacle to applying this procedure in this case, but to the extent that necessity requires it.
But, in a case, when a woman is taking these pills for example, just for the purpose that she wants to do something for her selfish needs than in that case, it is haram to do so.
It is said, that if a woman wants to devote her life to work, and a career, and to lead some kind of luxurious life, then such control is not permitted and it is seen as haram, as it opposes all that it saw as an Islamic value.
We know that the prophet has said that all fertile women must bear as many children as they can so when Judgment day comes there will be plenty of Muslim offspring, and they should have as many kids as possible.
Allah is the one that has multiple people – and those who say that there will be poverty among those many children and families with a lot of kids, but this is not the case, since the Almighty Allah has said that there will be food for all and that He will give them from his abundance.
But, we have said that there are certain times when birth control is permitted and is not seen as sinful action.
Some Islamic scholars say that it is when there is a genuine need for it, regardless of whether it eliminates harm that can be there for a woman or a potential baby.
What also must be present there is the consent of the spouses and their satisfaction with it, because both have the right to it, and they should agree upon this topic, and the relationship of a wife and a husband is different than any other relationship.
Birth control is allowed when its usage does not cause more harm than benefit, and the determination of that harm and benefit is returned to the righteous Muslim doctor.
When is Birth Control Halal?
It is said that the use of birth control can be allowed in some specific conditions, like when there is an agreement between spouses; that husband and wife are of the same attitude because each of them has the right to enjoy their spouse.
Birth control cannot be ever used to cause harm and even in these permitted cases, it should never become something that is a constant practice.
It can be for these reasons, if the situation is just like that, be periodic, with the right reason, to prevent pregnancy, for example; to wait for breastfeeding to complete, if the woman is weak, sick, or injured during pregnancy.
If it occurs for some other reason then it is not permitted, and it is seen as a great sin.
Some people say that ejaculation outside the vagina during intercourse, is not seen as haram, and this is not a sin.
A man can do this only when it comes to a woman who is not his free wife,
Therefore, it can be said that in the case of a woman’s disapproval of ejaculating outside the vagina, she is denied complete pleasure as well as possible offspring.
Because of the above, we made this procedure conditional on the woman’s permission.
Exceptions to this prohibition are necessary situations such as illness and the like.
Some believe that there is no difference between birth control and birth planning, as both mean scheduling birth and stopping pregnancy for a certain time.
And it is correct that there is a difference between them because limiting childbirth implies setting a limit on the number of children, while planning is the schedule of pregnancies in certain periods without setting a limit on the number of children.
Among the justifications and motives for which spouses try to temporarily prevent pregnancy or to make a time gap in the birth of children, are the following: if there is a chance for a family to be poor, which will occur for sure if there are more children than just one.
As many children will enhance the mouths to feed, and some say that this reason may be more connected to the woman, or wife here, and there is a reason when her health is in jeopardy then birth control is mandatory.
When it comes to children, the pregnancy may be terminated, when a woman is still breastfeeding the previous child, so in this way, she cannot do both, as one will suffer or the other.
Conclusion
Taking birth control pills for some health reasons is premised and is seen as halal, but in the case, when a woman does it for her selfish reasons; if she has devoted herself to a career, work, a comfortable life, or something similar to why today’s women prevent pregnancy, then it is not allowed, as it is seen as a major haram.
Any form of birth control is not permitted to be used, and the only way it is is when there is a real medical reason to do so – a real and justified need to delay conception.
If there is already a need for birth control (for health reasons, breaks in conception to pay more attention to other younger children, etc.), then one should start with natural methods of birth control.
This could imply for example – monitoring fertile and infertile days, using condoms, and taking birth control pills, but during this entire process, it is so important that the woman and her health are not in any form of jeopardy.
As we have said, there are two situations when a woman could use birth control when – there is a need (justifiable reason) for it, such as if she is sick and cannot physically bear pregnancy every year, or if she is too thin, or if there are some other obstacles that would harm her if she were to become pregnant every year.
Another situation is when her husband allows her to take birth control since the man is in the title to have kids, and a doctor must be consulted in this regard.
The doctor must decide whether these pills are harmful or not.
When these two conditions are met, then there is no obstacle to taking birth control, but that consumption does not prevent pregnancy forever because that would mean the termination of offspring.
And when you take birth control just because this suggests that a woman is taking something into her hands that does not belong to her, since only Allah knows when she will be pregnant and in what way.
In certain circumstances, temporary prevention of pregnancy becomes mandatory, such as when the pregnancy causes certain damage to the woman’s health or there is a great fear that this may happen.
And when the need to use contraceptives ceases, the obligation is to stop using them, because their constant use is not allowed.
Therefore, there is no obstacle to temporarily preventing pregnancy by natural or contraceptive means, birth control included, when there is a justified reason and motive for doing so and when the spouses assess it.
But this reason must be justified for sure, or otherwise, birth control is seen as a great sin.
However, according to the description of the condition of the woman, there is no legitimate reason for postponing pregnancy, as it is said many times, that Allah will find a way to provide His abundance to all, and there is nothing to be worried about, or this is not the reason why someone should stay away from the pregnancy. Just being worried about kids or having many of them is not the reason.
Also, the mentioned conclusion of marriage for the sake of papers by the husband is in question, an issue that is highly disputed and debatable from the Sharia point of view.
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