Islamic Ruling on Contraception: Understanding the Permissibility of Birth Control

Contraception in Islam: When is it Permissible to Use Birth Control?

بســـم اللــه الرحــمــن الـرحـــيــم

Ruling on contraception

Our Shaykh, Muhammad Ibn Hizaam – may Allaah preserve him – was asked the following question:

Question:

What is the ruling on regulating conception through the use of contraceptive pills, or any other contraceptive method?

Answer:

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged Muslims to have plenty of children, as he ﷺ said :

“Marry the loving and the fertile, for verily I will outnumber by way of you the nation’s on the day of judgement.” 

This is an authentic hadeeth; narated by Ahmad on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik – may Allaah be pleased with him -, as well as An-Nasaa’i and others from the hadeeth of Ma’qil bin Yasaar – may Allaah be pleased with him -. 

Contrarily, we find that these medicines hinder conception, and they also contain side effects well known to doctors; how many women have suffered from severe side effects due to these contraceptive measures. For this reason, it is not permisible to use these contraceptives except in cases where it is used to ward off a greater harm, such that a woman would experience severe harm and sickness if she were to fall pregnant; this only applies if the side effects from these contraceptives do not exceed that of the pregnancy; if so, then there is no sin upon a person for breaching the lesser of two harms in order to ward off the greater of the two, based on the saying of Allaah, The most High:

{يريد الله بكم اليسر ولا يريد بكم العسر}

{Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.} [Baqarah:185]

And His saying:

{وما جعل عليكم في الدين من حرج}

{and (He) has not laid upon you in religion any hardship} [Hajj:78]

And the likes of these verses, which serve as proof for this (principle). 

In these cases one must opt for the lesser of the two harms.

So as has been mentioned, contraceptives are not to be used except in cases of dire need and necessity, and the intent of the one who uses them is not to restrict conception, fearing poverty or fear of having too many children, as this is contrary to the legislation of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. 

Questioner:

What if the wife uses it without the consent of her husband?

The Shaykh Responded:

She is to be advised and dealt with patiently; there is no harm if she is censured for this, but this must not lead to a splitting and divorce, and Allaah’s aid is sought.

Questioner:

What about men’s usage of such medicines which kill/reduce the sperm count?

️The Shaykh Responded:

This may also contain side effects, I’m not sure about these pills, but it’s most probably the case that it contains side effects, so it should be avoided.

Translated by: 

Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad Ash-Shingaani