Answered by Molana Muhammad Adnan
Question:
My wife has three children, all have them are through c- section and she is expecting a fourth child. The doctor has advised due to health reasons permanent contraception. Is it jaiz.
Answer:
Islam encourages reproduction in large numbers with the sole aim of increasing the size of the Ummah.
The Prophet of Allah 
has said: “Marry women who are loving and reproduce in abundance, for I shall out number the other nations by you.” (Mishkat P267)
The fuqaha (jurists) have said that to practice temporary reversible contraception like the withdrawal method, the pill, using condoms etc…is somewhat disliked (makruh tanzihi) without any reason. If there is a genuine reason, then it will be permissible with the permission of the wife. (See Sunan Ibn Majah p.138)
Some of the reasons are:
-
Physical state of the women like repeated pregnancies have an ill effect on her health. -
Spacing out children in order to give them adequate care and attention. (Jadeed Fiqhi Masaail P 289 v1)
If contraception is practiced for the following reasons then this will not be permissible:
-
Fear of poverty. Allah
has said in the Holy Qur’an: “And do not kill your children for fear of poverty.” (Surah Bani Israeel v31)
-
For the fashion of keeping small families. The Prophet of Allah has said: “He who imitates any group of people is from them.” (Sunan Abu Dawud P559 v2)
In regards to your question, it should be taken into consideration that some doctors advise irreversible contraception as a precaution so a hasty decision should not be made and second opinions are also important because doctors are humans and are susceptible to mistakes. if after taking multiple opinions the doctors all advise your wife to take irreversible contraception due to there being a serious health risk then it will be permitted to do so.
Written by Molana Muhammad Adnan
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham