What Is the Difference Between Azl and Other Regular Forms of Contraception?

Answered by: Shaykh Ahmed Bin Mohamed Umarji

Question:

Somebody asked what is the difference between azl and other regular forms of contraception, why is  one unreservedly okay whilst the other is restrictedly permissible

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The narrations from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) differ about contraception. Some narrations seem to indicate permissibility, others seem to indicate the prohibition, whilst other narrations seem to show that contraception is not beneficial.¹

The narrations that indicate permissibility:

• Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to practice ‘azl during the life of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ).²
• Narrated Jabir (RA): In the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) when the Qur’an was being revealed, we used to engage in ‘Azl. Hence, if it had been something forbidden, the Qur’an would have forbade us from doing it. [Agreed upon].³

The narrations that indicate the prohibition:

• Abu Sa’eed narrated:” Azl was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah and he said: ‘Why would one of you do that?'”⁴
• It was narrated from ʼUmar bin al-Khattab that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade ‘azl (coitus interruptus) with a free woman, except with her permission.⁵

The narrations that seem to indicate that contraception is not beneficial:

• Jabir narrated: “We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! We practice Azl, but the Jews claim that it is minor infanticide.’ So he said: ‘The Jews lie. When Allah wants to create it, nothing can prevent Him.'”⁶
• Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about ‘azl, whereupon he said: The child does not come from all the liquid (semen) and when Allah intends to create anything nothing can prevent it (from coming into existence).⁷

From these narrations, we can deduce that if contraception is done for a valid reason, it will be permissible.⁸

Since we can deduce from the narrations that contraceptives are generally disliked, the type of contraception that was practised during the life of The Prophet Muhammad PBUH namely Azl [Temporary Reversible Contraception] will be permissible though disliked. Permanent Irreversible Contraception will be valid only when the woman’s life is in danger or her life is seriously threatened permanently.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Shaykh Ahmed Bin Mohamed Umarji

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

1 Darse Tirmidhi , Volume 3 , Page 380, Maktaba Darul Uloom Karachi

2 Sahih Muslim 1440

3 Bulugh al-Maram Book 8, Hadith 71

4 Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1138

5 Musnad Ahmad 212

6 Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1136

7 Sahih Muslim 1438

8 Darse Tirmidhi , Volume 3 , Page 380, Maktaba Darul Uloom Karachi