A:
The following is a resolution regarding birth control issued by the Islamic Fiqh Academy of India which we concur with:
1. If due care and nourishment of a child seems not possible due to immediate pregnancy of the mother, then temporary birth control devices can be adopted to maintain a considerable time space.
2. Permanent birth control devices for women are prohibited save an exceptional case: In the opinion of reliable and expert doctors, if a woman is feared to lose life or might defect an organ due to delivery, then, a vasectomy operation can be performed to prevent future pregnancy.
3. Under the following exceptional circumstances use of temporary birth control devices or taking medicine for that purpose is permissible for men and women:
a) If a woman is too weak to bear the rigours of pregnancy and the apprehension is that it would be risky for her life if she conceives a child.
b) If a woman is feared to undergo tremendous unbearable pains at the time of delivery. In both the cases the opinions of the expert and reliable doctors are must.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Shafiq Jakhura
Iftaa Department, Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre