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Spouse refusing to have children 

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Qibla.com

Answered by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed

If one spouse has refused the other spouse in trying to have children, isn’t this oppression?

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

It should be known that if a couple is refraining from having children by taking medicine that permanently cuts off any chance bearing offspring, it is haram, as the imams have stated, even if both have agreed upon it. As for practicing birth control by way of withdrawal which is not allowing the sperm to descend into the vagina, this is the right of the husband. He may do this and there is no oppression in this to the woman, because this action has been confirmed by the Companions, may Allah be well pleased with them, and the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, approved it as well. However, according to the relied upon position, it is disliked.

As for the woman, it is not permissible for her to refrain from having children, without his consent, because it is his right. Although if there would be any harm in her carrying a child, that could be attested to by doctors, then she has the right to take measures against having children out of fear for herself. As for the usual [s. and expected] hardships of pregnancy, this is no excuse to refrain from having children.

As in related situations, it is best that the spouses resolve this through discussion and in spirit of the Qur’anic command of living together in love, mercy, and excellence.

– Amjad Rasheed

(Translated by Shazia Ahmad)

السؤال: إذا امتنع أحدُ الزوجين عن الإنجاب أليس فيه ظلمٌ للآخر ؟ الجواب : اعلم أن امتناع الزوجين عن الإنجاب إن كان بأخذ دواء يقطع الحمل من أصله كليةً فهو حرام كما صرحوا به وإن كان برضاهما . أما إن كان الامتناعُ من الإنجاب بطريق العزل وهو عدمُ إنزال المني في الفرج فهو حق للزوج يجوز فعله وليس فيه ظلم للمرأة فقد ثبت فعل ذلك عن الصحابة رضوان الله عليهم وأقرهم عليه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، لكنه مكروه على المعتمد . أما المرأةُ فلا يجوز لها الامتناعُ إلا بإذن الزوج لأنه حقه ؛ إلا إن كان في الحمل ضررٌ معتبرٌ عليها بشهادة الأطباء فلها الامتناعُ خوفاً على نفسها ، أما مجردُ مشقة الحمل المعتادة فليست بعذر للامتناع .

This answer was indexed from Qibla.com, which used to have a repository of Islamic Q&A answered by various scholars. The website is no longer in existence. It has now been transformed into a learning portal with paid Islamic course offering under the brand of Kiflayn.

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