Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(65): "Ruling of Sharia on Birth Control“

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(65): “Ruling of Sharia` on Birth Control“

Date: 9/5/1424 AH corresponding to 9/7/2003 AD.

 

The Board received the following question:

What is the ruling of Sharia on tying ovarian tubes and vasectomy?

Answer: All success is due to Allah

The Board is of the view that Islamic Sharia encourages Muslims to have many children to achieve the divine wisdom in the continuity of humankind. Allah, The Almighty Says {what means}: “And God has made for you mates (and companions) of your own nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and provided for you sustenance of the best: will they then believe in vain things, and be ungrateful for God’s favours?“ {An-Nahl/72}. The Islamic nation needs to multiply its offspring to preserve its existence, remain steadfast, achieve prosperity on earth, and push civilization forward.

Therefore, Islam called on Muslims to have many children. Anas narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will be proud of your great number before the nations on the Day of Resurrection”.

Moreover, it forbade every act that leads to not having children or lessening their number since Uthman Bin Maz`oon narrated that he said to the Prophet (PBUH), {what means}: “O Prophet of Allah, it is hard for me as a bachelor to kill my desire for sex. Why don`t you allow me to have a castration? The Prophet (PBUH) said: "you should adhere to fasting”.

Consequently, Muslim scholars unanimously agree that birth control is forbidden as well as any other procedures that lead to stopping human reproduction such as tying of ovarian tubes and vasectomy etc.

Although Islamic Sharia encourages having many children, it doesn`t approve of weak offspring, rather, it aspires for individuals who are strong mentally, physically, religiously and free of defects.

Thus, Islam enjoined choosing the suitable husband or wife when getting married. Both should have the previously mentioned traits so as for their children to be of the same caliber since the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah Will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (PBUH) replied: Love of the world and dislike of death“.

This Hadith shows that Islam is concerned with the quality of Muslims rather than their quantity, to occupy a prominent position amongst the other nations. Moreover, in case the wife`s life is at risk or the fetus is inflicted with a serious disease that is likely to spread or lead to a disability, Islamic Sharia allows resorting to any of the means that stop such a pregnancy in order to protect the soundness of this nation`s offspring and maintain its interests, provided that such a procedure is approved by a committee of trustworthy expert doctors.

As regards temporary birth control by regulating periods between pregnancies, this is permissible provided that both spouses approve of it. This is based on the Hadith of Jabir who narrated: “We used to practice coitus interrupt us while the Quran was being revealed. Jabir added: We used to practice coitus interrupt us during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle while the Quran was being Revealed.” {Bukhari}. And Allah Knows Best.

 

 Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izz Al-Deen Al-Tamimi

                 Dr. Mohammad Abu Yahia     

                  Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi       

    Dr. Yousef Gheezaan

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

  Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi

     Sheikh Naeim Mujahid

             Sheikh Mahmoud Shwayyat

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on applying perfume before entering the state of ihram

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Applying some perfume (ṭīb) before entering the state of iḥrām does not affect the validity of the Ihram, even if its trace remains after the iḥrām has begun. Indeed, it is sunnah for the pilgrim performing Ḥajj or ʿUmrah to perfume himself before iḥrām.
The scholar Nawawī al-Jāwī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The third of them is applying perfume to the body shortly before it, that is, before iḥrām, whether the one entering iḥrām is male or otherwise, young or old, married or unmarried. The recommendation applies after performing the ritual bath (ghusl), and it is fulfilled with any perfume whatsoever, though the best is musk, mixed with rose water or the like. There is no objection to the perfume remaining on the body after iḥrām; however, if a woman becomes bound by the mourning observance (iḥdād) after entering iḥrām, she must remove it. As for perfuming the garment, it is merely permissible, not recommended, according to the reliable position (al-muʿtamad). But if one removes his perfumed garment while the scent is still present in it and then wears it again, he is liable for the fidyah (expiation).” [Nihāyat al-Zayn, Vol.1/212]. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Someone wiped over his shoes after wearing them in a state of purity, then took them off and prayed without them?

Ablution is not invalidated by taking off leather socks or shoes after wiping over them. However, whoever takes them off after wiping must wash his feet only. If he prayed without washing his feet, he must wash his feet and repeat the prayer. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Does the intention (niyyah) of the principal (muwakkil) suffice for the sacrifice (dhabḥ) of the udhiyyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a person appoints an agent (wakīl) to perform the slaughter (dhabḥ) on their behalf, the intention (niyyah) of the principal (the one appointing the agent) suffices, and there is no need for the agent to have this intention himself. In fact, even if the agent is unaware that he is performing the sacrifice on someone's behalf as an udhiyyah (sacrificial offering), this does not affect its validity. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on offering the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) using the wealth of a minor or a legally incompetent person (safīh)?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible for the guardian (walī) of an orphan or a legally incompetent person (safīh) to offer the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) on behalf of the minor or the safīh using their wealth, because the guardian is charged with exercising caution over their wealth and is prohibited from giving any of it away voluntarily, and the udḥiyah is a voluntary act of charity (tabarru'). The guardian may, however, offer the sacrifice using his own personal wealth. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.