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Using contraception because of having a low income

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Publication : 08-07-2023

Views : 4911

Question

Is it permissible to use contraceptives because of my low income, which does not cover our needs and living costs, in addition to the fact that I am in poor health and suffer from exhaustion and fatigue? Please note that I am afraid that that will be compounded if we have many children.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

It is not permissible to use contraceptives for fear of low income, because Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the Provider. This is akin to the actions of the people of Jahiliyyah who killed their children for fear of poverty. Rather you should think positively of Allah and put your trust in Him, may He be glorified and exalted.

Allah is the Provider, the Almighty, may He be glorified and exalted, and it is He, may He be glorified and exalted, Who says (interpretation of the meaning):

{There is no creature that lives on the earth but its sustenance is guaranteed by Allah} [Hud 11:6].

So what is required is for both husband and wife to think positively of Allah and not use contraceptives.

But if the contraceptive is used for a different reason, such as if the mother is sick or if there is  the risk of harm to her health or her uterus, or there is fear of harm to both of them; or because they already have a lot of children, and without contraception there will be one pregnancy after another, without a break, so she wants to use contraception for a short period, such as a year or two, so that it will not be too difficult to raise the children and so that she will not become unable to do that – then there is nothing wrong with that, as it is in the best interests of the children, and it is not due to thinking negatively of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. The same applies if having another pregnancy could harm her and she is unable to cope. But if the matter has to do with provision (rizq), then the Provider is Allah; regardless of whether you are sick or healthy, it is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, Who provides for you and in His hand is the control of all things. So you must think positively of Allah and put your trust in Allah, for Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the Provider, Lord of Might, the Powerful. End quote.

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Source: Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz ,Fatawa Nur ‘ala ad-Darb (3/1626)