Delaying Pregnancy After Marriage
Question: What is the ruling on delaying pregnancy after marriage, you want to get to know the husband and prepare your body before pregnancy. How can pregnancy be prevented if barrier methods are not permissible in Islam
Summary:
•It is permissible to delay pregnancy temporarily after marriage for a valid reason such as getting to know the spouse or physical readiness. •It is not permissible to prevent children permanently with the intention of never having offspring, as this contradicts the purposes of Sharia. •Barrier methods are permissible as long as they do not cause harm and both spouses agree. •If barrier methods are not used, then withdrawal is permissible as in the Sunnah, or pills may be used with medical permission.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may Peace and Blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
What is the ruling on delaying pregnancy after marriage?
The foundation of marriage is that it is intended for offspring and children, as Allah the Exalted said:
From the Qur'an:
- An-Nahl: 72
"And Allah has made for you spouses of your own kind, and given you through your spouses children and grandchildren..."
The Prophet ﷺ clarified that one of the purposes of marriage is to increase offspring, he said:
From the Sunnah:
- Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2050 and graded Hasan Sahih by al-AlbānīNarrated by Ma‘qil ibn Yasār (رضي الله عنه):
A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: I have found a woman of rank and beauty, but she does not give birth to children. Should I marry her? He said: No. He came again to him, but he prohibited him. He came to him third time, and he (the Prophet) said: 'Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast of your great numbers.'"
However, there is no harm in delaying pregnancy for a short period after marriage due to a valid reason, such as the desire for psychological or physical readiness or studying the nature of the spouses or arranging life matters, as long as it is not with the permanent intention of refusing offspring.
From the Scholars:
- Fatawa Nur Ala Al Durb, Tape 228
Shaykh Ibn Baz رحمه الله said: “There is no objection to delaying pregnancy for a valid benefit, provided that it does not involve a total prevention of offspring.”
- Al Sharh Al Mumti 12/16
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله said: “If the spouses agree on delaying pregnancy for a certain period for a valid reason, then there is no problem, but preventing pregnancy completely is forbidden.”
Is it permissible to delay pregnancy to get to know the husband and for physical readiness? If the woman intends to delay pregnancy for a short time in order to get to know the husband and feel reassured about him, or to prepare herself physically, then this falls under the valid reasons that the scholars allowed for delaying pregnancy. The scholars mentioned that among the excuses for spacing births are: 1. Fear for the woman’s health, 2. Severe weakness, 3. Short interval between two births, 4. The need for psychological and social stability before pregnancy.
From the Scholars:
- Al Muntaka from Fatawa Al Fawzan 5/35
Shaykh Salih Al Fawzan حفظه الله said: “Spacing births when there is a need for it is permissible, but limiting births is not permissible.”
If the need is like psychological and physical preparation for a certain period, then the matter is permissible as long as there is agreement between the spouses. How can pregnancy be prevented if barrier methods are not permissible? Barrier methods such as condoms (male or female) are considered permissible by most scholars if the spouses agree on their use, as long as they do not cause harm and are not intended for permanent prevention of children. It is authentically reported in Al Bukhari and Muslim that the Companions practiced withdrawal (preventing semen from reaching the womb), and the Prophet ﷺ did not forbid them, as in the hadith of Jabir:
From the Sunnah:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5208, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1440Narrated by Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh (رضي الله عنه):
We used to practice coitus interrupt us while the Qur'an was being revealed. Jabir added: We used to practice coitus interrupt us during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while the Qur'an was being Revealed.
Al Nawawi said: “This is evidence for the permissibility of withdrawal from the wife with her consent.”
If barrier methods are not available or not permissible due to medical or fiqh reasons, then among the permissible methods are: 1. Withdrawal (pulling out before ejaculation), which is permissible with the wife’s consent and is established in the Sunnah, 2. Birth control pills if they do not harm health, 3. Avoiding intercourse during ovulation, which is a natural method if it is known.
From the Scholars:
- Al Sharh Al Mumti 12/17
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said: “There is no objection to using something that prevents pregnancy temporarily, if it does not cause harm.”
And Allah knows best.
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