Q. Does Islam permit contraception and are there any conditions?

A. Contraception (Azl) is permissible on a limited scale for valid reasons - reasons considered by the Shariáh to be valid. The circumstances that permit reversible and permanent contraception differ.

REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTION

Among the reasons accepted by the Shariáh as valid for practicing reversible contraception are:

• Physical weakness.
• Sickness.
• The wife maintaining her beauty or figure for the sake of her husband.
• The couple being on a journey or in a distant land.
• Adverse political conditions, e.g. children are forcibly separated from their parents as is advocated by communism; etc.
• The couple decides to separate in the near future.
• The wife is an immoral person.

These are the valid grounds for practicing reversible contraception. Poverty or the fear of poverty are not valid reasons for contraception. It is not permissible to practice contraception on account of a fear of not being able to provide for a large family. Such a fear is an attribute of non-Muslims.

According to the Qurãn Shareef:

'There is not a living creature, but its sustenance is the responsibility of Allah.' Surah: 11, Verse: 6).

Similarly, Contraception to curb sexual desire is not permissible.

If contraception is practiced for any reason which is prohibited in Islam, then this will likewise be unlawful.

PERMANENT CONTRACEPTION

Permanent contraception is permissible only if the woman's life is in danger or her health is seriously threatened.