The Ruling on Contraception in Cases of Necessity and on Coitus Interruptus

Question :

An experienced Muslim doctor informed a woman that she should not get pregnant, because if she gets pregnant, she will die when giving birth. Her husband has no other wife besides her and they are both in the prime of youth neither of them can do without the other. Is it permissible for that woman to use contraceptive pills, or for her husband to practice coitus interruptus when they have sexual intercourse?

Answer:

First of all, the ruling on taking contraceptive pills differs according to the women's situation and this subject has been researched in a meeting of the Committee of the Highest Scholars of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have issued a comprehensive report on this.

Secondly, evidence for the permissibility of coitus interruptus has been reported: Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "We used to practice coitus interruptus at the time of the Messenger of Allah when the Qur'an was being revealed."

And in Muslim's version: "We used to practice coitus interruptus at the time of the Messenger of Allah when the Qur'an was being revealed, and he was informed of this, and he did not prohibit it."

Thirdly, taking contraceptive pills and practicing coitus inter- ruptus do not prevent the creation of humankind which Allah has ordained. The essence of this is in the narration of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, in which a man came to the Prophet and said: "I have a slave girl and she is our servant and she waters our date palms and I have sex with her, but I dislike for her to get pregnant." He said:
"You may practice coitus interruptus with her, if you wish, because whatever was ordained for her will come."

There is also the narration of Abu Sa'id (Al-Khudri), may Allah be pleased with him, in which he said: "We went out with the Messenger of Allah in the battle of Bani Al-Mustaliq and we acquired captives from among the Arabs. We desired the women, and absence (from our wives) became hard upon us, and we wanted to practice coitus interruptus, so we asked Allah's Messenger about this and he said:
"It is not forbidden for you to do so, for verily, Allah has written those whom He will create until the Day of Resurrection."

These two Hadiths and others carrying the same meaning prove that (coitus interruptus) is permissible and taking contraceptive pills is included in the meaning of Al-'Azl.

Fourthly, what has been said by this experienced, Muslim doctor, that if this woman becomes pregnant, she will die during the delivery, is not correct, because knowledge of the times of death is a part of the unseen, which is known only to Allah. He , Most High says:
"Verily, Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die.