prequalification for human procreation
Post on 04-Apr-2018
213 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/29/2019 Prequalification for Human Procreation
1/4
Prequalification for Human
Procreation.... By Shakeel Ashraf (shakeel.ashraf@yahoo.com)
An Urdu article in January issue of Bakhabar incited a debate on population
control. The author supported by another participant demonstrated highest
zeal to promote their theory. They cited growing population as a burden on the
community and highlighted birth control not only as a shariah compliant act
but a desirable practice in Islam on the basis of masleha (public benefit). Oneof the participant quoted three ahadith to prove his stand but ignored that the
same ahadith while allowed coitus interruptus or Azl but clearly stated that
the soul, which has to be born until the Day of Judgment, must be born.
According to him ijtehad is required to demonstrate desirability of birth
control. What is scope of ijtehad when the subject is clear like daylight- what
is decreed would come? Do they dare to do ijtehad on Divine decree? Is there
any way to know that someone who is castrated would have reproduced?
Abortion is a murder and contraception is a probability based venture.Leaving it to Allah is the only desirable act for a believer. This is my
understanding on this subject.
-
7/29/2019 Prequalification for Human Procreation
2/4
A quote from debate: So if parents are capable to provide a better education /
tarbiyat / tahzeeb o shaistagi to their kids they can go for more children.
Otherwise .. The expression sounds like fixing a pre-qualification to parents
for having offspring. If such a pre-qualification is necessary there must be
relevant instruction from Allah or His messenger (PBUH). Is there any such
instruction?Allah says, Your wives are your tilth (to culYour wives are your tilth (to culYour wives are your tilth (to culYour wives are your tilth (to cultivate); go, then, into your tilth astivate); go, then, into your tilth astivate); go, then, into your tilth astivate); go, then, into your tilth as
you wish but take heed of your futureyou wish but take heed of your futureyou wish but take heed of your futureyou wish but take heed of your future(Al-Baqra:223).
According to the above verse our wives are not merely for recreation but for a
greater good of the humanity, i.e., procreation to maintain the continuity of
human race so that when we depart from this world there should be others to
replace us in our tasks. Here future stands for both the future of this world as
well as the world hereafter. So taking heed of future implies that one shouldbe concerned with the quality of the coming generation. This doesnt mean
that human race is like product of a factory where quantity of production
should be limited by demand and acceptable standard of quality. Working for
production and striving for good quality of new generation are both sacred
duties. The latter part of the verse warns those who deliberately neglect the
two duties.
Allah is the creator and humans are
agents for procreation. So, how canthey have right to be choosy in
procreation? Everything whether right
or wrong happens with the will of
Allah; right events are approved by
Him whereas wrong ones are
disapproved. Every birth that takes
place is with His will and approval. So
a parent is required to have only one
prequalification to be part of this
approved event and that is to be a
lawful partner through marriage.
There is no other prequalification.
Effort to make the offspring a
responsible servant of Allah is post-
event duty and not pre-event
eligibility.
Some people take children as a burden whereas Allah assures that He shall
-
7/29/2019 Prequalification for Human Procreation
3/4
provide sustenance for them (Al-Anaam: 151). People who dont have courage
to take up this assignment from their Lord seek the permissibility of
contraception. Though certain methods of contraception are said to be
permitted in few circumstances, but doing this for economic reasons shows
lack of trust in Allah. There are number of Ahadith in Sahih Muslim where
the messenger of Allah (PBUH) issued his no objection to coitus interruptus,but emphasized that nothing can stop a birth decreed by Allah. A question
may be asked, if it doesnt serve the sought purpose then why was it allowed? I
understand that it was allowed as an ineffective but un-harmful act. I compare
this with a hadith where the messenger of Allah (PBUH) had prohibited the
practice of blowing to cure diseases, but later allowed when requested by some
people. Hadrat Umair, freed slave of Abi al-Laham said, "In the pre-Islamic
days I had a formula with which I used to blow over the people. I recited it
before the Holy Prophet, whereupon he told me to drop out such and suchwords from it, and permitted me to blow with the rest of it."
Any idea to reduce human population in order to raise the quality of populace
is ungodly. There is no scarcity of worldly resources. Statistics show that
billions of tons of foodstuff are wasted every year. It is the imbalance of
distribution that causes many to starve. The worlds 100 richest people earned
enough money last year ($240 billion net income) that could end worlds
extreme poverty four times over, according to the international rights group
and charity Oxfam. The problem is wickedness of ungodly man. Even if thepopulation reduces drastically, the situation shall not change unless the
attitude improves. The source of misery of mankind is not the population but
greed and commercialization. We need hell lot of money to bestow education to
our offspring. Tarbiyat, which doesnt cost anything, carries no value without
an educational degree in an ungodly society.
Everyone laments the inability of the Ummah to adapt to changing times, but
forgets that all the changes dont lead to ultimate benefit. It is essential to
distinguish between the beneficial and harmful changes. The Ummah needs to
be drivers of only beneficial changes. Doctrine of materialism is the most
prevalent ideology among masses, illa masha Allah. Whether embraced
deliberately or unwittingly, materialism is a form of shirk.
Let us read verses 32 to 42 of Surah Kahaf There was a man whom Allah
gave vineyards surrounded with date-palm trees, land for cultivation, and a
canal flowing through. The man was proud of his achievements and boasted
while conversing with his neighbour, I have more of wealth than you and
have mightier men at my service. Then he entered his garden and said, "I
-
7/29/2019 Prequalification for Human Procreation
4/4
don't think that this wealth of mine will ever perish, and I do not believe that
the Hour of Resurrection will ever come. Anyhow if ever I am returned to my
Lord, I will get even a grander place than this. Allah destroyed his gardens
and he began to wring his hands in sorrow saying: "Would I had not associated
anyone with my Lord in His Divinity!" Which god the man in the parable did
associate with his Lord? No laat, manaat, durga or lakshmi; it was none butmaterialism?
top related