prequalification for human procreation

7/29/2019 Prequalification for Human Procreation

1/4

Prequalification for Human

Procreation.... By Shakeel Ashraf ([email protected])

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.


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


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


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?

prequalification for human procreation

Documents