Download pdf - Bihar Anjuman

Prequalification for Human Procreation
… by Shakeel Ashraf (shakeel.ashraf@yahoo.com)
An Urdu article in January issue of Bakhabar incited a debate on asked, if it doesn’t serve the sought purpose then why was it allowed?
population control. The author supported by another participant I understand that it was allowed as an ineffective but un-harmful act. I
demonstrated highest zeal to promote their theory. They cited compare this with a hadith where the messenger of Allah (PBUH) had
growing population as a burden on the community and highlighted prohibited the practice of blowing to cure diseases, but later allowed
birth control not only as a shariah compliant act but a desirable when requested by some people. Hadrat Umair, freed slave of Abi alpractice
in Islam on the basis of masleha (public benefit). One of the Laham said, "In the pre-Islamic days I had a formula with which I used
participant quoted three ahadith to prove his stand but ignored that to blow over the people. I recited it before the Holy Prophet,
the same ahadith while allowed ‘coitus interruptus or Azl’ but clearly whereupon he told me to drop out such and such words from it, and
stated that the soul, which has to be born permitted me to blow with the rest of it.”
until the Day of Judgment, must be born.
According to him ijtehad is required to Any idea to reduce human population in order to raise the quality of
demonstrate desirability of birth control. populace is ungodly. There is no scarcity of worldly resources.
What is scope of ijtehad when the subject Statistics show that billions of tons of foodstuff are wasted every
is clear like daylight- what is decreed would year. It is the imbalance of distribution that causes many to starve.
come? Do they dare to do ijtehad on Divine The world’s 100 richest people earned enough money last year ($240
decree? Is there any way to know that billion net income) that could end world’s extreme poverty four times
someone who is castrated would have over, according to the international rights group and charity Oxfam.
reproduced? Abortion is a murder and The problem is wickedness of ungodly man. Even if the population
contraception is a probability based reduces drastically, the situation shall not change unless the attitude
venture. Leaving it to Allah is the only improves. The source of misery of mankind is not the population but
desirable act for a believer. This is my greed and commercialization. We need hell lot of money to bestow
understanding on this subject.
education to our offspring. Tarbiyat, which doesn’t cost anything,
carries no value without an educational degree in an ungodly society.
A quote from debate: “So if parents are capable to provide a better Everyone laments the inability of the Ummah to adapt to changing
education / tarbiyat / tahzeeb o shaistagi to their kids they can go for times, but forgets that all the changes don’t lead to ultimate benefit.
more children. Otherwise …..” The expression sounds like fixing a pre- It is essential to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful
qualification to parents for having offspring. If such a pre- changes. The Ummah needs to be drivers of only beneficial changes.
qualification is necessary there must be relevant instruction from Doctrine of materialism is the most prevalent ideology among
Allah or His messenger (PBUH). Is there any such instruction?
masses, illa masha’ Allah. Whether embraced deliberately or
Allah says, “Your wives are your tilth (to cultivate); go, then, into your unwittingly, materialism is a form of shirk.
tilth as you wish but take heed of your future (Al-Baqra:223)”.
According to the above verse our wives are not merely for recreation Let us read verses 32 to 42 of Surah Kahaf – There was a man whom
but for a greater good of the humanity, i.e., procreation to maintain Allah gave vineyards surrounded with date-palm trees, land for
the continuity of human race so that when we depart from this world cultivation, and a canal flowing through. The man was proud of his
there should be others to replace us in our tasks. Here ‘future’ stands achievements and boasted while conversing with his neighbour, “I
for both the future of this world as well as the world hereafter. So have more of wealth than you and have mightier men at my service.”
taking heed of future implies that one should be concerned with the Then he entered his garden and said, "I don't think that this wealth of
quality of the coming generation. This doesn’t mean that human race mine will ever perish, and I do not believe that the Hour of
is like product of a factory where quantity of production should be Resurrection will ever come. Anyhow if ever I am returned to my Lord,
limited by demand and acceptable standard of quality. Working for I will get even a grander place than this.” Allah destroyed his gardens
production and striving for good quality of new generation are both and he began to wring his hands in sorrow saying: "Would I had not
sacred duties. The latter part of the verse warns those who associated anyone with my Lord in His Divinity!" Which god the man
deliberately neglect the two duties.
in the parable did associate with his Lord? No laat, manaat, durga or
lakshmi; it was none but materialism?
Allah is the creator and humans are agents for procreation. So, how
can they 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 provide sustenance for them (Al-Anaam: 151). People who don’t
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
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