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Prequalification for Human Procreation<br />
… by Shakeel Ashraf (shakeel.ashraf@yahoo.com)<br />
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?<br />
population control. The author supported by another participant I understand that it was allowed as an ineffective but un-harmful act. I<br />
demonstrated highest zeal to promote their theory. They cited compare this with a hadith where the messenger of Allah (PBUH) had<br />
growing population as a burden on the community and highlighted prohibited the practice of blowing to cure diseases, but later allowed<br />
birth control not only as a shariah compliant act but a desirable when requested by some people. Hadrat Umair, freed slave of Abi alpractice<br />
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<br />
participant quoted three ahadith to prove his stand but ignored that to blow over the people. I recited it before the Holy Prophet,<br />
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<br />
stated that the soul, which has to be born permitted me to blow with the rest of it.”<br />
until the Day of Judgment, must be born.<br />
According to him ijtehad is required to Any idea to reduce human population in order to raise the quality of<br />
demonstrate desirability of birth control. populace is ungodly. There is no scarcity of worldly resources.<br />
What is scope of ijtehad when the subject Statistics show that billions of tons of foodstuff are wasted every<br />
is clear like daylight- what is decreed would year. It is the imbalance of distribution that causes many to starve.<br />
come? Do they dare to do ijtehad on Divine The world’s 100 richest people earned enough money last year ($240<br />
decree? Is there any way to know that billion net income) that could end world’s extreme poverty four times<br />
someone who is castrated would have over, according to the international rights group and charity Oxfam.<br />
reproduced? Abortion is a murder and The problem is wickedness of ungodly man. Even if the population<br />
contraception is a probability based reduces drastically, the situation shall not change unless the attitude<br />
venture. Leaving it to Allah is the only improves. The source of misery of mankind is not the population but<br />
desirable act for a believer. This is my greed and commercialization. We need hell lot of money to bestow<br />
understanding on this subject.<br />
education to our offspring. Tarbiyat, which doesn’t cost anything,<br />
carries no value without an educational degree in an ungodly society.<br />
A quote from debate: “So if parents are capable to provide a better Everyone laments the inability of the Ummah to adapt to changing<br />
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.<br />
more children. Otherwise …..” The expression sounds like fixing a pre- It is essential to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful<br />
qualification to parents for having offspring. If such a pre- changes. The Ummah needs to be drivers of only beneficial changes.<br />
qualification is necessary there must be relevant instruction from Doctrine of materialism is the most prevalent ideology among<br />
Allah or His messenger (PBUH). Is there any such instruction?<br />
masses, illa masha’ Allah. Whether embraced deliberately or<br />
Allah says, “Your wives are your tilth (to cultivate); go, then, into your unwittingly, materialism is a form of shirk.<br />
tilth as you wish but take heed of your future (Al-Baqra:223)”.<br />
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<br />
but for a greater good of the humanity, i.e., procreation to maintain Allah gave vineyards surrounded with date-palm trees, land for<br />
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<br />
there should be others to replace us in our tasks. Here ‘future’ stands achievements and boasted while conversing with his neighbour, “I<br />
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.”<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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,<br />
limited by demand and acceptable standard of quality. Working for I will get even a grander place than this.” Allah destroyed his gardens<br />
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<br />
sacred duties. The latter part of the verse warns those who associated anyone with my Lord in His Divinity!" Which god the man<br />
deliberately neglect the two duties.<br />
in the parable did associate with his Lord? No laat, manaat, durga or<br />
lakshmi; it was none but materialism?<br />
Allah is the creator and humans are agents for procreation. So, how<br />
can they have right to be choosy in procreation? Everything whether<br />
right or wrong happens with the will of Allah; right events are<br />
approved by Him whereas wrong ones are disapproved. Every birth<br />
that takes place is with His will and approval. So a parent is required to<br />
have only one prequalification to be part of this approved event and<br />
that is to be a lawful partner through marriage. There is no other<br />
prequalification. Effort to make the offspring a responsible servant of<br />
Allah is post-event duty and not pre-event eligibility.<br />
Some people take children as a burden whereas Allah assures that He<br />
shall provide sustenance for them (Al-Anaam: 151). People who don’t<br />
have courage to take up this assignment from their Lord seek the<br />
permissibility of contraception. Though certain methods of<br />
contraception are said to be permitted in few circumstances, but<br />
doing this for economic reasons shows lack of trust in Allah. There are<br />
number of Ahadith in Sahih Muslim where the messenger of Allah<br />
(PBUH) issued his no objection to coitus interruptus, but emphasized<br />
that nothing can stop a birth decreed by Allah. A question may be<br />
Bakhabar<br />
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