An examination of the arguments for the permissibility of birth control

Question

Zayd says that birth control (sterilization) is permissible, and he has several proofs for this. The first proof: since it does not fall under the prohibition of killing children — because killing applies to putting to death a being with a soul, whereas in sterilization there is only the prevention of conception, not killing — sterilization is permissible. The second proof: birth control is permissible just like ʿazl.

Answer

(a) Killing children is prohibited, and the outlook and purpose for which children were killed are also blameworthy and not legitimate in the Shari‘a. In sterilization there is no killing of children, but the purpose and outlook are the very same for which this procedure is being adopted. What is that purpose and outlook? “Poverty” (imlaq) or “fear of poverty” (khashyat imlaq).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.