Physician's response to a woman asking to practice birth control

Fatwa no. 7866 All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' read the inquiry submitted by the manager of Al-Amir Mansur Military Hospital in Al-Ta'if to His Eminence, the President. Registered in the Research Department under the number 2884 on 23/11/ 1404 A.H, the inquiry states:We ask the opinion of Your Eminence concerning the cases which we receive at Al-Amir Mansur Military Hospital in Al-Ta'if. Some husbands ask us to perform tubal ligation surgeries for their wives as a means of contraception or because they no longer desire to beget more children. Also, some women desire to undergo this surgery since they are free to do whatever they like. Other husbands and wives ask to insert a loop or to take birth control pills to avoid becoming pregnant. Most of these wives enjoy good health and they can endure pregnancy and breastfeeding. Other women make (Part No. 19; Page No. 327) a lengthy delay between pregnancies by using different methods of contraception.What is the ruling of Shari`ah (Islamic law) on such practices? Please give us your Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar). May Allah reward you.

The Committee gave the following reply: If the reality is as mentioned, it is not permissible to carry out surgical operations of this kind or to prescribe any form of contraception as this is contradictory to the objective of Shari`ah which encourages procreation. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.