Islamic Rulings: Medical Issues

Rules Regarding Pregnancy and Methods of Preventing Pregnancy

Question 66: What is the ruling about having intercourse but ejaculating outside of a woman? Does this action need the permission of one’s wife?

Answer: There is no problem in it and the permission of the wife is not important.

Question 67: Putting AUD inside a woman for childbirth is not possible without looking and touching. In this case is it permissible for a female or male doctor to perform this operation?

Answer: It is not permissible to look or touch even though the operation is permissible in itself conditional upon the permission of one’s husband.

Question 68: Is performing a vasectomy with the permission of the man permissible? Does this operation need the permission of one’s spouse?

Answer: There is no problem with this operation in itself but one must refrain from forbidden looks and forbidden touches. There is no need for a man to get his wife’s permission.

Question 69: Does the permission of vasectomy with the purpose of population control have a secondary ruling (hukm thānawīyyah) and when there is no need for such a measure the permission will be taken away?

Answer: The ruling is not a secondary or governmental ruling.

Question 70: Tying one’s tubes will result in permanent barrenness. Reversing this operation is dependant on another operation that has only a 50 percent chance of success. Is it permissible to perform this operation due to population control?

Answer: There is no problem with this operation in itself but one must refrain from forbidden looks and forbidden touches. A woman must also get permission from her husband to perform this operation.

Question 71: Is it permissible to permanently prevent a woman who has the conditions of bringing defective babies into the world from having children, especially if this has been proved from earlier childbirths?

Answer: There is no problem with this operation in itself if the husband gives permission. One must stay away from other forbidden actions that might accompany this action though.

Question 72: Can a woman take pills which prevent childbirth without the permission of her husband? Or can she get an AUD?

Answer: She must not do this without the permission of her husband.

Question 73: Many pregnant women who are able to have natural childbirths insist upon having cesareans so that they do not feel so much pain. What is the ruling regarding this?

Answer: There is no problem with it in itself but all of the other religious rulings must be observed.

Question 74: There are many ways to prevent pregnancy or for population control. Can people who have knowledge about the different ways and their side-effects choose which way they want?

Answer: With keeping in mind other religious rulings there is no problem in it.