Contraception

by Abbas Ali 

Contraception is a social issue because it is practiced everywhere in the world. I researched on this issue based on different religions how much it is appreciated by the religions.   

 Islamic view[1]

 Muslims strive to build strong family and community bonds, and welcome children as a gift from Allah. Marriage is encouraged, and raising children is one of the main purposes of marriage in Islam. Few Muslims choose to remain child-free by choice, but many prefer to plan their families through the use of contraception. The Quran does not specifically refer to contraception or family planning. In verses forbidding infanticide, the Quran warns Muslims, “Do not kill your children for fear of want; We provide sustenance for them and for you” (6:151, 17:31). Some Muslims have interpreted this as a prohibition against contraception as well, but this is not a widely accepted view.

            Some early forms of birth control were practiced during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and he did not object to their appropriate use – such as to benefit the family or the mother’s health, or to delay pregnancy for a certain period of time. This verse serves as a reminder, though, that Allah takes care of our needs and we should not hesitate to bring children into the world out of fear or for selfish reasons. We must also remember that no method of birth control is 100% effective; Allah is the Creator, and if Allah wants a couple to have a child, we should accept it as His will.

Biblical View[2]

Two parts of the Bible are often quoted to show God's disapproval of birth control:

·        First, God commanded his people to "Be fruitful and multiply," and contraception is seen as specifically flouting this instruction.

·        Second, Onan was killed by God for "spilling his seed," which is often taken as divine condemnation of coitus interruptus.

The first of these examples is normally rebutted by demonstrating that contraception has not prevented human beings from being fruitful and multiplying.

There are at least two interpretations of the second example:

·        God may have been angry with Onan for having sex for a purpose other than having children

·        this interpretation supports the idea that contraception is morally wrong

·        it also supports the idea that there is only one kind of morally good sexual act: sex between a man and a woman who are married and who are having sex to produce children

·        God may not have been angry with Onan for preventing conception but for failing to honour a commandment to produce a child with his dead brother's wife

·        but this interpretation has no application to modern cultures or morality

·        the act that Jewish law required Onan to perform would nowadays be regarded as rape, since the widow's consent was not required - and this makes the story a very dubious foundation for moral argument.

Scripture in favour of contraception: The Bible never explicitly approves of contraception. However, there are a number of passages where the Bible appears to accept that sex should be enjoyed for other reasons than the production of children, and some people argue that this implies that no wrong is done if a couple have sex with the intention of not having children.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it".
And thus, having established marriage, God gives them their primary directive, “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it!” It is clear, the God loves human life, and is eager to see this first couple not merely replace themselves, but to multiply, yes, to fill the whole earth. God is love, and seeks to share his love and diffuse it far and wide. God loves life, especially human life. Here then is a great testimony of the sacredness in the beauty of human life, in the God’s joy at the existence of every human person, and his eagerness to see human life growing and prospering. 
Exodus 23:25-26 Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.
Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. 
Psalm 128:1-4 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

My Opinion: As a former Muslim I do not support the contraception because the Qur'an does not support it. As a believer I cannot support or practice the contraception because it is absolutely against God's will.
How about you: Do you support the contraception? Why or why not?
  

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               [1] http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/Contraception-In-Islam.htm.

               [2] www.bbc.co.uk/.../christianity/christianethics/contraception_1.shtml & www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3009468/posts.