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Fatwa CenterCondoms and periodic abstinence
Question
Is it permissible for me to take birth control pills to avoid pregnancy or use condoms for a specific period so as to prevent pregnancy? Are there any other contraceptives to postpone pregnancy?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
If there is an interest in delaying pregnancy for a specific period, it will be permissible to do that, Allaah willing. However, in this case, the married couple should resort to the easiest and less harmful methods, and they will need to consult a gynecologist before taking any step in this regard.
Among these methods of contraception are: using condoms, birth control pills, injections, and the intrauterine device. The Islamic ruling on using contraceptives differs according to the degree of risk and harm and the violations of the Islamic Sharee'ah (legislation) rules that they bring about. The optimal and safest method to eschew potential harms and violations of the Islamic Sharee'ah rules is abstinence. Doctors argue that it has been medically proven that spouses who abstain from sexual intercourse during the fertile times i.e. the ten days in the middle of the cycle, would avoid pregnancy, Allaah willing. To follow this method, the couple should abstain from having sexual intercourse for ten days from the tenth day of the first day of menstruation. Normally, the couple does not have intercourse during menstruation, which usually lasts for 5 or 6 days. They can have intercourse for 4 or 5 days after the end of menstruation. Then, on the tenth day -- counting from the first day of menstruation, they should start the periodic abstinence, which should last for 10 days. After that, they can have sexual intercourse if they wish.
Allaah Knows best.
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