Related Experiment Videos
The position of Islamic tradition on contraception
1Instituto per l'Oriente CAN, Rome, Italy.
Medicine and Law
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Islamic law, derived from the Koran and Hadith, generally permits contraception, though some jurists historically opposed it. Modern interpretations and family planning laws align with contraception, despite misconceptions among the public.
Area of Science:
- Islamic Jurisprudence
- Bioethics
- Family Planning
Background:
- The Koran, the primary source of Islamic law, does not explicitly mention contraception.
- Hadith, sayings of Prophet Mohammed, generally tolerate coitus interruptus (azl), a form of contraception.
- Historical Islamic jurists, like Al-Ghazali, viewed coitus interruptus as permissible (makruh) under certain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the Islamic legal perspective on contraception.
- To analyze the historical and contemporary interpretations of Islamic law regarding family planning.
- To address the misconception that Islamic law prohibits contraception.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of primary Islamic legal sources: the Koran and Hadith.
- Review of historical and contemporary juristic opinions (fiqh).
- Application of analogical reasoning (qiyas) to modern contraceptive methods.
Main Results:
- While the Koran is silent, Hadith and the majority of juristic interpretations permit contraception, particularly coitus interruptus.
- Analogical reasoning (qiyas) supports the legitimacy of most modern contraceptive techniques.
- Despite legal permissibility and government family planning initiatives, a misconception persists among the public that contraception is forbidden in Islam.
Conclusions:
- Islamic law, through interpretation of foundational texts and analogical reasoning, largely permits contraception.
- Modern family planning aligns with the majority view in Islamic jurisprudence.
- Public health initiatives are needed to correct the widespread misconception about Islamic law and contraception.