Short answer
Wanting children, and many of them, is encouraged. The Prophet ﷺ told men to marry women who are loving and fertile, because he would be proud of the size of his nation. But there is no set number, and spacing children for the mother's health or the family's ability is allowed by agreement. The four schools agree.
Seeking children is a sunnah purpose of marriage, and having many is praiseworthy. Temporary spacing of births by mutual agreement is permissible for a valid reason such as the mother's health, and disliked when done out of fear of poverty. Permanently ending the ability to have children without a medical need is not permitted.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
A man asked the Prophet ﷺ whether he should marry a woman of status and beauty who could not have children. He said no, and told him to marry a woman who is loving and fertile, because he would be proud of the great number of his nation. The Quran calls wealth and children the adornment of this life, and the prophets prayed for righteous offspring.
What the sunnah encourages:
- Welcoming children as a blessing, not a burden.
- Trusting Allah for provision: the Quran forbids killing children for fear of poverty, saying He provides for them and for you.
- Raising them well, since a righteous child's dua continues after the parent's death.
What it does not require:
- A particular number. Families differ in health, means and circumstances.
- Pregnancy straight after pregnancy at the cost of the mother's health. Spacing by agreement is allowed; see birth control.
- Blame for couples who cannot have children. That is Allah's decree; see not wanting kids.
Children are also a trust and a test, as the Quran says. A few children raised in faith and love outweigh many who are neglected. Make the dua for children, and read Quran verses about children.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Kahf 18:46
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًۭا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًۭا ﴿٤٦﴾
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
Children are a blessing of this life.
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:31
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَٰقٍۢ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًۭٔا كَبِيرًۭا ﴿٣١﴾
And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.
Fear of poverty is not a reason to reject children.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2050
Graded hasan sahih... تزوجوا الودود الولود فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم ...
"Marry the loving and fertile, for I will take pride in your great numbers before the nations."
Having many children is encouraged.
Sahih Muslim 1631
Sahih... أو ولد صالح يدعو له ...
"...or a righteous child who prays for him."
A righteous child benefits the parent after death.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Nikah, chapter on the marriage of slaves, discussion of 'azl. Spacing children by agreement of the spouses.
- Ihya Ulum al-Din (al-Ghazali), Kitab Adab al-Nikah. Having children as one of the purposes of marriage.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.