Short answer
No. Temporary contraception is not haram in itself. In the Hanafi school a married couple may use it for a valid reason when both agree, and it is disliked when done out of fear of poverty. Permanent sterilisation is a separate, stricter matter. The Shafi'i school allows withdrawal even without the wife's consent.
Azl (withdrawal) and other temporary contraception are permissible (mubah) for a married couple when the wife agrees, since children are her right too. Using it with no valid reason, especially out of fear that Allah will not provide, is makruh tanzihi, and permanent sterilisation is haram except in real medical necessity.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Withdrawal is permitted even without the wife's consent, though it is makruh tanzihi.
Explanation
The basis of the ruling is azl (withdrawal before ejaculation). The Companions practised it while the Quran was still being revealed, and the Prophet ﷺ knew of it and did not forbid it. When they asked him about it, he told them that no soul Allah has decreed to exist until the Day of Judgement will fail to come into being. Scholars took two lessons from this: preventing pregnancy for a time is allowed, and a child Allah has written will come regardless.
Modern temporary methods are judged by analogy with azl, as long as they do not harm your health and do not end a pregnancy that has already begun. A qualified doctor should advise you on which method is safe for you. The methods themselves are covered in which birth control methods are allowed.
Reasons the Hanafi scholars accept include:
- the wife's health, or weakness after difficult pregnancies
- spacing children so that a baby can be nursed properly
- a period of hardship, such as illness or travel, in which a pregnancy would be very difficult
Reasons they dislike include fear that Allah will not provide for the child, which the Quran condemns, and simply not wanting children for the sake of comfort. Because a free wife has a right to children and to full intimacy, the Hanafi school requires her agreement for withdrawal, and decisions on family planning are best made together.
Islam also encourages having children. The Prophet ﷺ told his followers to marry women who are loving and fertile, because he would be proud of the size of his ummah. Contraception is therefore a permission for a real need, not the ideal to aim for. See the nikah guide for more on rights in marriage.
The evidence
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.
The motive the Quran condemns is fear of provision, which is why contraception for that reason is disliked.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:233
۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةٌۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌۭ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍۢ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيْتُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ ﴿٢٣٣﴾
Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Seeing of what you do.
Nursing a baby properly is a recognised need, so spacing children for it is a valid reason.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2542
Sahih... ما من نسمة كائنة إلى يوم القيامة إلا وهي كائنة ...
"There is no soul destined to exist until the Day of Resurrection except that it will come into being."
Asked about withdrawal, he did not forbid it and reminded them that Allah's decree is not blocked by it.
Sahih Muslim 1440
Sahih... كنا نعزل على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فبلغ ذلك نبي الله ...
"Jabir said: We used to practise withdrawal in the time of the Messenger of Allah, news of it reached him, and he did not forbid us."
His silent approval is the proof that withdrawal is permitted.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2050
Graded hasan sahih... تزوجوا الودود الولود فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم ...
"Marry the loving and fertile woman, for I will be proud of your great number before the other nations."
Having children is encouraged, so contraception is a permission for need rather than the ideal.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Nikah, Bab Nikah al-Raqiq. A man may not practise withdrawal with his free wife except with her permission.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Nikah, Bab Nikah al-Raqiq, discussion of azl. Explains the wife's right in withdrawal and the excuses that make preventing pregnancy acceptable.
- Ihya Ulum al-Din (al-Ghazali), Kitab Adab al-Nikah, on withdrawal. The Shafi'i discussion that withdrawal is allowed and that fear of poverty is a blameworthy motive.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. 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.