QUESTION:
Are Muslims allowed to use condoms?
ANSWER:
We will reproduce a previous Fatwa from our Darul Ifta archives regarding your query. According to the Ulama, the usage of contraceptives will be permissible due to various reasons, amongst them, inter alia, are the following:
- A woman has become so weak and ill that falling pregnant and carrying the weight of the fetus would severely and adversely affect her life and well-being.
- A woman is far away from her permanent residence or hometown and does not intend becoming a permanent resident or staying for a lengthy duration at her current location.
- If a woman strongly feels that her pregnancy will adversely affect the health of another child (that is being breastfed etc.)
- The marital relationship between the spouses is of such a nature that both the spouses are seriously contemplating to terminate the marriage due to constant marital conflicts and problems.
The above-mentioned reasons are some of the reasons due to which Shariah permits the use of contraceptives. On the other hand, if a person uses contraceptives without a valid Shari’ee reason, then the usage of contraceptives will not be permissible, such as, practising birth control due to the fear of poverty, etc. Yes, some of the current day contraceptives can be likened to Azal in the sense that contraceptives are used to avoid pregnancy. The objective of Azal (coitus-interruption) is also to avoid pregnancy.
Hadrat Abu Saeed Khudri Radiallahu Anhu narrates that they had acquired some slave-girls thus they were practising “Azal” (coitus-interruption) to avoid conception. We asked Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam regarding our practice. He said, “Verily you wish to practise Azal? (Then be aware that) every soul that is destined to be born until the day of Qiyamah will certainly be born.”
In conclusion, contraceptives should only be used in a case of dire necessity as explained above. The female may use the pill, or condoms may be used by the husband in such an instance. [Re: Kitaabun Nawaazil Vol:8 Pg:551-552, Ahsanul Fataawa Vol:8 Pg:387]
ان خاف من الولد السوء في الحرة يسعد العزل بغير رضاها لفساد الزمان، فليعتبر مثله من الاعذار مسقطا لاذنها. (شامي ج٤ص٣٣٥)
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ: «سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ عَنِ الْعَزْلِ؟ فَقَالَ: مَا مِنْ كُلِّ الْمَاءِ يَكُونُ الْوَلَدُ، وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللهُ خَلْقَ شَيْءٍ لَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ شَيْءٌ (صحيح مسلم ١٤٣٨)
AND ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Date: 19 Dhul Qa’dah 1445 / 28 May 2024
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
