By Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi | Translated by Suhaib Webb
The Question:
“Is it allowed for us to delay having children?”
The Answer:
“Yes, this is allowed and there is nothing wrong with that. However, one is not allowed to permanently delay having children as this goes against the objectives of marriage, even if it is a personal choice.”
Footnotes added by Suhaib Webb:
1. There should be a joint agreement amongst spouses when taking such as decision
2. One is allowed to permanently delay having children if there is a reasonable [qualified medical] suspicion that the mother could be harmed by giving birth. For example a women has had a number of caesarean births and her doctors have informed her that any more would lead to reasonable harm to her person.
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Thanks for the post,
An interesting follow up question would be is it permissible to limit the number of children one wants ? Say a couple only wants 1 child, is there something wrong with this ?
Jazakallah