FAMILY PLANNING
An
important but sensitive issue
G.A.Parwez
English
rendering by Dr. Manzurullhaq
After atomic
explosion, the biggest problem that gained attention of the entire comity of
nations is the issue of Birth Control. Previously the means, methods and medicines used for Birth
Control were a subject of individual interest only. In those days,
the contraceptives means devices and tools -were generally used to prevent
illegal sexual relations that coincide to pregnancy. There is also doubt that these
preventive measures were also used for legal purposes under some compelling circumstances such as the ill health of
the wife. But the general use of these devices was only to ward off
the consequences of the unfair cohabitation. Now this issue has taken a new turn. It has
gradually
attained a collective stride, with mounting significance.
The population in the world is increasing alarming1y. It is said this increase of population is not proportional to the rate of production. Nor is it possible
to increase the resources of production either gradually or
emergently. It is feared if this state of affairs is allowed to continue the
world will starve to death. So the dominant
thought to overcome this
trouble is to devise means that may restrict this
alarming growth of
population. This is called Family Planning.
In
other words it means the
number of children in a family may be restricted to suit the rate of production. As a measure of national expediency, the
comity of nations is pondering over this issue in terms of the political, economic and health implications. But as a Muslim nation, we have to think from a different perspective, regardless of the measures the other nations adopt. Now
the point
is its position in Islam?'
We have two schools of thought. One faction says the Birth Control is lawful... while the
second says it is absolutely unlawful and unlawful to the extent that
“Had such a motion been moved at the time of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), he
(pbuh) would have deterred it with curse, and had
called for Jihad against it, as he (pbuh) had done against polytheism, paganism, and Idolatry.”
The outfit that favors the lawfulness of Birth control presents those Ahadith, which make
it clear that, the Nabi (pbuh) bad permitted az'l fur
this purpose. (Az'l means
to cohabit
without ejecting semen into the female reproductive track) The
second faction though does not refute the sanctity of this Ahadith, says
that
'The reality of the few traditions
narrating the permission of az'I is that a person stated his personal circumstances or compulsions. The Messenger (pbuh) kept them in view and
responded just cursorily. If any Justification of az'1 is inferred from these responses present in !he traditions ascribed to the messenger (pbuh). Even then it can not be said that these can be applied for the favor of the general move of birth control.
This general move is hemmed in a formal pure materialistic and permission-oriented philosophy as a
discipline only”.
Projecting
the authenticity of the lawfulness or
unlawfulness of Birth control fiom the az'l-relaled traditions is basically wrong. The reason is that these
traditions make it crystal clear that their ascribing to the noble personality of the Nabi (pbuh) can not be right in any sense. Realizing az’l. One of the traditions of Bukbari
is:
Haz:rat Abu Saeed Khazri narrates once sitting in
company of the Messenger (pbuh) a person (Majdi bin Umar-o-Zamri) said. • 0 RasooI AIaII ! We copulate with imprisoned in the battle since we want to sell them.
So what is your (pbuh)
opinion regarding az'1?" The messenger (pbuh) said,
‘do you do so? You have no
compulsion if you do not do so. It is because the being whom Allah has destined to take birth (in the world) would definitely be born"
(Hadith No. 789, Bukhari, Vol. 2, Amjad Academy, Lahore, Pakistan, P.428)
Another tradition is:
“Ibn Mubeeraiz said: I saw Abu Saeed Kbazri and asked him about the issue of az'l. He said, 'In Ghazwa Bani Mustalaq, we accompanied Nabi
(pbuh) and a few prisoners of
Arabia came with us. Then we felt desire for the women and the celibate life
overpowered us. We wanted to
do az'l. Then we asked the Messenger
(Pbuh) of A11ah.~ He (Pbuh) said., "You
can do az'l. There is no abuse. Whosoever is to born till to the day of Judgment, will definitely be given birth to.”
(Hadith No. 1074, Bukhari, Vol. 2, Amjad
Academy. Lahore. Pakistan, P.618)
These traditions do neither require any criticism, or any justification for their proof to be false
and fabricated. From our point of view, these cannot
be ascribed
to the Messenger (pbuh). It means these are not the true Ahadith
of the Messenger (pbuh). Moreover, these
traditions do not make it clear as to what the Messenger
(pbuh) had
answered to the question.
The nature of the arguments and objections that the religionists raise against the Birth Control is:
- It keeps the doors of fornication/adultery wide-open, i.e. it promotes fornication openly.
- It is progeny killing, and is the most horrendous crime in Islam.
3.
Killing
of children under the fear of hunger is nugatory to the belief that "Allah is the Nourisher".
Before exposing what the Quran
says about Birth Control, a brief critique of the above
mentioned objections is necessary.
The first objection is that it
keeps the doors of fornication wide open. First look to the nature of this
objection: This objection is not against Birth Control. It is against those measures and devices that are generally adopted for
this purpose. Now the question is, if a person adopts these measures and wards
off fornication, how will the mode of this operation be
understood from the Islamic point of view?' If this mode is legal, there ought
to be no objection against Birth Control. The objection ought to be against
those devices and measures, which cause
concern for the spread of fornication. If Birth Control is lawful, and under
the compelling circumstances of the country it is indispensable, then it should
be thought out that:
1.
Only the measures not promoting fornication are adopted.
2.
And if, at
present, such measures cannot be made available to the people
then only those devices, which the people can not use illegally, are adopted.
The argument that 'the-people-will-make-use-of-unfair
means so the genuine purpose of birth control be abolished all together carries
no weight. Hence it warrants no need of any elaboration
for the intellect class of people. By the way, this paradox is just the same,
that says since the people travel without ticket, so the trains be
discontinued. Or since the women commit suicide by igniting the sprayed
kerosene oil over their dress, so the use of kerosene oil be strictly
prohibited. Even it is better to say that the use of the matchstick be
prohibited too. Or since the knife-crimes are occurring frequently in the
country, so the manufacturing of the knives be stopped. This mode of reasoning
can still be extended further and it can be vehemently
said: since the presence of woman is the source of fornication. So, all the
women be exiled to keep the fornication closed for ever.
As mentioned above, if the
Birth Control is not unlawful in itself, then the phenomenon worth to be
considered would be: "What means should be adopted for this purpose? And
which options be exercised that do not fall in the purview of wrong
dispensations?" We'll discuss this point later on.
The second objection is that it
is "killing of the progeny". In other words it means if sexual intercourse is done and the women are not allowed to
become pregnant, then this amounts to "killing of the progeny". This
is extremely a weak objection. Firstly, how can a child be killed when it has
not yet come into being? If
it is said: 'the human's semen has the
potential of becoming a child; if the process of pregnancy is prevented, the
child will never come to existence, so it is "killing of the
progeny". The feebleness of this argument is self-evident. The following
examples will make it clear:
·
If a human,
despite attaining the age of marriage, does not get married, or enters into the
wed-lock late, he ought to have committed "killing of the progeny". It is because; with this action he has prevented the birth of so many
children.
·
There
are tens of thousands of life-creating "sperms" in a single
drop' of semen. Every "sperm" has the potential to develop
into a child. It is
not necessary that each intercourse may definitely prod to pregnancy. It means every intercourse "kills
tens of thousands of children". And when pregnancy occurs, out of the tens
of thousands of "sperms" it takes only one (or maximally two)
to develop into a child. The rest of the "sperms" go waste.
These "sperms" ought to be considered as the "killing of
progeny". Likewise, if intercourse is done after establishing the
pregnancy, the entire cluster of “sperms” goes waste. What of it!
·
If
anyone, the husband or the wife, is barren, all the life-creating "gametes"
of the counter part go waste. Will it all be counted "killing of
progeny"?
Despite all
these arguments, the matter worth reflecting is if this all is supposedly a
"killing of the humans", then is this "killing of the
humans" a crime in every condition? If it is a crime in every case, then
what will be said of the "killing" when, as a measure of collective
needs of the country, thousands of the men are thrown into the battlefield for
saving their country by sacrificing their life? For the sake of collective
needs, laying down individual's life (or sending them to the battlefield to
sacrifice their life) is a testimony to the stark fact that it is not a crime. It is an action, worth to be elated and
applauded. And if this "assassination of the humans" is for
safeguarding the troth, then the Qura' n calls it the evidence of the highest orders
(the martyrdom). If this sending of the living youth to the clutches Of death, merely for the collective
needs or the safety and security of the truth, is not a crime, then how will
deterring the process of coming into being the children who have never been to
being be a crime?
Now come
to the third objection that says "killing of the children" under the
fear of hunger is nugatory to the belief that "Allah is the
Nourisher". In other words it means imposing sanctions on the childbirth
negates the concept of Allah's nourishment and subsistence. This question
warrants a detailed description. The Qura'n says:
Slay Dot your offspring, fearing a fall to poverty.
We provide
subsistence to them and to you (17: 31;
6: 152)
At another place says the Qura'
n:
There is Dot a living being in the earth but the subsistence thereof dependent On Allah (11: 6)
These and so many other similar
verses of the Quran are quoted to prove the idea that providing for the
subsistence is the responsibility of Allah. Then imposing sanctions on the
childbirth with the idea that if population increases, there will be scarce
left to eat is against the belief on AlIah's responsibility of sustenance.
Before reaching the true exposition of these verses, let us see the practical
imperatives and implications of the meanings of these verses that are generally
accepted.
·
It is a fact that a large segment of the
people in the world hardly makes their both ends meet. And whenever there is
draught, tens of thousands of the people starve to death. The question is when
Allah has undertaken the responsibility of providing for the subsistence to all
His creation, then why do such bulks of people in His creation go empty-bellied
to their bed? And why does such a big
portion of population starve to death?
·
It
will be argued that these people do not strive for their subsistence. But this
is a wrong notion. During the draught days, in spite of concerted effort, every
one gets nothing. And even in the normal conditions, it so often happens that (just for an example) a labor works for the
whole day gets and gets Rs.l50 in the evening. He is a family of
one wife and eight children. This many amounts are not sufficient for this
family to make both ends meet for a single day. Even the cost of Simple flour
and vetch is a fired pancake with a layer of pulse in it, so they have to
remain famished for a single time.
·
To
the face of such a situation, it will be said: 'This is the faulty economic
system, which does make no provision for such a family; making-both-ends-meet
remuneration ought to be provided minimally as ~
built-in dispensation'.
But look here: now you are no more talking of the Allah's responsibility of
providing sustenance to the living being; you are simply conversing of the
economic system itself. Is such a situation not nugatory to the conviction of
Allah's subsistence? If Allah l1as undertaken the duty of providing livelihood
to each one of the humans, He ought to fulfill this undertaking at every cost.
As a matter of fact,
the exposition of these verses of the Quran is that 'the economic system of the
country ought to be the one that undertakes the Allah's responsibility on its'
shoulders. And satisfies the masses that the provision of their subsistence is
the sole responsibility of the State'.
Now go one
step ahead. In spite of all the efforts of the State, a situation arises where
the production is not compatible to meet the need of the entire population. Nor
does the State enjoy the means to import the required sustenance from abroad
for the extremely growing population. Then what should the State do? Will it be
better in such a situation that the explosion in population is allowed to go
unabated to let the population die of starvation? Or will this be better to
impose sanctions on the population
explosion so that subsistence be provided to meet their basic needs? The
opponents of the Birth Control say the first situation -the
explosion in population is allowed to go unabated to let the population die of
starvation is exactly in accordance with the will of God and harmonizes with
the teachings of Islam. And the second situation of imposing sanctions on
population to make the means of subsistence correspond to the needs is unlawful
as per the Sharia. The State ought to increase its production. There is no
doubt, the only iconic configuration -to suit to the best is to make the production grow in proportion to the population of the country. But
we'll reiterate if the production, despite all out efforts and endeavors, does
not keep pace with the growing rate of population then what ought to be done?
Just possible, it may be said:
'If the entire production and population of the world is kept in view, it may
be that this much production and that much quantum of the needs of the entire
population is at par with each other: Firstly, it is a conjectured dialogue in
its nature and scope; it is, not based on facts and
figures. On the contrary, the available filets and figures, whatever these are,
do not support this conjecturing. Every country of this threatened planet is
nearly fraught with anxiety for the growing population and the decreasing
strength of production. The entire globe is divided into various nations today,
and has their own means to meet their needs. The nations having the surplus do
not help others without charging its cost and how much is to be paid for it are
known to every one. Hence the question related to the total production and
population worth to be considered does not arise at this moment. But there is.
not doubt when the entire populace is knit into universal brother-hood as
Quran's concept is, and the natural forces of the earth and
the sky both are harnessed, the scarcity of subsistence will no longer remain
any issue. But at present, the question is: What is its solution in the existing circumstances?"
Now come to the question at band. And see:
What guidance does the Qura'n provide us for the issue of
Birth Control"? Firstly, make it
very clear that the Qura'n has never said anywhere: (i) you go on procreating and (ii) if anyone lacks in this process
or discontinues after some time, he/she
would be interrogated on the Day of Judgment. The humans have been endowed with the potential of procreation, but like other synergetic
reliazabilities, this will also be used when need
arises. Having power at one's command does not mean that it
is to be used every time. Anyhow, it will have to be utilized when needed. It is the position of potential and vigor. Its unnecessary use is no more than its abuse. Which the Quran has strongly prohibited. Hence the potential
of procreation should only be used when the child
is needed. Now the question is: "when is
the child needed?'"
There is no doubt the Qura'n calls the love of spouse and the children as a source of attraction
for the humans. The Qura'n does
not teach monastic life.
But the Qura'n has never said that the procreation be consistently and persistently continued. And after the
birth of one child, the second be immediately
initiated to come forth. Birth of the child when needed is the only right use of this potentiality. The same is the exposition of one of the
Qura'n's verses where it has been said:
Your women are a tilth for you
(to cultivate) so go to your tilth, as you will (2: 23).
The meaning intended for the
use of the similitude of tilth is: "The women are the means of giving
birth to the children". And "as you will," means
as the soil is cultivated for tilth, when needed, so will be the procreation only
when needed. For example, the Qura'n for
supping and dining. Says:
You, when you will, eat freely
of that which is therein (2: 58).
Obviously it means ' sup and
dine' when needed and never the supping and dining at every time. This witty
thought will further be elaborated later on. These illustrations make it clear
that the Qura'n has never said anywhere to go on procreating continuously. Nor
bas the Nature compelled the humans like the animals that they would have to give birth to a child at every cost after some time.
To the humans, the children will be given birth when needed. This is
called the Family Planning. If the health of the wife is poor, no one can
compel you to produce child a1 every cost. If your earning does not suffice to
support more children you can restrict the birth of the children on your own.
These are individual examples. But if there arise a collective need of
restricting the number of the children in the country, the process of procreation
can be restricted. If, for any emergency, arrangement of rationing can be made,
if for the scarcity of the animals, meat can be closed for two days in a week,
then due to the same emergency, why cannot the sanctions. be imposed on the
number of births? And the rationing is nothing except the limiting of the food.
It is
said: A person has capital sufficient enough to meet the needs of nourishment of a large
number of children, then why should the limitations be imposed on him? But the
question is not whether anyone has capital for the nourishment of children. The Question is whether the country
has the food appropriate enough to meet the needs of
the children. If there is scarcity of food in the country, wherefrom will the
wealthy buy the food? Gloss over it: the
wealth can not produce food; it can only
buy the grown food. So capital
money does not solve this problem.
Here
we do not mean that
the Birth Control must be imposed in the Muslim community. All we mean is that in
spite of all out efforts for increasing the production, the existing conditions
of the country are such that
there is no way out except imposing the restrictions on birth control,
the Quran does
not forbade it. And nor
is this against the teaching of the Quran.
Now we come to the other aspect of the question: "Which means should be adopted for
this purpose when sexual urge springs up? This is a significant thought provoking question. It is because this question poses a basic point that is perhaps the first one seeking your attention. And is contrary
to the routine concept we hold in our life. So its bird's
eye view will not serve the purpose.
As a routine matter the nuptial relation
is thought to be simply the sexual satisfaction and nothing else. But according to the dictates of the
Quran, its basic objective is the establishment of companionship between the
husband and the wife. The Qura'n is very explicit when it says:
“And of His signs is this:
He created for you helpmates from yourselves
that you might find rest in them, and He ordained love and blessing
amongst you. Look; herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect (30: 21).”
It means if you look emotionally to it, the nuptial relationship
will appear to be the
satisfaction of the sex as well as a mean of procreation. But if you understand
it from the Qura'n's point of view, it
will limelight this fact that it is companionship-oriented. It is based on mutual trust, love, and consolation. The satisfaction of
sexual urge and procreation for the race comes much later.
Now look to the sexual urge.
Who was he who whispered that sexual urge is a basic need and its satisfaction
is a must for the human beings? No body knows. But this enchantment was infused
in such a way that the humans assuaged it fully, though the reality is diametrically
opposite to it. Thirst and hunger are the basic human instincts. If you are
absorbed in the process of deep thinking and feel thirsty, in the beginning you
will have no adverse effects on you. But by the passage of time this urge
gradually goes on mounting -and if you do not drink water. You’ll fall ill -and even if you do not quench your thirst later on you’ll die. The same
is the case with the instinct of hunger -though the death occurs comparatively
after a longer period. From these examples, you have Seen those physical urges,
in concurrence to the physical needs, emanate automatically and if these are
not satisfied the human falls ill and dies eventually. Now just
gloss over this question: “is the sexual urge an instinct of the same nature?
And just keep this vantage point in view in deciding the case: It does never happen that you are absorbed in your work or you are in a
trance of thought process and this urge, on its own, has emerged just like the
urge of thirst. Unless you incite this urge, it never comes into the limelight.
It does never come into effect until your thought makes
it grow.
Compare it with the urge in the
animals. You’ll find that in the animals, this urge comes to play on
its own when their mating season approaches. You just look to the bull. It will continue grazing the entire year with the herd of the cows.
Neither will any cow be attentive to it, nor will it be to any cow. When the mating season comes, both the bull and the cow
will have sex stimulation. After the cow is pregnant, the bull will no longer
be stimulant any more.
But the only difference between
the human and the animal is that the human can excite this longing on his own
choice. Have you ever glossed over it: Why the nature has orchestrated this difference in the
animal and the human? It is because the nature does not want to keep the humans
bound for producing the children like the animals' offspring. The animals are
bound to reproduce on their seasons. But for the humans, the nature does not
want to keep this compulsion. It hands over this option to the humans to galvanize
this longing on their own wish and desire
whenever they want to produce their children.
But the human, like his other
affairs, exercises unfair use of his “choice and will” in this matter too. In
order to meet his needs. The nature has embedded pleasure with its
satisfaction. For example, food brings nourishment to the physical body, but
the nature has brought taste with it. a source of pleasure now. Do you know
what did the human being do with it? He kept the accomplishment of his need in
tact as if it is a mere compulsion and has continuously harped on its taste and
pleasure as if it is the entity worth to be enjoyed maximally. Now we have
reached the stage where the aspect of meeting the "basic needs" has
been restricted to the tune of I % and the rest of 99% is reserved for seeking
pleasure and taste in our wealthy families. Seeking of pleasure is not bad
provided this pleasure is a mean towards the accomplishment of the need and not
an end in itself. With the unfair exercise of his choice, he has preferred the
accomplishment of taste of the edibles. He did the same with the sex potential.
This potential was given for procreation. to which the Nature also attached the
aspect of pleasure. But he made the sexual pleasure as the end to be achieved
through it. Now he has left the need and has made the sexual pleasure as the
only end in his life. You would have heard of the people who eat the most
delicious food to their belly full and then by inserting their finger into
their mouth they vomit it all and then star eating again. Setting the basic
needs aside and enjoying pleasure with sexual orgasm as the only end has made
man too wayward to be restricted. He remains engrossed with this orgasm.
The aforementioned illustration makes
it clear that the purpose of sex potential is reproduction. The other ends such
as making use of it for the sake of pleasure and enjoyment is
against the aim of the Nature. The Quran has used two terms for determining
whether the use of sex potential is fair or foul, legal or illegal. And this
makes the matter quite clear. The Quran has given a list of relations with whom
the wedlock is Hararn, illegal. Then the Quran says the marriage with other
women is Halal, legal for you but the condition is that the sexual relation
with them is based on muhse neena ghaira
musaafeheena (4: 24). Muhse neena means "to keep
safe and snug; to fortify against any oddity; to keep guarded and
protected". And musaa feheena means, to have sexual intercourse
only for ejaculation of semen for getting orgasm". The only difference
between wedlock and fornication is that in wedlock the purpose of sexual
intercourse is to keep semen secure in womb for reproduction, and in
fornication it is tried to seek pleasure without getting the semen fertilize
the female ovum in the womb. It
is simply the ejaculation of semen for orgasm. So the first and the
foremost exposition of these two terms of the Quran is 'wedlock and
fornication'. With this exposition the Quran has explicitly made the purpose of
sexual intercourse very clear. It means:
1.
If the sexual
intercourse is committed without wedlock, it is out and out
illegal. Its purpose is not reproduction; it is simply the pleasure seeking.
2.
The purpose of
sexual intercourse under wedlock is the reproduction. Without this purpose, the
sexual intercourse is for pleasure seeking. Then this is the wrong use of the
God-given potential. In such a case the wife remains no longer any harvesting.
She becomes simply an entity of luxury and voluptuary.
3.
The legal use of
this potential is for reproduction; the wife is a harvesting, and not a mean of
pleasure seeking. If it galvanizes pleasure alone, then it is the waste
of this sexual potency.
·
This solves the
entire issue of Birth Control. Prior to it, we have made it clear that:
·
The reproduction
should be initiated when needed. It was on this count, that the choice and will' was given to
the humans. And now we have also seen that:
·
The sexual
intercourse with non-married woman is Hararn, illegal and that:
The sexual intercourse with
one's own wife duly brought under the covenant of marriage is fair, legal only
when it is committed in harmony with the aim of Nature. In other words it means
that it is done for reproduction. And when reproduction producing children is
not the end in itself, then the question of having sexual intercourse with
one's own wife does not arise.
It is due to this reason that
the teaching of the Quran makes no room for applying any contraceptives medicines
and/nor mechanisms for family planning. And nor is there any need of making
male, the husband, and female, the wife infertile. With these teachings the
husband and the wife both self-impose
limitations, avoid sexual intercourse and goes on avoiding
till they feel the need of reproducing a child. There is neither
any need of a'zel nor of any contraceptives, for which it is feared that
these contraceptives enhance the danger of fornication laduI1ay many fold.
Just possible you may argue: “how
is it possible that the
husband may not go to her wife when she is hale and hearty, healthy and lively?" How is it possible? This was the point, that we made clear to our readers
when we said: This would perhaps come to you for the first
time; maybe it look to you unique and 'wondrous; so do not superfluously reach any conclusion. Think deeply and then reach any judgment.
This is not impossible. It is possible. And is possible to such an
extent that you need no conspicuous vacillation, wavering or hesitation for it. You have seen 1hat the sexual
longing in humans arises when they have a thought of it. It does not arise on its own. Thoughts of the human, his education and training, his ideas and 6elie& are closely knit
with this longing. You just ponder over this fact that, when your wife is in menstruation period, any idea of having sexual intercourse with her does never come up to your mind, not even in recesses of your
heart and mind. But a non-Muslim does never feel any hesitation
for sex satisfaction during this period. Why? It is because
your belief is that during this period the intercourse is not legal. Even the idea within your vision for intercourse does not come to
pass by it. Or take another
example, an evil-doer youth, who does not feel any hesitation in assaulting the unfamiliar women sexually,
remains last asleep near his
own adolescent, young sister', when there is none else except these: two. He
does never
think of having his sex satisfied with her. It all is nothing but a marveling of his ideas and
convictions. No doubt, there are some
exceptions to it. There are some persons who do commit intercourse
with their sisters and daughters. But these unusual occurrence are absolutely
the works of the psychoneurotic, the psychopaths. The normal men do not come under
this category.
The following example will make
the point under discussion clear: Some years back there appeared a strange
life-story of an American pair in the newspapers. This pair was living as
husband and wife from the last eight or ten years since the appearing of their
life-story in the papers. They were hale and hearty, enjoying gay and glee.
They had extremely beautiful children two or three during this period. One fine morning they came to know that they were
brother and sister. It so happened that when they
were still children, their parents was killed in England. A military man took the
boy away and an American took the girl. These, the brother
and the sister, were quite unaware of this happening. The brother did
not know that he had any sister. And the
sister did not know that she had any brother. It was just an
accident that after the battle the boy went to USA where he met that girl, who had
grown up to be young by then. Both got
married. They could not know of any thing of their previous relation with each
other for many years. None of the two knew any incidence of their childhood.
One day they came to know
that they were real sister and brother. It was after 8 or 10 years. What a ravishment they were encountered with
can be judged from the statements they made to the print media. How many days
they spent in wailing, weeping, howling and ululating! They did not know what to do. Anyhow, the priests
consoled them. And they again started living the life of a real brother and sister.
What was this? It
was only the impact of the concept that a
brother and a sister cannot be husband and wife to each other -though during
the days gone-by, the ancient emperors of Iran, the Sasanian kings, used to
get married with their real sisters. It is only the impact
and influence of the thoughts and the concepts that makes it possible.
Hence, if we inculcate this
idea and concept as an integral part of our belief
that the sexual intercourse with wife can be only for reproduction, we'll never
get the notion of intercourse deep-rooted for other than this pursuit. And we'll hell with
this concept of sexual intercourse as we do during the menstruation period of
the wife.
About 25
years back, the people especially in the rural life, used to hold the concept
that there should be no sexual intercourse with the wife till the child is
being suckled. The people used to stick to it so intensely, that the one who violated
it had to hide his face from the people. The purpose of these Illustrations is
to make this point clear that the sexual longing remains under the influence of
the human thought, so its control is no more difficult. That is why the Quran
does not acknowledge any "involuntary state" for the sexual longing.
The "involuntary state" means, a state or-compulsion in which the
humans become helpless all together. There is no doubt the Quran accepts
"hunger" as an "involuntary state". That is why it allows
to eat even whatever is Haram, illegal if the urge of hunger overpowers. But
for the satisfaction of sexual longing, it has never allowed anywhere that it
should be satisfied. On the contrary it (the Quran) has made it very clear that
And the people who
can not find a match, (should exercise self-restraint to) keep chaste (24: 33).
It means,
like those who are allowed to eat Haram, illegal in
"involuntary state", no one is allowed to cohabit illegally when there are no legal means available for
satisfying the sexual longing.
This was the Quran's concept of sexual
longing. Think how elevated the Quran
wanted us to be.
But when we left the teachings
of the Quran how mean of the means
we turned out to be in
our mentality for the satisfaction of sexual longing. Pause and reflect over
what was the state
of the kings of
the nations. They had two to three thousands young concubines in their palaces.
The women in the
bazaars of those nations were auctioned like the animals. It was all done in the governance
of those who argue for
justifying the need of
four wives on the plea that this process of having so many concubines develops a program through which not a
single night goes, without satisfying the sexual urge. There is no need of any more talk about their concept
of sex. How much we, as nation, are duped in sexuality, just take any book of Tibb-i-Unllni; even
consult any list of Tibb-i-Unlln;
medicines and see how many of
the medicines fall under the category of sex. It is the result of this mentality that we have Fatwa in its favor. Take one as an example
that is given in favor of satisfying the sex urge. "Suppose a young boy and a girl reaches an
island where there is no human population. They can
have "temporary wedlock" till their coming back to the population." It means we cannot imagine even that a young pair can
live without sexual intercourse for a few days. This is the state of the nation
whose Divine Book, the Quran
does not acknowledge "involuntary state of sex". It is because this
Book keeps the sex at a place where the nature has placed it. We misplaced
it. Then came the thundering
tumult of the Western civilization and ignited
the state of sex all the more. It is the
thunder that has engulfed our present
generation.
Its remedy lies in:
1. Bringing change in their concepts of sex
2.
Adopting sound
strategies for checking the western thought The true and genuine Islamic
Education for our children is necessary for this purpose
The summery of what has been said in the previous pages is;
1. The question of Birth Control is gaining
momentum. It
is because the rate of
production of our country cannot meet the needs of population explosion.
2. There are two parts
for the solution of this difficult issue:
(a) Arrangements be made to increase
maximally the production of the country
(b) Even if this production is not
sufficient enough to meet the needs, sanctions be imposed on reproduction.
3. So far (1) is concerned, it is necessary that
(a) The land is managed in tone and tenor
of the teachings of the Quran.
(b) The distribution of the subsistence to
the needs of the individuals is made the sole responsibility of the State.
4. so far (2) is concerned the Quran does
not raise any objection to impose restrictions on reproduction for meeting the
collective and emergent needs. The Nature has subordinated
the reproduction potential to the sweet will of the humans so that they may
have control over reproduction. And they may not be helpless and constrained
like the animals in this matter.
5.
But the right method of Birth Control is self-control.
6
This
kind of self-control is not as difficult as it is thought of. The sexual
longing is sub-ordinate to the human thinking. If the thought process does not
divert to it, this longing does never rise.
7
For
this purpose. it is necessary that
(a) The Quran's concept of sex is
popularized among the masses
(b) The woman is given the status of
honor and prestige in the society. Instead of being a tool for the sex
gratification of man, she may be thought of as the main spring of training the
nation and the humanity. She too may be considered a free, independent and
rational being. Her aim in life should not be to make herself a source of
temptation to men but to impart meaningful partnership.
(c) All the means, leading towards sex
stimulation are stopped forth with. The Quran condemns lewdness, indecency,
pornography and all things that excite and ponder to the sex passion. These
stimulants include sexy films, pictures,
literature, art, nudeness, wrong dress of the womenfolk etc
(d) The System of Education is made
Islamic, reflecting the teaching of the Quran
In this way, not only will the
issue of Birth Control be solved, but also the energies of the nation that go
waste in seeking sexual orgasm are preserved to the extent that every
constructive program will be launched and accomplished in the best possible
way. This is the reality of the Quran. Some modem writers, after an extensive
study of the sex life of primitive as well as civilized men, have come to the
conclusion that chastity is essential to the progress of humanity. Dr. J. D. Unwin
of Cambridge University hasstudied the sex life of
some eighty primitive tribes and of sixteen civilized nations. He has set forth
his views in his book "Sex and Culture." He writes in this book:
No society
can display productive social energy unless a new' generation inherits a social
system under which sexual opportunity is reduced to a minimum. if such a system
be preserved, a richer and yet richer tradition will be created, refined by
human entropy. (p. 414)
Dr. Unwin
writes in the last:
If
a vigorous society wishes to display its
productive energy for a long time, and even for ever, it must re-create itself,
I think, first, by placing the sexes on a level of complete legal equality, and
then by altering its economic and social
organization in such a way as to render it both possible and tolerable for sexual opportunity to remain at a minimum for an extended period, and even for ever. In such a case the face of the
society would be set in the Direction of the Cultural Process; its inherited
tradition would be continually enriched; it would achieve a higher culture than
has yet been attained; by the action of human entropy its tradition would be
augmented and refined in a manner which surpasses our present understanding.
(p. 432)
(Unwin, J. D.: SEX AND CULTURE,
Oxford University Press, London, 1934.)
We have seen that
·
The Nature has
attached a safety valve over the sexual urge in the animals. It stimulates this
urge at the time of reproduction. It means the animals cannot execute family
planning on their own. They have no choice for this purpose. Its benefit is
that such a precious vitality does not go waste in them. It is because they have no command over sex gratification for pleasure
seeking.
·
The Nature has
given choice to the humans for family planning. It means they
are not as bound as the animals are during their mating season. Only the humans
have the option to reproduce according to their planning. It was the greatest blessing of the Nature endowed on the humans.
·
But what does the
human do? He does not opt for Family Planning. To this extent he keeps
himselfat par with the animals. In other words it means that the
animals cannot make Family Planning; the human can do, but he doesn't do it.
The result is the same for the animals and the humans both. And moreover, he
wastes the so precious vitality in him only for enjoying the sex. So he lives a
life more lowly than that of the animals'. As they can not make Family
Planning, so they do restore their vitality. But this human, by exercising his
wrong option, undergoes double Joss: (a) he looses energy, the vitality for
procreation and (b) he lives life of a lower level and becomes lower than the
animals. That is why the Quran says to the humans: "These are as the
cattle' -nay, but they are worse!" (7: 179). At another place, the Quran
says: "Surely, We have created man of the best stature. But (what so ever
he does, its result is that) We reduce him to the lowest of the low." (95:
4-5)
Is it not the
lowest of the low that he makes use of the possible potential of family
planning endowed to him but, by the
wrong use of his option, wastes his energy vitality, -and remains at loss as
compared to the animals? That is why how effectively the Quran describes the
human status: The history of the time stands witness to the stark fact that the
human has done a great loss to himself. (103:1-2).
Have you ever thought of its reasons? Family Planning
relates to the human reason and sex gratification to the passions, to the
emotions. Whenever the human makes his reason subordinate to his emotions,
he undergoes a loss. And whenever he makes his emotions work under the command
of his reason, he clinches success. The teaching of the Quran was to make the
emotions work under the human reason. It is usually said that all the human
problems lie under three categories: wealth, land, and woman. The human had always made the emotions
outweigh the reason in all these three areas of the problem -but more true is
that he has made his pleasure overpower his need. Consequently it has brought
and is still in the process of bringing chaos and anarchy in the society. The Quran solved these
three problems -the most difficult and the most significant -in one sentence
for each of these three problems. It said: Wealth (Capital) is a facilitating
mean of bartering things. It should be used for this purpose. Hoarding wealth for the purpose of sheer greed is the most
wrong use of it. The Quran said the true economic system is the one that does
not permit anyone to keep the surplus money with oneself. With this principle,
the Quran cured the wealth-created ills of anarchy and disorder. In
other words it means the Quran adjudged wealth a thing of necessity. It had never
permitted the wealth to become the mean of satisfaction of the emotions. .
For the
land, the Quran
proclaimed that it is a mean
of yielding subsistence for the humans, so it must be kept open to meet the needs of the needy. It means the Quran adjudged the land too, to be used for meeting the needs and had never permitted it to be used for the satisfaction of the emotions.
Similarly the Quran said of the woman that the sexual intercourse with her is
only for the purpose of reproduction not for the gratification of
emotions. In this case the Quran
also made the emotions subservient to the need.
And hence solved this difficult problem.
The human is gradually nearing to the Quran's concept of wealth and
land. But he has yet not realized the need of any change for his views about
the woman. And hence this problem is turning to be a source of trouble for him.
The day he realized that he has been given the option of choice and will over
the sexual urge for keeping control over reproduction and that the aim of
sexual intercourse is the reproduction, not the sex gratification, will be a revolutionary
day in the world. Let us see who is the first noble Muslim nation that clinches
this blessing.
But it is evident that
the accomplishment of this program will take sometime. We'll have to develop
our corning generation on the foundations of education and training the Quran
enshrines. But this work cannot be done in a single day. So if the exigency of
our circumstances demand the adoption of preventive measures to exercise
control over the growing population, then the compulsory preventive measures,
that are not harmful for health, can be adopted. But it must be seen that these
devices may never reach the hands of those who may make their unfair use. Come
what may, fornication is strictly prohibited in Islam. Respect abiding persons
of Islam can not make use of these devices for fornication. But this will be
the device used as emergence measures. For permanence, only those devices will
be adopted that conform to the sweet will of the Nature which have been
detailed earlier, i.e. Sexual intercourse will be committed only when
reproduction is the need. But this will come through the genuine education and
proper teaching. as the Quran desires .
SUMMARY
Since this topic is
both difficult and technical, perhaps some facts have been presented for the first
time, so it looks necessary that these be brought to mind briefly:
1
The humans like
the animals have the potential of reproduction. And for this purpose, the
sexual urge like that of hunger and thirst does not stimulate on its own. It is also not that of the nature if you do not gratify it, you are liable
to fall ill and die after some time. The sexual urge stimulates under the
influence of human thought and reason. So it is an entity of the human's own
choice and control to be stimulated.
2
In case of
animals, the Nature has kept its control within itself. The animals can not
make this urge stimulate on their own. When the Nature wants the reproduction,
it lets this urge stimulate. And when this aim is achieved (i. e. pregnancy
occurs), this urge subsides on its own. It makes it clear that
Family Planning is beyond the scope of the animal kingdom. Without mating
season, they can not reproduce, nor can they reproduce after the mating period
is over. Their Family Planning is in the control of the Nature.
3
But the humans
have been given the option of choice and will so that they may reproduce according
to their program. There is no compulsion on them in this regard. So Family
Planning for the humans is in tone and tenor with the will of the Nature in the
sense that the Nature wills the humans reproduce according to the set planning
of their own.
4
The Family Planning can be done for meeting the
individual as well as collective needs. The Quran has projected wife with the
simile of crop and has made it clear that sexual intercourse with her is only
for reproduction, and never for pleasure seeking. The Quran said cultivate your
crop as your program is. The Quran has also made it clear that there is no
compulsion on you for reproduction; reproduce whenever you desire. In other
words when you want reproduction, then go to your wife sexually. And when you
do not want, never cohabit.
5
But
the humans neglected the purpose of cohabitation and indulged in pleasure
seeking. This made the doors of fornication wide open. Now this fornication is
the main cause of crime and devastation in the world
6
Its
cure lies in appropriate education and 1I1ining. This should be instilled in the mind of the humans that sexual
intercourse is only for reproduction. Sexual intercourse for pleasure seeking
is against the will of the Nature. When the humans make it an integral part of
their belief, there will be
no need of imposing any
control over sexual intercourse. There will also be no
need of any Family Planning then.
7
But
time is required for making this concept grow to the level of maturity in the
heart of the human. If the circumstances so arise where Family Planning becomes
necessary then medically preventive measures can be adopted. But the following
two things will have to be
maintained:
(a) That these measures are taken under
emergency conditions. Genuine and real method of Family Planning is
through self-control.
(b)
That strict measures of surveillance are imposed so that the illegal use of
these contraceptives does not make fornication easy. . Moreover, Islamic
regulations regarding fornication be widely publicized and implemented rigorously.
8 The objections of
the religionists for Family Planning are neither founded on the teachings of
the Quran, nor have any weight in the arguments they put forth. It must be made clear that Family Planning is one thing and measures for Family Planning are another thing.
9. The religionists have the following objections On Family Planning:
(a) This is "progeny killing".
This argument carries DO weight. It is because without fertilizing the female ovum, there is no living
being in the womb. The question is
if letting the sperms go waste is the killing of a person, then tens of thousands of these sperms go
waste, because after pregnancy. none of these sperms have the possibility of
fertilizing the female ovum. Is this also the killing of the humans? If yes,
then no one can be saved from the crime of "killing of the persons."
(b) It uproots the
belief in Allah's responsibility of providing the subsistence to the living
beings. If the concept of Allah's subsistence is that Allah directly provides subsistence
to every human child, then our routine observation is negated. We see tens of
thousands of children starve to death and millions of them do not get nourished
due to deficient food. The Allah's covenant of providing subsistence gets
regulated in the true System of the Quran. If, at any time, this System finds that the nourishment of
the growth of such a number of children is not possible, this System can
restrict the number of children in the family. It will be quite unfair that we
may go on increasing the number of children
as we like making the society responsible for their nourishment. If we have to hold, the society
responsible for their nourishment, the society ought to decide as to bow many children it can
arrange for their nourishment In this way the decision of making Family
Planning as per the collective expediency would be the entire responsibility of
the society. Anyhow, the genuine mechanism of birth control -Family Planning will
be the self-control of the incumbents. But till it ,s possible. the mechanisms
on emergency basis can be adopted provided they are not used for illegal
purposes. Foolproof arrangements are to be made for checking their unfair use.
Now the work to be done would be:
I. Make arrangements for increasing the agriculture
produce of the country. One of the most important devices for it would be the
infusion of perfect assurance to the working class that no body would snatch the earnings
of their hard labor and that the land; from God. is the mean of
subsistence for the humans; it is not a mean of luxury for a few selected
individuals.
1. All the means that cause the sexual stimulation are stopped forth
with. And means of fornication are locked up.
2. The concept of self-control is publicized among the
masses. Arid if medical devices for Birth Control become necessary, strict
arrangements be made in such a way that they may not be used for
illegal purposes illegal purposes mean fornication that is absolutely Haram in
Islam.
This in a
nutshell is the concept of Family Planning, the objections this concept is
fraught with, the measures that are to be adopted, and the basic changes that
are to be imbibed in the
heart and mind of the
masses .
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