The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 445
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 445 himself. 1 In another narration it is related that Hārith, the father of Juwairiyah presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa and said, “I am the chief of my people, my daughter cannot be kept in captivity this way. ” The Holy Prophet sa said, “Juwairiyah should be asked that if she wishes to be set free and return, we are prepared to release her. However, if she wishes to remain with us, she is most welcome. ” When this was inquired of Juwairiyah, she decided to become a Muslim and remain in the company of the Holy Prophet sa , upon which the Holy Prophet sa released her and married her. 2 Permission for Birth Control In this Ghazwah , i. e. , the Ghazwah of Banū Muṣṭaliq, upon the inquiry of various Companions, the Holy Prophet sa said that he does not consider it unlawful to practice birth control. In other words, the Holy Prophet sa declared that on the basis of necessity or wisdom, it is lawful for a man to employ any such method by which his wife does not become pregnant as a result of intercourse. 3 In light of this edict, it is permissible for a Muslim to employ birth control for the health and well-being of his wife or children, or for any other genuine purpose. However, as derived from a Qur’ānic verse, Islām does not permit the use of birth control for the fear of poverty or financial difficulty, 4 nor does it permit the use of such methods without the wife’s permission. 5 Although this was a very insignificant issue in those times, but in the current day and age, it has taken on quite a bit of significance and interest. 1 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 4, pp. 426-427, Juwairiyyatu Ummul-Mu’minīna, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 892, Dhikru Azwājihī Ummahātil-Mu’minīna, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 Al-Iṣābah Fī Tamīziṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By Aḥmad bin ‘Alī bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 8, p. 74, Juwairiyyatu Bintul-Ḥārith, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2005) 3 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwati Banil-Muṣṭaliqi Min Khuzā‘ata Wa Hiya Ghazwatul-Muraisī‘, Ḥadīth No. 4138 * Al-Muwaṭṭā, By Imām Mālik bin Anas, Kitābuṭ-Ṭalāq, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fil-‘Azli, Ḥadīth No. 1262 * Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fil-‘Azli, Ḥadīth No. 1137 4 Bani Isrā’īl (17:32) 5 Mishkātul-Maṣābīḥ, Volume 1, p. 586, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābul-Mubāsharah, Al-Faṣluth-Thālith, Ḥadīth No. 2222, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2003)