E-Book Overview
How has the Islamic view of marriage, family formation and child rearing developed and adapted over the centuries? Is contraception just permitted or actively encouraged? The family is the basic social unit of Islamic society. Even without compelling population pressures, there has been concern with spacing and family planning. This book is the result of a massive research project, gathering fourteen centuries (the seventh to the twentieth) of views on family formation and planning, as expressed by leading Islamic theologians and jurists. The work has been discussed and shaped at each stage by a committee of Islamic experts representing the majority of the Muslim countries.The book provides a much needed source of reference and will be of equal value and interest to professionals in health care and development work and to those working in the academic disciplines of Middle East studies, religion and population studies.
E-Book Content
Family Planning in the Legacy of Islam
FAMILY PLANNING IN THE LEGACY OF ISLAM Professor Abdel Rahim Omran
Published with the support of the United Nations Population Fund
London and New York
First published 1992 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004. Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 © 1992 United Nations Population Fund All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0-203-16797-X Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-26303-0 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-05541-5 (Print Edition) Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Omran, Abdel R. Family planning in Islam/Abdel Rahim Omran. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Birth control—Religious aspects—Islam. 2. Birth control. (Islamic law) 3. Family—Koranic teaching. I. Title. HQ766.37.047 1992 297'.197836666—dc20 92–11914 CIP ISBN 0-415-05541-5
It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His messenger, to have any option about their decision. If anyone disobeys Allah and His messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path. al-Ahzab (Sura 33:36)
Contents
List of figures List of tables Foreword: Nafis Sadik, UNFPA Foreword: H.Munawir Sjadzali, Republic of Indonesia Foreword: Professor Gamal Serour, Al-Azhar University Preface Acknowledgments Introduction A working definition of family planning
xiii xiv xv xvi xvii xviii xxi 1 4
Prologue: Views of Sheikh Jadel Haq, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on family planning
Part I Chapter 1
6
The Islamic Context Family and marriage in Islam The family in Islam Role of the family The relationship between husband and wife Marriage in Islam General summary Marriage as a basic institution Marriage as a solemn covenant Marriage as a grave responsibility Age at marriage
13 13 13 13 15 15 16 17 17 18
vii
CONTENTS
Polygyny Definition Permissibility of polygyny The wife can disallow polygyny The elements of planning in family and marriage Genetic considerations Cultural considerations Social considerations Marital competence Pregnancy planning
19 19 19 21 22 22 23 26 26 26
Parent and child: rights of one, obligations of the other Rights of parents in Islam Rights of children in Islam Introduction Value of children in Muslim societies Children’s rights and parents’