FAMILY PLANNING IN VIEW OF OUR RELIGION; ISLAM

The tendency to keep the families large is not merely prevalent in poor's, it has likes in
educated and well to do families too in Pakistan. Rigid rules are framed in Pakistan against
early marriages, still families eagerly await girls to reach their teens so that they can be
married off; given in marriage shortly.

As a matter of fact, young women are productive so these girls turn pregnant year after
year which inflict damage to their health and youth early in life and have to do agreement
with the problems of parenthood while they are yet immature.

According to a survey, the world population would rise up to 32 percent in the next few
decades while the population of Muslim world would grow up to 70 percent. This
difference is partially owing to the Muslims religious conviction; God feeds and partially
due to higher fertility rates. Unlike Turkey, Iran, Tunisia and Lebanon, scores of Muslim
countries have high fertility rates above the global average of 2.4 .

Islam does not go against

family planning, it has, indeed
room for it.

Holy Quran; the words of Allah directs people to develop serenity and harmony in marriage.
The verse " And among His signs is this, that He has created for you mates from among
yourselves that you may live in peace with them and He has put love and mercy between
your hearts" (30:21) highlights the true purpose of marriage. Subsequently, having children
is important but it is not the mere cause behind getting married. The child's birth must
power the bond tween couples, not weaken it. Similarly, the verse about breastfeeding a
child for two years is said to encourage the gap of at least two years between the children.

Some members of our society are in conflict with family planning with a view that it goes
against the values of Islam; they must accept what God has willed for them. This,
nevertheless, has nothing to do with planning for better future of the children.
Keeping gap between the children not only ensures the health of child and mother but
enables both parents to fulfill the emotional, moral and educational needs of each child.

People usually reference the verse of Quran " kill not your children for fear of want, we shall
provide sustenance to them as well as to you, verily killing them is a great sin" (17:31) as
an argument against family planning. It should be kept in mind, this verse was revealed to
warn the Arabs who buried their daughters lively and did not wish to have burden of rearing
them and bearing their expenses of marriages. There is, surely, gulf of difference between
killing a child and taking preventive measures for the gap between children on the cause of
their better future.

Unfortunately, as many other conundrums confronting by Muslims, family planning too has
become tightly politicized, posing challenge to government's objective of keeping the
families small on the cause of dearth of resources and dismal economic conditions of the
state. However, teaching true sense of Islam about family planning and propagation of
family planning on even religious lines would Guarantee healthy society and progressive
future generations.
Holy Quran says " God does wish to lighten your burden" (4:28) undoubtedly, frequent
births pose a heavy burden upon women.

BABAR KHAN TOKHI ..