News…

The Chinese government commenced offering financial rewards to the families so as to reduce birth rates in the regions dwelled by the Muslim Igors.

The government offers rewards to the families who abandon the idea of having children as part of a new campaign under the title “Lesser births = faster wealth”, and experts said that, in this way, the government is actually trying to hasten the integration process of the Igors.

Newspapers mentioned that the costs of the campaign mounted to around 150 million dollars, knowing that 29 thousand families received rewards so far and another 58 thousand are expected to receive equal sums soon.

It is worth mentioning that China allows three children for the families living in the rural areas and two children for those living in the cities.

Comment…

Producing children is a Divine law that ensures the continuity of mankind and the building of the earth; however, with the expanding population throughout the world, especially in the poor countries plunged in poverty and hunger, we have come to notice an increasing support to the family-planning initiatives.

On the stand of Islam with regard to this issue, His Eminence, the late Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah (ra), says: “It is not true that Islam is against family planning, yet it is true that Islam is against the spirituality that man lives as he fears poverty, for Allah wants man to feel that the same Lord Who had created him will  provide him with the sustenance for his family and children, although this remains within the natural means Allah had created in this universe, for He says: “And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We give them sustenance and yourselves (too),” (17:31), and: “And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out and He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine.” (65:02-03). The issue is that resorting to birth control should not emanate from a feeling of distrust in Allah. We might see families who have only two children and living in financial distress and families who have several children, yet they are satisfied if not living affluently. The thing is that Allah provides sustenance as much as it is needed, keeping in mind that this is related to confidence and trust in Allah and how much effort man makes to find an opportunity that enables him to sustain himself and his family.

As for birth control, Islam is not against it, provided that it does not lead to harming one’s body and it does not include [unlawful] abortion. It must be noted that there are several lawful means for birth control…

[Bayynat magazine, issue No. 342]

His Eminence was asked about his opinion regarding the laws that govern and encourage family planning, and he answered: There is no problem in having a detailed law that governs the issues of the family in Muslim states, whether it is derived from Islam or it does not contradict with it.

[Religious inquiries…]