paul@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Craig Paul) (05/28/90)
There is no reference to birth control in the Qur'an and only oblique references in the ahadith, which do not really address the issue. However, I've included them, as follows... Sahih Muslim Chapter 560 (DLX in Roman Numerals) entitled Al-'Azl (Incomplete Sexual Intercourse): Coitus Interruptus verse 3371 Abu Siram said to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him): O Abu Sa'id, did you hear Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) mentioning about al-'azl? He said, yes, and added: We went out with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the expedition to the Bi'l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering form the absence of our wives (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid conception). But we said: We are doing an act when Allah's Messenger is amongst us; why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born. Verses 3372-3388 have slight variations. Sahih al Bukhari, Book 62 (The Book of Nikah (Wedlock)) , Chapter 97, verses 135-137. Verse 137 follows... Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him): We got female captives in the war booty and we used to do coitus interruptus with them. So we asked Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) about it and he said, "Do you really do that?" repeating the question thrice, "There is no soul that is destined to exist but will come in existence, till the Day of Resurrection."