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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL. Muslim Association of Malawi & Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi. With technical support from: Community-Based Family Planning & HIV/AIDS Services Project. Islamic Teachings on Family Planning and HIV.
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Muslim Association of Malawi & Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi With technical support from: Community-Based Family Planning & HIV/AIDS Services Project Islamic Teachings on Family Planning and HIV
This presentation deals with population and health issues and quality of life from an Islamic perspective. Islamic declarations must be based on the Quran, Ahadith, Qiyas and Ijma. “Indeed this Quran guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” Surah 17, The Night Journey, Verse 9 INTRODUCTION
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Each one of you is a shepherd and every shepherd will be called to account for his flock. The Imam is a shepherd and will be made accountable.” Al-Bukhari All of you are responsible, and each one of you is responsible for your charges.
The Quran addresses the totality of human life and its environment. It is the responsibility of every individual to address population issues. “…We have revealed the Book (Quran) which manifests the truth about all things, a guide, a blessing, and good news for those who surrender themselves to God.” Surah 16, Bees, Verse 89 GENERAL INFORMATION
One of the objectives of Islam for the family is to bear a virtuous offspring. “God has given you wives from among yourselves and, through your wives, sons and grandsons.” Surah 16, The Bee, Verse 72 “By another sign He gave you wives from among yourselves, that you might live in peace with them, and planted love and kindness in your hearts. Surely there are signs in this for thinking men.” Surah 30, The Greeks, Verse 21
45% of the population is under 15 years of age Young Population Source: DHS
MALI Fertility Rates in Africa Source: DHS
Contraceptive Prevalence* in Malawi *Percent of married women currently using a modern family planning method Source: DHS
High Maternal Mortality • 807 women die in childbirth in 100,000 live births – the worst maternal mortality rate of any non-conflict country in the world • 16 women die daily from childbirth, or nearly 6,000 women per year Source: MICS 2006
27 neonates (infants lessthan one month) die in 1,000 live births • 76/1,000 infants die beforetheir first birthday High Infant and Neonatal Mortality Source: DHS 2004
133 children die in 1,000 births before their fifth birthday High Under Five Mortality Source: DHS 2004
per 1,000 Effects of Mother’s Age on Infant Mortality Source: DHS 2004
per 1,000 High Infant Mortality for Closely Spaced Births Number of years preceding birth Source: DHS 2004
Birth spacing is a matter that is directly related to Islam, which gives extensive coverage to it. • Islam is a religion of simplicity, tolerance, ease and openness. • There should not be any extremism, rigidity or excesses that would harm mankind. OBSERVATIONS
WHAT IS BIRTH SPACING? Birth spacing means that couples employ measures to space out pregnancies, willingly or by justified authorization of a physician. Birth spacing is, above all, a means of preserving the health of mother and child within the couple.
BREASTFEEDING: A MEANS OF SPACING OUT BIRTHS “Mothers shall give suck to their children for two (2) whole years if the father wishes the suckling to be completed.” Surah 2, The Cow, Verse 233 “We have enjoined man to show kindness to his parents, for with much pain his mother bears him, and he is not weaned before he is two years of age.” Surah 31, Luqman, Verse 14
BREASTFEEDING: A MEANS OF SPACING OUT BIRTHS The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Nothing is better for the infant than the mother’s breast.” He also said: “The infant’s subsistence lies in its mother’s breasts: in one is its beverage and in the other is its food.” Abu Dawud
LEGAL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR BIRTH SPACING Among other legal reasons for birth spacing, Muslim jurisconsults cite: • Within the confines of marriage • To save the life of the mother, when health problems related to repeated and close pregnancies threaten her life • For the survival of the child after birth(i.e., to ensure uninterrupted breastfeeding for two years) • When children’s health could deteriorate
AUTHORIZED METHODS FOR BIRTH SPACING • Breastfeeding for a complete period of 2 years. For God says in the Quran: “Mothers shall give suck to their children for two (2) whole years if the father wishes the suckling to be completed.” Surah 2, The Cow, Verse 233 • Coitus interruptus(Al-Azl) • Jurists also allow the use of modern reversible contraceptive methods as needed and in accordance with Islam.
The Prophet (pbuh) allows coitus interruptus(Al-’Azl) According to a hadith of Jabir (May God bless and greet him): “In the time of the messenger of God, coitus interruptus was practiced. If this process was subject to prohibition, the Quran would have mentioned it, because this time was that of revelation.” Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidh, IbnMajah and Ahmad In addition, any modern contraceptive is acceptable as long as it aims to achieve the same result as coitus interruptus! ACCEPTABLE FAMILY PLANNING METHODS
Muslim men play an important role in family planning: “Men are protectors of women.” Surah 2, The Cow, Verse 233 “The believer with the most complete faith is the one with the best character, the best of you are those who are the best of their wives and I am best to my family.” Al-Bukhari MEN’S ENGAGEMENT IN FAMILY PLANNING
Having a healthy procreation that is strong, aware, educated and religious, instead of a useless abundance, is an important recommendation of Islam The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “A strong believer is better than a weak one and is more beloved by God, in all good things.” “Thereupon Zacharias prayed to his Lord, saying: ‘Lord, grant me upright descendants.’” Surah 3, The ‘Imrans, Verse 38 Abraham expressed thus his wish to have children: “Lord, grant me a righteous son.” Surah 37, The Ranks, Verse 100
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “You’re heading to a risk: that of being gnawed away by other communities as predators eat the leaves of trees.” Then his interlocutors asked: “Is that because we will be less in number that day?” The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) answered: “No, quite the contrary! You will be very many that day, but you’ll be like residue left behind by a runoff.” Abu Dawud and Ahmad
Health • Education • Economy and Labor (Poverty) • Urbanization and Environment ISLAM AND DEVELOPMENT
According to Islam, the 6 essential conditions for maintaining the health of an individual are: • Food, in quality and quantity • Food, orderly and well-planned (not too little, not too much) • Good environmental health • Sport • Illness prevention • Treatment (care demands) ISLAM AND HEALTH
Health occupies a prominent place in Islam, as evidenced by the following: The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Take care of yourselves. There are no ailments for which God has not provided medications. When the drug affects the disease, it cures, God willing.” Al-Bukhari ISLAM AND HEALTH
Unmet need results in poverty, leading to: • Increased begging • Overcrowding • Increased homelessness • Exploitation of children and women CONSEQUENCES OF UNMET NEED FOR BIRTH SPACING
CONSEQUENCES OF UNMET NEED FOR BIRTH SPACING Unmet need results in: • Inability of parents to provide adequate education to their children • Parents’ loss of authority over their children, resulting in moral degradation (prostitution, delinquency, drug abuse, fertile ground for the spread of STIs and HIV/AIDS
Education is an absolute right for every child. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “A father will not give best to his son than a good education.” Al-Bukhari “Seeking of knowledge is a duty for every Muslim, male or female.” Al-Bukhari ISLAM AND EDUCATION
Islam requires the State to facilitate the granting of work to its people in order to shelter them from unemployment and idleness, basic conditions for the preservation of human dignity. • In Islam, man is judged on his work rather than by any other consideration. • Work is a right for every human being, as it develops and enables the individual, and therefore, the community. ISLAM AND POVERTY
Islam is a religion that fights strongly against poverty. “Take alms from them, so that they may thereby be cleansed and purified…” Surah 9, Repentance, Verse 103 The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) prayed:“Lord, I ask of Thee guidance, fear, complacency, and wealth.” The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Leaving your heirs rich is better than leaving them in need, begging for charity from people.” Al-Bukhari ISLAM AND POVERTY
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “The fruit of one’s labor is the most delicious dish.” Ahmad “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” IbnMajah ISLAM AND POVERTY
In Islam, importance is placed on hygiene, sanitation, and environmental protection. “If you have a plant in the apocalypse and you are able to plant it, do it.” The Prophet (Praise Be Upon Him) according to Ahmad “Get away from two sources of curse: to defecate in a public street or in a shaded place where people sit.” The Prophet (Praise Be Upon Him) according to Al-Bukhari “Do not corrupt the earth after it has been purged of evil.” Surah 7, The Heights, Verse 56 ISLAM AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ISLAM AND THE ENVIRONMENT “God loves those that turn to Him in repentance and strive to keep themselves clean.” Surah 2, The Cow, Verse 222 This refers to the purification of the body and the heart.
HIV FACTS • Adult HIV prevalence in Malawi is estimated at 12 percent • 60 percent of new infections occur among young women ages 16-24 years • 72,000 pregnant women in Malawi are in need of services to prevention mother-to-child transmission of HIV • 30,000 Malawian children are infected with HIV annually
ISLAM AND HIV Islam highly values human life, which is considered a gift from Allah. “(…) and do not come near tozina(sex out of wedlock), for indeed it is a known, shunned evil, which is a grave sin and a bad path to tread.” Al-Quran, 17:23 While Islam emphasizes moral values, awareness of disease prevention must also be emphasized to preserve healthy, human life.
ISLAM AND HIV Islam is a religion of compassion, love and mercy. People living with HIV and AIDS should be given attention, care, love and affection, so that they can lead their lives with dignity. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “You will not enter into paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another.” “A visit to a sick person is only complete when you have put your hand on his forehead and asked him how he is.” Al-Trimidhi
CONCLUSION • Islam is certainly an open religion, but based on immutable principles enacted by the Holy Qur’an and authentic Ahadith, Qiyas and Ijma. • Spacing of births within the couple is not incompatible with Islam. • Islam is mindful of all matters relating to the health of mother and child. • Islam is a religion of tolerance; people living with HIV and AIDS should not be shunned. • It is the duty of religious leaders to sensitize, educate, and enlighten the community on population issues.
CONCLUSION “God does not change a people’s lot unless they change what is in their hearts.” Surah 13, Thunder, Verse 11 The commitment of religious leaders is fundamental for the well-being of the people. May God guide and strengthen our steps. Amen!
REPUBLIC OF MALAWI March 2011
