Maternal, neonatal health: Islamic scholar supports family planning

Islam allows interval when there is only one woman taking care of several children, says Mufti Razzaque.

ISLAMABAD:

An influential religious scholar has lent his support to family planning to ensue maternal and neonatal health.

Birth planning and spacing ensure not only maternal and newborn health but also allows the mother to properly cater to the needs of her children, said Mufti Abdur Razzaque the head of Karachi-based Tanzeemul Ehsaan, in a statement on Sunday.

Maternal and newborn health remains an ignored state agenda in Pakistan where maternal mortality rate is the highest in South Asia. Mufti Razzaque stressed on the importance of family planning as a way to prevent maternal and newborn deaths.

“Islam has made marital relations the basis of survival and evolution of human race. Hazrat Jabir (RA) has been quoted as saying that we would give space in birth and when Holy Prophet (PBUH) came to know this, he did not stop us,” he said.

Children’s grooming and care is likely to suffer due to persistent births in a family, especially when there is only one woman in a house taking care of several children. Islam allows interval in these circumstances, Mufti Razzaque added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2013.