I am newly married. I have made a schedule for me and my wife to memorize the Noble Quran over a period of one and a half years. What is the ruling on delaying pregnancy during this period in order to memorize the Quran? Pregnancy and its pains may affect my wife’s capacity to memorize.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

We supplicate Allaah The Almighty to bless your marriage, unite you in goodness and help you to thank, obey and worship Him properly. Undoubtedly, reciting and memorizing Quran are among the best good deeds. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allaah will gain the reward for a good deed in return for it.” [At-Tirmithi] Clarifying the merit of the person who memorizes Quran, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “It will be said to the reciter of the Quran when he enters Paradise, ‘Recite and go higher!’ So, he recites and goes up a rank in return for every verse he recites until he recites the last verse he knows.” [Ibn Maajah]

It is permissible to avoid pregnancy for the sake of achieving an interest if a lawful means is used. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, permitted this act in case of need. Jaabir said that an Ansaari man went to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, “I have a slave-girl who is our servant and she carries water for us and I have intercourse with her, but I do not want her to conceive.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “Practice Azal (coitus interruptus), if you so like, but what is decreed for her will come to her.” [Muslim]

Coitus interruptus was the available contraceptive method during the era of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Allaah Knows best.