My wife is 42 and in no shape to have any more children after just having our second one about 3 weeks ago. I am concerned about her health as it relates to having more children. What options do I have within the bounds of Shariah to prevent another childbirth?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

It is not allowed to use or do something that terminates the ability of conceiving forever except if there is a dire necessity such as that a woman cannot give a normal birth and the trustworthy doctors certify that any further pregnancy may be fatal to her causing danger to her life, etc.  In this case, one should adopt the easiest and least harmful use of contraceptives.  Using contraceptives does not necessarily require uncovering one’s private parts.  A’zl (coitus interruption) and managing the time of sex are the safest ways of family planning, and then using pills for that purpose.

However, one should not resort to the contraceptives that require uncovering the Awrah to men other than the husband as long as using other contraceptives is possible.

If there is no necessity, which is considered in Shariah to prevent pregnancy, then it is not allowed, since many texts of Shariah encourage Muslims to increase their number.  Children are also a great blessing of Allah.

However, it is allowed to delay pregnancy if a woman gets exhausted due to continued pregnancies, but it should be practised with the permission of the wife since she has the equal right to have children.

For more details please read the Fatawa: 81836.