A Critical Analysis of Narrations on Childbearing and Their Solutions

Document Type : Original Article

Author

. Graduate of Level Four of Qom Seminary and Instructor at Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran;

Abstract

In the contemporary world, the Islamic Ummah faces opposition from adversaries who seek to undermine the strength and grandeur of Islam and Muslims. A significant tactic employed by these opponents involves diminishing the power and population of Muslims to reduce their influence. Consequently, it becomes imperative for Muslims to embrace the authentic Islamic perspective on childbearing and critically examine the apparent implications of certain Quranic verses and narrations that seemingly discourage it, offering solutions to address such misconceptions. This paper employs an analytical-critical methodology, utilizing Quranic verses and narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), to investigate the challenges associated with narrations on childbearing. It finds that certain narrations appear to present obstacles and challenges to childbearing. Examples include referring to wealth and children as sources of excess (takathur) or tribulation (fitnah), advocating for increased progeny among enemies, or describing a large family as a hindrance to comfort and ease. Moreover, some narrations suggest that raising a large number of children may be challenging and require material and economic resources that may not always be available. However, the study asserts that interpreting these narrations as barriers to childbearing results from a superficial understanding. Delving deeper into these narrations reveals that they do not, in fact, advocate against childbearing.

Keywords

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  • Receive Date: 13 June 2022
  • Revise Date: 13 December 2022
  • Accept Date: 31 December 2022

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