In their responsibility as assistants in helping in family...

In their responsibility as assistants in helping in family planning within the country (of Iran), in addition to the above mentioned opinions, the Ministry of Health has also strived to present the outlook of Islam in relation to population control.

Keeping in mind that there are pregnancies of girls under 18 years of age and of women over 35 years of age; pregnancies which are taking place less than two years after delivery of the previous child; women having three or more children and other such things which significantly increase the chances of death of the mother and her child and also keeping in mind that both of these groups – both the mothers and their children – are two groups that face more of the societal pressures, it was necessary to go forth in the correct manner (in educating others) to help prevent the death of these individuals.

Thus, following in the direction of other political developments that have been taking place with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from the year 1368 (1989), population control was included as one of the principle programs of the Ministry of Health. The outcome of this step forward was a decrease in the growth of the population which in the year 1365 (1986) was approximately 3.9% to around 1.4% in the year 1375 (1996).

That which was the principle factor which guaranteed success of this movement was the co-operation of the respected Grand Scholars through their contemplation on the issue of family planning and issuing of Fatawa [^1] in these regards.

This development in the field of Islamic Fiqh [^2] gained the attention of many of the Islamic countries such that within two years, many scholars of the highest caliber, the Leaders of Salatul Jumu`ah [^3] and Jama`at [^4], those in charge of the Health Ministries (of their own countries) and groups from Malaysia, the Philippines, Yemen, Sudan, Mali, Maldives, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and other countries traveled to Iran and were able to witness from up close the changes that were taking place (in regards to family planning).

The present book is a compilation of Fatawa from the top caliber religious scholars of the Shi`a and the Ahl as-Sunnah within the Islamic Republic of Iran in relation to the various methods of birth control. During the course of a few months, Doctors Shahryari Afshar, A`dham Dukht Rahimi and Shirin Qadhi Zadeh Ihsa’i were able to compile these religious enquiries.