ISLAM AND FAMILY PLANNING IN GHANA: A STUDY OF MAMPURUGU MUSLIM COMMUNITIES. BY MOHAMMED UMAR IBN RAEES, BA, (Hons.), Cert “A”. A Thesis submitted to the Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of degree of MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY August, 2013 DECLARATION I, Mohammed Umar Ibn Raees declare that except for references to works which have been duly cited, this work is as a result of my own research work under supervision, and that it has neither in whole nor part been submitted for another degree elsewhere. Mohammed Umar Ibn Raees …………….………………. ………………. (STD ID: PG6281311) Signature Date Certified by: Very Rev. Dr. Nathan. I. Samwini …………….………………. ………………. (Supervisor) Signature Date Certified by: Very Rev. Dr. Nathan. I. Samwini …………….………………. ………………. (Head of Dept.) Signature Date ii ABSTRACT Islam maintains that the relationship between the husband, wife and the children should be based on mutual love and care, joy, happiness, co-operation, peace, unity, tranquility and the husband and the wife ought to console each other in other to forfeit the adornment of life. In other words, the couples should be family oriented for sustainability and survival of the family. A majority of Muslims in Mampurugu are of the view that children are the gift of God and He will sustain the lives of these children, hence the call for the establishment of large families within the Muslim communities while caring for them is left at the mercy of the Almighty Allah. The assumption, therefore, is that Islam attaches much importance to giving birth to many children but the responsibility of the upbringing of the children by the parents is neglected and rather put into the care of God, hence, there is lackadaisical attitude by Muslim parents towards birth control or family planning in the communities. The general view of a majority of Muslims is that family planning is haram (forbidden) but it is rather Makruh (not allowed) in Islam. It is observed that family planning would be of great benefit to an individual and the whole nation at large. The holy Qur‟an and Traditions of the Prophet where used as references concerning Islam and family planning and the use of contraception. Secondary sources of data in the form of extracts from existing literature in topics related to the subject matter of the study were used. Participant observation technique was also used to gather information for the study. The study revealed that there is no categorical statement in the Holy Qur‟an in favor or against the use of contraception, but it is evident that birth control was practiced during Prophet Mohammed‟s lifetime by azl (cointus interruptus). The general ruling of the use of contraception is that it is Makruh (undesirable) and not haram (forbidden). The scholars should ensure that they explain the Islamic perspective of family planning, the use of contraceptives and the conditions to consider before going for it to the people in the communities. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My special thanks and gratitude go to Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta‟allah) for seeing me through this course with His guidance, blessings and protection. (Alhamdulillahi Rabi A‟alamiina). I will also like to take this great opportunity to thank my guide, role model and supervisor, the Very Rev. Dr. Nathan Iddrisu Samwini for his invaluable suggestions offered to put this work into proper shape. I equally thank him for making time available out of his busy schedules to read through and discuss the work with me. May the Almighty increase him in more knowledge to help others. I wish to acknowledge the effort of Mr. Mohammed Sumaila of Walewale Senior High School for his time and knowledge in reading through the work and making important suggestions. I owe a great deal of gratitude to all lecturers and staff of the Department of Religious Studies, KNUST for their support during this study. My special thanks also go to Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante and Mr. Moses Sampa for their encouragement and moral support. I am equally grateful to Mrs. Philomena Yeboah Abekah of the Department of English KNUST for proofreading the work. The effort of my brother, Mohammed Yussif Baba for working tirelessly with me in gathering information for this research cannot be ignored. Your reward will come from Allah. I also thank my only and dear wife, Amina Harunah and my mother, Hajia Mohammed Martha D/C, for their material and moral support. May Allah bless you all. My prayers go to my late father Mohammed D/C for encouraging me to read Islam as a course since my childhood. May Allah let you have a perfect place of rest. iv My appreciation is also extended to Sheihu Salawatiya, Imam Hussein Rashid and Sheikh Iddris Abdul- Rahim al –Raees for their spiritual support and guidance. To those whose names have not been mentioned, but who helped in one way or the other to make this study a success, I say may Allah, the Almighty guide, protect and bless you all. I am, however, responsible solely for any identifiable error that this thesis may contain. v DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my late father, Muhammed D/C, my beloved mother, Hajia Martha D/C, my beloved wife, Amina Haruna.. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION.......................................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .......................................................................................... iv DEDICATION............................................................................................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE .......................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem. .................................................................................... 2 1.3 The Aims and Objectives of the Study............................................................... 4 1.4 The Significance of the Study .............................................................................. 4 1.5 Methodology and Data Collection ...................................................................... 4 1.6 Literature Review ................................................................................................. 6 1.7 Constraints .......................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Organization of the work. .................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................... 15 ISLAMIC VIEW ON FAMILY PLANNING ......................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 15 2.2 An Overview of Islamic Marriage ..................................................................... 15 2.3 Marriage and the Family in Islam ...................................................................... 18 2.5 Historical Review of Family Planning in Islam ................................................. 23 2.6 Islam and the Use of Contraceptives .................................................................. 30 2.7 Reasons for The Use of Contraception .............................................................. 34 2.8 Methods of Contraceptives................................................................................. 35 2.8.1 Reversible Methods. ........................................................................................ 36 2.8.2 Irreversible Methods. ...................................................................................... 36 2.9 Female Use of Contraceptives............................................................................ 37 2.10 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 38 vii CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................... 40 MUSLIM WOMEN IN SOCIAL LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY PLANNING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAMPURUGU. ............................. 40 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 40 3.2 Muslim Women in Social Life ........................................................................... 40 3.3 The Status of Women in Muslim Families......................................................... 45 3.4 Rights and Responsibilities of Married Couples ................................................ 47 3.5 Parent and Parenthood ........................................................................................ 51 3.6 Functions of parents ........................................................................................... 52 3.7 Child Rights over Parents ................................................................................... 52 3.8 Importance of family planning in consolidating