CII declares birth spacing essential for Maternal and Child Health
Salman Khan
ISLAMABAD : Prominent religious scholars from across Pakistan have declared appropriate birth spacing essential for the health of mothers and children, emphasising its alignment with Islamic teachings and social responsibility.
The declaration came during a one-day consultative session jointly organized by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) and Population Council, titled:
“The Concept of Mizan (Balance) and Ihsan (Excellence) in Islam: Balancing Resources and Population – Our Survival, Our Future.”
The session was presided over by Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Allama Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir, Senior Director of Programs and Research at the Population Council, spoke about past and current government efforts to address Pakistan’s growing population. He explained how the rising birth rate is linked to serious challenges, particularly in maternal and child health, including complications and diseases that could impact future generations.
Dr. Mir highlighted the national narrative titled “Tawazun” (Balance), which the government developed in consultation with religious leaders to promote responsible family planning. He stressed the need for scholars’ guidance, support, and leadership in this matter.Pakistan Notifies Rules to Combat Cyber Threats
Ali Mazhar, Director of Communications at Population Council, presented key statistics illustrating the gravity of the situation. He stated that around 11,000 women in Pakistan die annually due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. Maternal mortality in Pakistan is higher than in other Muslim countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, 62 out of every 1,000 children die before reaching their first birthday. About 40% of children under five suffer from stunted growth, 18% from wasting, and 29% are underweight. Moreover, approximately 25 million children aged 5–16 are out of school—every third child in the country.
Mazhar emphasized that religious scholars should educate the public, based on Quran and Sunnah, about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for two years, which also serves as a natural method of family planning. Spacing between births not only prevents complications but also helps preserve maternal strength and ensures better care and nourishment for the newborn.
Over 40 respected scholars and religious leaders from various schools of thought participated in the session. They discussed, in the light of the Quran and Hadith, how to achieve balance between family size and available resources. A joint declaration was issued at the end, affirming their collective commitment to convey this message from the pulpit and support awareness campaigns at every level.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Raghib Naeemi proposed forming a technical committee comprising religious scholars and researchers to disseminate this message through media and public forums. He also recommended expanding this consultative process to the provincial and district levels, as well as initiating educational campaigns through religious publications.
Participants:
Among the notable participants were Council members Justice (R) Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Rashid, Muhammad Jalaluddin, Allama Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Justice (R) Altaf Ibrahim Hussain Qureshi, Allama Muhammad Yousuf Awan, Prof. Dr. Mufti Intikhab Ahmed, Allama Rana Shafiq Khan Pasroori, Sahibzada Syed Saeed ul Hassan Shah, Hafiz Muhammad Amjad, Mufti Muhammad Zubair, and Sahibzada Hassan Haseeb ur Rehman.
The meeting also included participation from Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Maulana Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Maulana Tayyab Qureshi, Allama Yaseen Zafar, Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi, Ms. Saad Muhammad Abbas, Ms. Hameer Masih ud Din, Tameed Jan, and Maulana Anwar ul Haq Haqqani.
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Declaration Summary:
The primary goal of the session was to explore the Islamic and constitutional perspectives on family protection, maternal and child health, and rising population, and to develop a collective strategy.
The scholars reaffirmed that Islam places great importance on protecting life and lineage, two of the core objectives of Shariah. Ensuring maternal and child health and family wellbeing is, therefore, a religious duty. Birth spacing becomes a parental responsibility when viewed through the lens of child health and family welfare, as long as the methods used are within Islamic bounds and do not involve harmful or impermissible practices.
Scholars unanimously agreed that in cases of legitimate medical or social need—such as risk to the mother’s life, severe weakness, multiple surgeries, or breastfeeding needs—temporary family planning is permissible in Shariah. The Quran encourages mothers to breastfeed for two years, which naturally leads to spacing between births. Islam’s principle of Mizan (balance) supports a responsible approach to parenting—ensuring that children receive proper health, nutrition, and education.
The Constitution of Pakistan also obliges the state to ensure public welfare, quality health and education, and family security. Therefore, balancing population and resources, securing a healthy future generation, and promoting women’s participation are national responsibilities.
The scholars pledged to spread this awareness among the public at all levels, clarify misconceptions, and guide society on Islamic and scientific grounds toward family wellbeing. They urged the government and institutions to engage scholars in consultation at the provincial and district levels and support them in spreading this message from the pulpit.