Is Taking the Pill Haram If It Is for a Medical Reason?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Assalamu alaykum

I have to take a strong medication which requires also taking the anti-baby-pill, because otherwise a potential baby could be harmed. I am not married, therefore taking the pill would not even be for the use of preventing a pregnancy, but unfortunately this is what my doctor requires. I would like to ask, if taking the pill for the reason meantioned is haram or not?

Answer: Wa ‘alatkum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray you are well.

Taking the contraceptive pill is permissible for a married lady if her husband agrees, seeing as they both have a say in having children. For someone who is not in such a relationship taking it would also be permissible. You can proceed with the treatment plan your doctor has prescribed you. (Salah Abu al-Hajj, al-Bayan).

May Allah bless you with the best of both worlds.

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 to study and sit at the feet of some of the most erudite scholars of our time.

Over the following eighteen months he studied a traditional curriculum, studying with scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish.

In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years, in Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Shama’il, and Logic with teachers such as Dr Ashraf Muneeb, Dr Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr Mansur Abu Zina amongst others. He was also given two licences of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabr and Shaykh Yahya Qandil.

His true passion, however, arose in the presence of Shaykh Ali Hani, considered by many to be one of the foremost tafsir scholars of our time who provided him with the keys to the vast knowledge of the Quran. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic Sciences, Tafsir, Arabic Grammar, and Rhetoric.

When he finally left Jordan for the UK in 2014, Shaykh Ali gave him his distinct blessing and still recommends students in the UK to seek out Shaykh Abdul-Rahim for Quranic studies. Since his return he has trained as a therapist and has helped a number of people overcome emotional and psychosomatic issues. He is a keen promoter of emotional and mental health.