Is Female Sterilization Permissible Due to Severe Postpartum Depression?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If a person has multiple children but has suffered from severe postpartum depression after each childbirth and has tried all permissible types of birth control (IUD, birth control pills), but those methods cause severe hormonal and physical imbalances (excessive bleeding, depressive mood swings), is having their tubes tied permissible?
I am currently taking depression medication, which has helped significantly, but when taken alongside birth control pills, the depression medication doesn’t have much effect. If a spouse suggests getting tubes tied, does this qualify as a necessity since one’s mental health is affected by all other means taken?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Generally, it is not permissible to have tubes tied unless one has a valid medical condition, like in your case, having a history of childbirth trauma.
Esteemed Muftis state that in cases of absolute necessity, sterilisation becomes permissible. The well-known principle of Islamic jurisprudence, based on the guidelines of the Quran and Sunna, asserts: “Necessities make prohibitions lawful.” [Ibn Nujaym, al-Ashbah wa al-Nadha’ir]
Cases of absolute necessity include a woman’s life or permanent health being severely threatened by pregnancy, or the risk of losing her life due to additional births after having undergone Caesarean operations in the past. Thus, if unbiased and professional medical advice is sought, and one concludes that a woman’s life or permanent health would be seriously compromised by pregnancy with no other cure for her illness available, then female sterilization would be permitted.
With the severity of your current situation, please contact a local mental health professional to assist you as soon as possible.
Please go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, they will provide you with guidance and direction.
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
