Title: Right To Decide about Having a Child Question: Right To Decide about Having a Child It is certainly the woman who has to carry the burden of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth. So I would like to know whether the woman has more right to have or not to have a child than her husband from Islamic point of view? Thanks Jazzakallah khairun Nauman Ilyas Pakistan Answer: I appreciate and understand your reasoning regarding this topic. However, it should be clear that the Shari'ah (i.e. Islamic Law), through its bylaws, has developed the best possible circumstances for a child to be brought into life. Some of the elements of these circumstances are a mother and father who are married to one another, an ability for the family to function through providence guaranteed by the marriage contract and most importantly the responsibility of the parents to love their child and provide him/her the best care they can. Having emphasized the importance of marriage and family building, the Shari'ah , has developed an atmosphere of mutual consultation and consent whether a child should be brought into this world. After all, neither person could produce a child by themselves and, biologically speaking, the child is exactly half of each parent, in layman's terms. The blessing that the mother endures in carrying the child is part of the gift God has given women, however while the woman is attending to her child's (or children's) needs the father must attend to the entire family's necessities. It is his obligation. This, in no way, reduces one or the other's role, it is only to put in perspective how this body (i.e. the family) is to function best. It is evident that the right to have a child relates to mutual consent. When two married people are prepared and ready to have a child based on wise and well thought out decisions then both parents are charged with the right to have the child. Keep in mind that neither person can force the other to have the child, by any means. Children are a privilege and blessing from the Lord. They are the representatives of our love, guidance, devotion and who we are as parents. It would be best, therefore, to bring them into this world in happiness and welcome them with love. I hope I have clarified the issue God knows best Ronnie Hassan May 1, 2003