10 – The hadith exhorts scholars and preachers to multiply the number of people who benefit from their knowledge and call to Islam. Recognize how great a favor this is, for it is a lofty virtue. The Messenger ﷺ said, “For Allah to guide through you a single person is better for you than red camels.” [Agreed upon]

• A brief note on birth control:
  In the eighteenth Christian century an English economist named Malthus became famous for his theory of limiting births. He feared that population growth would far outstrip the increase in food supplies, leading to worldwide famine, and held that keeping population in line with the amount of food that could be produced was a safeguard against such disaster.

The theory continued to spread and gain ground until many countries adopted it as an economic principle.

Later, this theory reached us Muslims at the hands of the enemies of Islam—people who scheme against the religion and wish to reduce its numbers and weaken its strength. It appealed to many who imitate the West, so they embraced it, captivated by the notions of minds that are short-sighted and visions that are near-sighted, while turning away from what has come from the All-Wise, the All-Aware—He who created the creation and guaranteed their provision. The Exalted says, “There is no creature on earth but that its provision is upon Allah” (Q 11:6); He also says, “He blessed it and determined within it its sustenance” (Q 41:10); and He rebukes the harsh, ignorant disbelievers, saying, “Do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We provide for them and for you” (Q 17:31).

There are many other texts on this subject.

Fearing that some of the simple-minded might fall for this misguided idea, the Council of Senior Scholars issued a formal ruling on it, and the Fiqh Council in Mecca, affiliated with the Muslim World League, did likewise.