What is the ruling on birth-control, a.k.a. family planning, e.g. a husband and wife agree to have five children only or not to have any more children when the wife is 38 years of age? حكم تحديد النسل

All praise is due to Allah alone, and may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions. To answer your question, we say while seeking all the success from Allah: Having many children is from the most crucial purposes of marriage, which is something that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) encouraged. It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yasaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘A man came to the Messenger of Allah (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have found a woman who is from a good family and is beautiful, but she does not bear children; should I marry her?” He told him not to. Then he came to him a second time and said something similar and he told him not to marry her. Then he came to him a third time and said something similar and he (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said: “Marry the one who is loving and fertile, for I will be proud of your great numbers.” Reported by Abu Dawd (2050) and al-Nasa’ie (3227) That being said, the proposed birth-control mentioned in this question contravenes this purpose. Further to the point, if birth-control includes using means that will lead to a permanent prevention of pregnancy, then that is absolutely forbidden because it is a crime against oneself and hinders the functionality of this benefit (i.e. production of children). However, if the means used in birth-control will lead to temporary prevention of pregnancy, it appears that it is permissible, which is the view of the majority of scholars. The rational of this ruling is that scholars consider it similar to withdrawing during intercourse (Arabic: ‘Azl).  Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) was asked about ‘Azl (withdrawing during intercourse). He answered: “You should not do it because Allah has written whom He is going to create till the Day of Resurrection". Reported by al-Bukhari (7409) and Muslim (1438) In another report he (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said: "No soul is ordained to be created but Allah will create it." Reported by al-Bukhari (2229) ‘Ataa narrated that he heard Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: ‘We used to withdraw during intercourse at the time when the Quran was being revealed i.e., at the time of the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him).’ Reported by al-Bukhari (5209) and Muslim (1440) However, it should be noted that the ruling on withdrawing during intercourse and using coitus interruptus is that it is disliked. Judamah bint Wahb, the sister of ‘Ukkashah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that some people asked the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) about the ruling of withdrawing during intercourse, and he said, “That is [like] burying alive of infants unknowingly.” Reported by Muslim (1442)   If we combine this hadith with the other previous mentioned hadiths that state it is permissible to do it, then it can be concluded that the ruling of coitus interruptus is disliked because the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) described it to be similar to burring infants alive.