Case Study: PAKISTAN. Mohammad Zakaria, is the mufti of Lahore's oldest Islamic religious school, Jamia Islamia. He defiantly declares that "Family planning is wrong and un-Islamic if it is practiced routinely. If it permanently stops a woman from becoming pregnant, it is harmful and illegal." Being poor, according to this prominent Islamic cleric, should not limit the size of a family. "God will provide the resources and no one will starve," he says.
But is Allah truly doing a completely thorough job in providing food and other resources? NPR (National Public Radio - US) reports that "According to a new government survey, Pakistan is producing nearly 4 million babies every year, and most are born into poverty." Also important is that NPR goes on to report that in Pakistan "38 percent of all children under 5 are underweight, and according to government data, malnutrition is widespread among mothers. The lack of resources in Pakistan today invites the question whether the mufti and his teachings are not consigning millions of people to misery."
But is Allah truly doing a completely thorough job in providing food and other resources? NPR (National Public Radio - US) reports that "According to a new government survey, Pakistan is producing nearly 4 million babies every year, and most are born into poverty." Also important is that NPR goes on to report that in Pakistan "38 percent of all children under 5 are underweight, and according to government data, malnutrition is widespread among mothers. The lack of resources in Pakistan today invites the question whether the mufti and his teachings are not consigning millions of people to misery."
Khasrat and Qadar Gul struggle to reconcile their cleric's teachings against contraception with husband Qadar's desire not to father more children. "We are poor and cannot afford a bigger family," Qadar Gul says. [from NPR]
Debate Question: Are the teachings of Islamic mufti, Muhammad Zakaria, and others like him consigning millions of people to misery?