What is the Sharia ruling on using birth control methods to regulate conception, which include preventing the formation of a woman's ovum, preventing the meeting of the two ova, and preventing the attachment of the zygote to the uterus?

Means of contraception are divided into two categories: The first is permanent termination of pregnancy, which is forbidden because it contravenes the objective of Islamic law regarding increasing offspring. The second is temporary prevention, which is permissible under certain conditions:

1. It must not cause harm to the woman, based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "There should be neither harm nor reciprocal harm," and Allah’s (the Most High) saying: "And do not kill yourselves."

2. It must be with the consent of both spouses, due to their right to procreate.

3. There must be a need for it, such as the mother’s fatigue from successive births.

4. The intention must not be to completely cut off procreation.

The permissibility is evidenced by the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him): "We used to practice coitus interruptus while the Quran was being revealed," and the Companions’ approval of coitus interruptus. This detailed ruling applies to methods that prevent the formation of the ovum, its meeting with sperm, or the attachment of the zygote to the uterus.