Truly there is nothing more beautiful than the miracle of life. Islam recognizes the virtues and significance of child birth providing several verses highlighting pregnancy in Islam in the Qur’an and narrations from the Prophet (SAW).
It Recognizes the Difficulties:
Firstly, Islam recognizes the difficult of pregnancy and child birth. Allah (SWT) says,
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination (31:14).
From this verse, Allah recognizes that pregnancy and childbirth are difficult acts of women but Allah (SWT) also brings attention to the virtues of pregnancy in Islam. In the above verse Allah (SWT) commands the believers to care and be grateful to their parents. And by bringing attention to the acts of the mother in bringing the child to life, Allah (SWT) is emphasizing her value and importance, demonstrating that through these actions the mother has the greater right to be cared for and to be shown gratitude. The same is shown in the verse of Surah Al-Ahqaf:
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims” (46:15).
Again, in this verse Allah details the acts a mother does for her child: pregnancy, bearing the pains of child birth, weaning, and rearing the child to be a righteous Muslim. These are all things Allah (SWT) mentions so that we can appreciate our mothers and what they do for us. It also demonstrates that the goal of a parent in Islam should not only be to have many kids but to raise them on the path of Islam. Parents should make the above dua so that Allah can bless their efforts and lead them to Straight Path as He is the One who guides.
Therefore, pregnancy in Islam is a righteous act in of itself. It is fulfilling an aim of Shariah that is dear to Allah which is to increase the progeny of Muslims, those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and profess this belief through their words and actions. The Prophet (SAW) said,
Marry the one who is loving and prolific (could bear many children), for I will be proud of your large numbers before the nations (Narrated by Abu Dawood).
We know from hadith that The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
The woman who dies in pregnancy or childbirth is a martyr (Narrated by Abu Dawood).
The significance of this statement is such that the woman is fulfilling the aim to increase the progeny of the Muslims, that is, increasing those who believe in Allah and obey His commands. This is a virtuous act and the intention of all parents should strive to raise children who believe in Allah and are eager to please Him.
May Allah (SWT) make our children a source of comfort for us in this world and the next. Ameen.