The Study of the Jurisprudential Foundations of Childbearing and Human Reproduction in Shi‛ah Jurisprudence

Taking into account the differences among theoreticians over the problem of increase in population or decrease in population, this article explores to find an answer to this question that “what can be decided on the problem of human reproduction and population growth if this may result in undermining Islam and in threatening national security?” Drawing upon documentations and with reference to the Quranic verses and traditions, this article has been organized to explain the problem of childbearing and reproduction of generations based on the jurisprudential principles and various Shi’i jurisprudential systems in line with the dissemination of religious values in this modern age. Findings of the research indicate that upon careful deliberation on the collection of the Quranic verses and traditions, it can be claimed that the intellectual and strategic system of Islamic Law in the field of population in the from of a factual proposition and of a permanent policy, is nothing but the quantitative and qualitative multiplication of population which is intended to increas the power and authority of the Islamic community and to establish the Divine religion. Likewise, as reason dictates, one can detect the desirability of proliferation of population, and comes to the conclusion that birth control or population control, when resulting in undermining Islam and threatening the national security, is not permissible. On the contrary, it is necessary to proliferate population.