Pregnancy

For the physical and psychological safety of the embryo Islam has laid dawn an easy program without hardship and difficulty.

The holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) has requested to prohibiting women from taking the followings in first week of her pregnancy, they are:-milk, vinegar, coriander and bitter apple because the effect of these substances make her delaying delivery and make her labor very difficult, It also causes her some sickness 63 which has effected on the pregnancy and the baby.

like wise the prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) and the Ahlul Bait (peace be upon them) has prohibited from having sexual relation in specified period though this caution has not reach the stage of prohibition but it is offensive as it reflect negatively on the embryo psychological and health wise. Those periods are as followings:-

Between the rising of the fajr (Dawn) and sun rise, between the sun set and the aurora time, immediately after-noon (zuhr), Beginning and middle of the month, during the solar and lunar Eclipse, when red or black or yellow wind are blowing and when earth quake is happening.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) has encouraged relation at other time after the aforementioned ones. There are other period which has effect on the child's emotional feelings especially during a fearful time as it will cause the child to be indecisive, unrest and fearful and other period which may cause madness,

leprosy and foolishness to the child. 64

There are other advices that have connection with sexual relationship.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "don't converse while having sexual inter-course because if child is granted during that time he is not free to become dumb and none of you should look at his wife's vulva, he should close his eye as looking at the wife's private part during sexual inter-course may cause blindness to the child" 65.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said : "It is offensive to have sexual-intercourse with ones wife after having a wet dream until he takes bath from his wet dream, if he does that and the child becomes mad then he should not blame anybody other than himself" 66.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "Don't have sexual inter-course with your wife in standing position because that is the action of an ass, if child is granted during that time he will be urinating on the bed" 67.

the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "Don't have sexual inter-course with your wife with the desire derived from other than her, I fear if child is granted during that time will become a bisexual or a girl or will become mentally deranged" 68.

It was understood from this narration that one should not imagine another woman while having sexual inter-course with his wife.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "If your wife is pregnant don't have sexual inter-course with her except you are on Ablution because not observing that the child will be heartless and a miser" 69.

At all time Islam has encourage (Zikr), remembrance of Allah before the sexual inter-course and mentioning (Bismillah) in the name of Allah during the sexual inter-course, this is in addition to the uses of a deeper means for the joint of love, cordiality and the holy bond like embracing, kissing, soft speeches and pleasing her. 70

Notes:

63 - Makaarimul Akhlaq: 209.

64 - Al-kafi vol-5:498/ 1st ch- The offensive time; Makarimul Akh'laq: 208- 209.

65 - Makarimul Akh'laq:209.

66 - Makarimul Akh'laq:209.

67 - Makarimul Akh'laq:210.

68 - Makarimul Akh'laq:211.

69 - Makarimul Akh'laq: 211.

70 - Makaarimul Akh'laq: 212.

Adapted from the book: "The Child's Education in Islam" by: "Ismail Abdullah"