Reference: Fataawa Mu’aasirah – Page 89
Question: In your opinion, what is the Sharee’ah ruling regarding someone who says: “Indeed the poverty, weakness and backwardness of the Muslims in this [day and] age is a result of a high birth rate leading to a population explosion which overwhelms the economic status [of individuals/nations]!”, and what is your advice to the one who believes this?
Response: Our opinion is that his view is a major error, and that is because Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) is the One who is able and facilitates provision for whomsoever He wishes, and the issue is not one of population explosion because there is no creature on the Earth except that his provision is with Allaah. However, Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) provides and denies [provision] in accordance with His Wisdom.
And my advice to the one who holds this belief is to fear Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) and to abandon this false belief, and that he [should] know that however populous the world becomes, indeed Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) can if He so wishes provide [for everyone]. However, Allaah has said in His Book:
{And if Allaah were to enlarge the provision for His slaves, they would surely rebel in the earth, but He sends down by measure as He wills. Verily, He is, in respect of His slaves, Well-Acquainted, All-Seer (of things that benefit them).}, [Soorah ash-Shooraa, Aayah 27]
