Is Being Unable To Have Children A Justification For Getting Divorced?

Is being unable to have children a justification for getting divorced?

Our religion attaches importance to family, which conduces to human’s and society’s living a peaceful life, and its continuation. One of the objectives of marriage is to continue one’s bloodline. If they cannot have a child although they have tried all the possible ways, they should be submissive to Allah. In the Holy Qur’an, it is pointed out that everything is bound to Allah’s rule and that having or not having a child should not be a matter of praise or ridicule (Shuraa, 42/49-50). Since, in the end, humans are unable to know what is good and what is bad for them, they should not consider what they desire as an indispensable part of their lives and happiness, and should accept the providence (Baqarah, 2/216). In order to be happy both in this world and in the Hereafter, it will be a more reasonable and more favorable for people to experience this happiness in different ways by sharing the blessings and opportunities they have with others, instead of making life miserable for themselves just because their wish, which is beyond their power and will, does not come true. Considering the fact that one of the objectives of nikah is to continue one’s bloodline, albeit Islamic scholars are of the opinion that spouses are allowed to get divorced in such a condition that constitutes an impediment in reaching this objective, (Sarakhsi, al-Mabsut, V, 94-95), it is a conscientious requirement for the spouses not to use this as a justification for divorce, by facing it with consent.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA