Daniyal Mahmood Ahmad, Al Hakam
Japan will collapse – unless the Japanese start having more children. At the current trajectory, the population will drop from 123.4 million to 63 million. The projections for population collapse and its detrimental effects are being brought to light with increased intensity and urgency as the years go by.
It’s not only Japan (fertility rate: 1.2); South Korea’s birth rates have also plummeted (fertility rate: 0.78), along with many “developed” nations. Even China, once the world’s largest population, is seeing a steady decline (fertility rate: 1.0).
The economic implications are severe; the societal even more so. Without a population to sustain growth, entire civilisations and cultures can disappear into nothingness.
This may seem like doom feeding and there’s no doubt that there are many experts who disagree with such apocalyptic predictions. However, whether a future with fewer people is bleak or not worth worrying about, the fact remains that birth rates are declining in many regions of the world.
Why are people having less children?
In order to understand the trend of people having less children, we must look at why they are choosing to do so in the first place, assuming that they are in fact choosing in the first place. Afterall, it could be argued that it is being done out of necessity.
Modern society is generally based on a system in which both men and women are in the workforce. Women are increasingly becoming involved in pursuing higher education followed by decades-long careers, as our current society values this path over the more conservative and traditional approach of the homemaker role of women.
This already puts a dent in the traditional cycle of child-rearing, as spouses have less time to balance their already busy schedules. Taking on more responsibilities requires time and energy, which are already being consumed at the workplace.
Another aspect is that even if a couple feels like they are able to fit in this extra responsibility of having a child, it may get in the way of one of the partner’s careers – usually the woman who takes the role of primary caretaker.
There are modern solutions to these obstacles, such as day-care or hiring babysitters. These seemed to have worked for a few decades, but with the ever rising cost of living, child-care is becoming increasingly expensive and unaffordable.
At times, it is so expensive that it neutralises the entire income brought in by a person, so there have been examples of some women realising that if everything they’re earning is being spent on childcare, they might as well spend their time at home with their children instead of at the workplace with coworkers and bosses that they may or may not necessarily like.
Even if a couple manages to have a child or two, the issue remains that it’s still not enough. In order to sustain our population, every woman needs to have an average of 2.1 children. Many countries average below that.
How do we fix this?
The problem with trying to fix an issue that is disputed as to whether it even is an issue is exactly that; many people, including experts, won’t see it as something that needs to be fixed.
This is despite the fact that there are statistics from experts, such as economists who have provided proof that this issue is a serious matter that must be dealt with.
However, despite all the efforts through the numbers, charts and graphs presented by such experts, many people are still unconvinced. In such a scenario, implementing a solution becomes quite difficult.
The ambiguous moral compass of our atheistic/agnostic society makes it even more difficult to provide an incentive from a moral and ethical standpoint. Why should we have so many children rather than pursuing our own interests and enjoying our lives? Why should we have any children at all?
Again, there are both sides to argue whether or not to have children at all, such as the studies that found that people with children tend to be more motivated and energised to build and provide for their families.
This seems counterintuitive, since anyone with children (especially infants and toddlers) can attest that they require a lot of energy and attention, yet, as mentioned, both sides of the argument present evidence.
In addition to the motivation provided by having children, practicing and believing Muslims have the added benefit of guidance through the Islamic lens. The Holy Quran, for instance, states that:
“Kill not your children for fear of poverty. It is We Who provide for them and for you.” (Surah Bani Isra’il, Ch.17: V.32)
This can easily be understood to mean that contraception shouldn’t be used with the intention of avoiding children due to the financial “burden” that they will come with. As science shows, having children can increase a person’s willpower to improve their financial condition.
Once the financial stress factor is removed, the issue of time and energy remains. With both spouses working, who will take care of the child?
This also has a simple solution. In Islamic tradition, the woman’s primary role and responsibility is to nurture the children in the environment that they grow up in (i.e., the home). (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-jumuah, Hadith 893)
This is not to say that women are strictly discouraged from entering the workforce. Rather, it is about priorities based on natural strengths and inclinations, which again is proven through scientific studies.
How many children should we have?
Once these hurdles have been crossed, the question remains as to how many children are enough children?
There is no doubt that modern society functions in such a way that parents are often left to mostly their own in raising children.
Throughout human history though, we’ve generally had a lot of help through the support network around us, such as grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, etc. That is how our hunter-gatherer ancestors lived. This is still common in a lot of societies, such as the subcontinent.
But the challenge remains, especially to young parents living in the West and other developed countries. Raising one or two children seems just about possible, but any more seems like a stretch. The solution to this obstacle is quite nuanced, and it may need some more thought and adaptation in line with the society we live in. But we have a general direction and standard to aim for, as the Holy Prophetsa said:
“Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations.” (Sunan an-Nasa‘i, Kitab an-nikah, Hadith 3227)
As long as there is a clear goal, the path can be carved. Even if the rest of the world gradually regresses towards population collapse, Muslims have a good chance of offsetting this.