Coitus interruptus ('azl)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the first group to practise 'azl (withdrawal, an ancient method of contraception) were some people of the Ansar. So they came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said that some people of the Ansar practise 'azl. On hearing this he (peace and blessings be upon him) became concerned (in view of the gravity of the matter) and said: "Indeed, the soul whose creation has been decreed will certainly come into existence." After that he (peace and blessings be upon him) neither commanded this practice nor forbade it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that, about 'azl (i.e. withdrawing before ejaculation during intercourse), he said: "If the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has said anything about it, then it is true and is just as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said," and I personally see nothing objectionable in this practice; it is your own field: if you wish, keep it thirsty, and if you wish, water it.
This report establishes that there is latitude in the Shari'ah in the matter of 'azl, and Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) explained this issue with an eloquent agricultural example: just as a farmer has the choice of watering his land or not, likewise the matter of depositing the seed or not is within the husband's choice.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came into the blessed presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have barely escaped from the grip of the polytheists to reach you, and I have a young slave girl with whom I practise 'azl (a particular method of avoiding children), because I intend to sell her in the market?" So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whatever has been decreed for her will certainly reach her."

Imam Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Hammad bin Salamah narrated to us by way of Umarah al-Abdi, who narrates from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that he mentioned a hadith about 'azl (withdrawing before ejaculation during intercourse) and said: "I practised 'azl with a slave girl of mine, but (by the decree of Allah) she gave birth to this boy, who is the most beloved of all people to me."

It is narrated from Abd al-Wahid al-Bunani (may Allah have mercy on him) that a man came to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and asked him about 'azl (withdrawing before ejaculation to prevent pregnancy). He (may Allah be pleased with him) struck his hand on the ground near him (in displeasure), and then when the man turned his back to leave, he (may Allah be pleased with him) threw a small pebble at him and said: "Uff!"
The narrator of the hadith, Abd al-Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him), relates: I mentioned this incident to Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said (explaining its permissibility): "We did not see any harm or wrong in this practice."

Imam Musaddad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated, by way of Yahya, Shu'bah, Hammad and Ibrahim, from the eminent Successor Alqamah (may Allah have mercy on him) and the other companions and students of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that all these elders said: "There is no harm and no objection in the Shari'ah in 'azl (i.e. ejaculating outside the private part to avoid conception)."

If Allah wills, further detail on this topic will come in the tafsir of Surah al-Baqarah, while part of it has already passed in the chapter 'Ishrat al-Nisa' (good companionship with women).