It was not the intention to ram the fatwah down the throats of the participants so they would accept family planning right then and there.
As expected there were expressions of dissent among them, especially from the men, who raised the apprehension that Quranic verses are used to justify family planning that are contradictory to other laws of Islam. Another question raised was "whether we are making laws on this when God alone can make laws.’’
Resource person Esmael W. Ibrahim replied that "the law has been made – the fatwah. But the fatwah is based on the teachings of the Qur’an and on no other source."
"It is clear in the fatwah that family planning does not apply to all," Esmael continued. "It is anchored on the principle of non-coercion. Sharia is the fundamental law on family relations for Muslims."
The fact that more than 100 ulama and women leaders attended the conference signified interest in the contents of the fatwah which had been unveiled at an assembly of more than 200 Muslim religious leaders in Davao City last March 10. The edict had been the result of several consultations among members of the Dural-Ifta and had gotten the approval of the Grand Mufti of Egypt.
The conference was organized by CPPDM, a non-government, and non-profit organization, as an initiative to assist in disseminating information and encourage discussion on the topic of family planning. CPPDM plans to conduct similar conferences in Muslim villages to inform them about the fatwah – with the emphasis on making participants decide for themselves whether they want to practice family planning or not.
The rapporteur on the workshop for men noted that Prof. Abdulrafith H. Sayedi said that the fatwah will be helpful to Muslim doctors, that it explains that family planning is not forced, and that Muslims will be able to accept it according to the Sharia.
It came as a surprise thus that a reporter wrote in a nationally-circulated newspaper (not the Philippine STAR) that the participants rejected the fatwah which he claimed, "is hiding behind the guise of introducing reproductive health to Moro couples, who traditionally frown on limiting the number of their offsprings. (sic)" The writer also said the conference organizers (including myself as CPPDM director of public affairs and in charge of the women’s desk) hoped to get endorsement for the fatwah, but "instead they met stiff opposition and failed to get signatories for a resolution endorsing it."
No resolution was ever presented last Sunday. What was important was that people listened and asked questions.
The writer did not attend the conference, so he got his facts from a participant. He did not even call up or interview the people he quoted. That explains why his facts were distorted.
While the men were talking about what appeared to be political, and religious, dimensions of family planning, the women, meeting on the second floor of Solair building inside the UP campus, were talking from the heart with a young female Muslim doctor, Maleja Manedsen Daud, about such matters as irregular menstruation, whether a woman can still become pregnant even if she had a ligation, about choosing an injectible over the pill, about why one has a migraine after taking the pill. It would appear from the questions raised that many of the participants were already using family planning methods. When asked what method was most acceptable to them, the answer was natural rhythm or withdrawal (otherwise known as coitus interruptus).
The discussion proceeded to the practicality of spacing children. One said that with fewer children, she would have more time to look after the needs of her husband and children. Another said, she could have time to sit down and read the Koran – "When we read the Koran, we nourish ourselves. That is a big thing."
Another said she could devote time to helping others – "which is an end in itself. Happiness is relative. Contributing to solving the problems in Mindanao is an end in itself."
Not all the women were enthusiastic about family planning. But those who were found the conference and the workshop enlightening. They asked if a family planning clinic could be put up in their villages – but of course with the approval of the ulama in their mosques and their husbands.