“Is Not Giving Birth a Virtue?” A Theological Critique of Antinatalism from the Perspective of Islamic Theology

This study examines antinatalism, one of the foremost philosophical and ethical objections to the idea of having children in the modern age. The antinatalist argument, which centers on the claim that birth is a non-consensual act that causes suffering, challenges the very existence of humanity, the institution of family, and the concept of moral responsibility, forming the central problem of this study. The aim of the study is to analyze the intellectual foundations of antinatalism, critically evaluate this approach, and offer a theological response based on Islamic thought, particularly the discipline of kalām. While philosophical and socio-ethical perspectives are included in the analysis, theological criticism is methodologically limited to the Islamic tradition in order to ensure conceptual consistency. In this context, antinatalism is discussed not only as an individual ethical stance but also in relation to modern processes of individualization, loss of meaning, and social fragmentation. Studies that address the ethical, philosophical, and religious aspects of antinatalism together are quite limited. This study aims to fill this gap. The research is based on descriptive analysis and critical analysis methodology. Contemporary antinatalist texts, classical theological views, and modern theological approaches are evaluated comparatively. The study demonstrates that antinatalism can be understood as a philosophical symptom of contemporary crises of meaning, alienation, and moral decline. It argues that Islamic thought can offer an alternative framework that reinterprets birth as mercy, family as responsibility, and life as a meaningful journey.