Everything that befalls the believer of exhaustion, hardship or pain expiates his sins, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No misfortune or disease befalls a Muslim, no worry or grief or harm or distress – not even a thorn that pricks him – but Allaah will expiate for some of his sins because of that.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5642) and Muslim (2573). 

This does not mean that a person should look for hardship or should not try to avoid it, rather every time a person does that which is easier, he is closer to that which Allaah loves, so long as it is not a sin. Hence ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was never given the choice between two things but he chose the easier of them, so long as it was not a sin. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3560). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah likes His concessions (rukhsah) to be taken, as He hates to be disobeyed.” Narrated by Ahmad (5832) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel (564). 

Based on that, there is nothing wrong with using things that reduce pain in childbirth, or prevent pain altogether. The process of childbirth is not free of hardship and dangers, and the grace of Allaah is immense. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: 

A woman is saying that she is physically weak, and she gave birth to a child with difficulty. They gave her some fluid saying that it would induce labour as her contractions were weak, but with this induced labour she says that she felt “as if I had lost my mind” and she was very weakness after the birth, and that weakness lasted for almost a year. She says that she got pregnant after that with her second child and some people advised her to go to a special hospital where they gave her an anaesthetic by injection because she could not bear the induced labour. She also says: After they gave me the anaesthetic, I did not feel the pain of childbirth and slept a little. 

Is this permissible, O Shaykh? She says that she is three months pregnant. 

I hope that you can advise us, may Allaah reward you with good, because some people have told me that this is not permissible. 

He replied (may Allaah have mercy on him): 

If the pains of childbirth are too difficult for a woman, and she takes some permissible medicines to help her cope with that, then there is nothing wrong with that, and it comes under the heading of enjoying the blessings of Allaah. Allaah in His kindness, generosity and grace likes His slaves to enjoy the blessings that He has bestowed upon them, and He likes to see the effects of His blessing on His slave. Using these medicines in labour and the like is something that is permissible and there is nothing wrong with that, because Allaah likes ease for His slaves as Allaah says: “Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you” [al-Baqarah 2:185]. End quote. 

Fataawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb (al-Janaa’iz/al-Ahkaam al-Tibbiyyah) 

With regard to the amount of reward, that is up to Allaah. 

And Allaah knows best.