Dr Sheikh's Tips To Convince 'Reluctant' Wives To Have More Children Draw Mixed Reactions

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for our latest stories and breaking news.

In a Facebook post, in which he uploaded a picture of him and his family of eight on Saturday, 19 March, he wrote that he has always loved having a big family.

"I have always (loved) [having] a big family. And naturally, I wanted more. God willing, with your permission."

But he had to first convince his wife, Dr Halina Mohd Yunos, because "after all, it's her body".

The couple have been married since 2010 and have six children together — two girls, aged 11 and nine; two identical twin boys, aged five; and a second pair of fraternal twins, aged one.

"You look [as] beautiful as ever even with six kids," Sheikh Muszaphar added.

"Don't you want to see more beautiful kids? They will take care of us [in our old age]."

"We will not be alone. The 'chaos' keeps us young. It is a sunnah to enliven the ummah."

"Let's go shopping and buy what you want. The more the merrier."

And finally, "Let's grow old together until Heaven. I love you always no matter what you decide. "

Some Twitter users disagreed with the former astronaut because they felt that he was trying to coerce his wife into getting pregnant repeatedly.

They also noted that a husband should respect their wife if she wishes not to bear anymore children, not to mention the emotional and physical toll she would have to go through during pregnancy and childbirth.

There were also several women who said that even with a husband who would do everything listed in Sheikh's post, they would still choose not to have more children because of the challenges they would face, from hospital visits to the late night breastfeeding sessions.

There were others who also pointed out that children should not be regarded as an "insurance" when parents reach old age. One Twitter user said children are not born to be indebted to their parents as it is the parents' responsibility to take care of their children.

Another refuted this, however, saying that there is a difference between an insurance and a good deed. They said that in Islam, it is not wrong for parents to teach their children to take care of them when their parents have reached old age. It is also not the parents' fault for bringing their children into this world.

Others related his love for a big family with his upbringing. Some also commended his post because it shows he is caring, loving, and knows how to be a responsible parent.