Ruling on taking contraceptive pills without the husband's permission
Question

                I live with a very violent and tempremental husband. I have four children from him and unfortunately he does on many occassions physically and verbally abuse us. I am now at the age of 40 and with all my children have suffered with poor health during my pregnancies as well as having been physically beaten. My husband is always threatening me with divorce at every small disagreement as well as insisting that i have another child. Is it permissible for me to use contraception without my husband's consent in such a case where my doctor has also advised me against any further pregnacy due to my health and also in light of the violence that my children and I live with (he has on 2 occassions threatened me with a knife). My husband refuses to acknowledge my medical health even though I was on drip in hosital every two days during my last pregnancy and was also using a walking stick due to problems with my hip bones. Please advise.
Praise be to Allah.
      It should be noted that the basic principle is that each 
      spouse has the right to have children, so the husband does not have the 
      right to engage in coitus interruptus (‘azl) without his wife’s 
      permission, and the wife does not have the right to use any means of 
      contraception without his permission. See: al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 
      3/156. 

    Ibn Nujaym al-Hanafi said: 

    The woman’s blocking her womb, as women do to prevent having 
    children, is haram without the permission of the husband, by analogy with 
    the ruling on his engaging in coitus interruptus (‘azl) without her 
    permission.

    End quote from al-Bahr al-Raiq, 3/215. 

    Al-Bahooti al-Hanbali said:

    Al-Qadi said: It is not permissible except with the 
    permission of the husband, because he has the right to have children.

    End quote from Kashshaf al-Qina‘, 2/96. 

    But if there is an obvious reason for the wife not to have 
    children, such as if becoming pregnant will obviously cause her harm 
    according to the testimony of trustworthy doctors, then in this case the 
    husband’s right for her to ask his permission is waived, because the 
    interest of preserving the woman’s health takes precedence over the interest 
    of the husband having children. 

    The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: 
    “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” Narrated by Ibn 
    Majah, 2340; classed as hasan by al-Nawawi in al-Adhkar, p. 502 

    In fact the scholars stated that it is permissible for a 
    pregnant woman to abort the pregnancy so long as it is in the early stages, 
    if continuing the pregnancy will result in harm to her health. Please see the 
    answer to question no. 82851. 

    In the Fatawa of ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on 
    him) it says: I am a married woman and my husband refuses to let me take 
    birth control pills because he does not understand the exhaustion that I 
    feel and the harm that pregnancy could cause me. I took birth control pills 
    without my husband’s knowledge; is there anything wrong with that? 

    The Shaykh replied: If you can avoid doing that, that will be 
    more on the safe side. But if the harm and hardship is severe, there is 
    nothing wrong with it; otherwise not taking pills is more on the safe side. 
    Obedience to the husband is obligatory unless the harm would be great and 
    too difficult for you, because Allah, may He be glorified, says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you 
    can”

    [al-Taghabun 64:16] 

    End quote from Majmoo‘ Fatawa Ibn Baz, 21/183 

    It is better for you to try to work the matter out with your 
    husband and reach an agreement between yourselves; the man has to pay 
    attention to his wife’s situation and state of health. 

    Ash-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If 
    the husband sees that his wife will be affected by becoming pregnant, then 
    he should give her permission to use contraception or he himself should use 
    contraception, out of kindness to her, until she becomes strong enough for 
    that.

    End quote from Fatawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb. 

    With regard to the bad treatment on the husband’s part and 
    his harsh attitude, that is not an excuse not to have children, because 
    Allah may make this child a compensation and put a great deal of good in 
    him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning) “And 
    who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the 
    living” [Yoonus 10:31]. 

    And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “If you dislike them, it may be 
    that you dislike a thing and Allâh brings through it a great deal of good”

    [al-Nisa 4:19]. 

    And Allah knows best.