Is it okay if I don't want to have children?
Assalamu alaikum dear brothers and sisters, I'm a sister who doesn't plan to have children after marriage, and I'm wondering if that's allowed given the reasons below: 1) I struggle with mental health issues that I worry would harm a child. I can get angry quickly and sometimes raise my voice or lash out (usually in private, but still). I also go through low moods and have low energy at times, and I fear I wouldn't be able to provide the joyful, nurturing home a child deserves. 2) My childhood upbringing left emotional scars. Alhamdulillah my parents tried, and they are Muslim, but there were ways I was hurt mentally and emotionally growing up. Because of that I've developed unhealthy coping mechanisms and habits that I worry might repeat themselves with my own children unless I can get therapy and heal, InshaAllah. 3) I want to dedicate more time to Allah. I deeply enjoy praying, reading Qur'an, and worshiping without interruption. It means a lot to me to spend my free time focused on my relationship with my Creator, and I fear parenting would reduce the regularity of my worship the way I like it now. I plan to be honest about these things with any potential husband, InshaAllah, and I pray Allah helps me find someone understanding who supports my efforts to improve. I hope this doesn't make me seem like a bad or selfish person - I know how to love and be kind, but raising a child feels like a much bigger responsibility. Is my wish not to have children valid in Islam? Jazakum Allahu khayran.