SAEDNEWS: The ruling on abortion in Islamic jurisprudence is not uniform; it varies depending on the stage of fetal development and the mother’s circumstances. In this article, we examine the views of different Islamic schools of thought and the circumstances in which abortion may be permissible.
According to Saednews, Abortion, or the intentional termination of a pregnancy, is one of the complex and controversial issues in Islamic jurisprudence and medical ethics. The question, “Is abortion forbidden in Islam?” does not have a simple answer, because Islamic rulings may differ depending on the stage of fetal development, the circumstances of the mother, and the views of different Islamic schools of thought. This article examines the Islamic ruling on abortion based on established jurisprudential sources and discusses its various dimensions.
One of the major concerns for families and the medical community is determining the religious ruling regarding abortion. In some cases, women may consider abortion because of economic, social, or medical difficulties. The fundamental question, however, is what position Islam takes on such an action. Is abortion prohibited under all circumstances, or are there situations in which Islamic law permits it? To answer this question, it is first necessary to understand the concept of the fetus and the stages of fetal development from an Islamic perspective, and then examine the relevant jurisprudential rulings.
Abortion refers to any intentional action that results in the removal or destruction of a fetus from the mother's womb before it reaches the stage of natural birth. In Islamic jurisprudence, the fetus is regarded as possessing sanctity and dignity from the moment of conception, although the level of this sanctity is understood to increase gradually as pregnancy progresses and, in particular, after the ensoulment of the fetus. Therefore, the ruling on abortion is not identical in every circumstance and may vary depending on the stage of pregnancy and the specific conditions involved.
According to the predominant view among Islamic jurists, abortion after the ensoulment of the fetus—which is traditionally understood to occur around the end of the fourth month or the beginning of the fifth month of pregnancy—is strictly prohibited and considered a major sin without a legitimate justification. Before that point, however, some jurists have considered abortion permissible under specific circumstances. This issue is examined in greater detail below.
To understand the religious ruling on abortion, it is important to consider the stages of fetal development described in Islamic texts. The Qur'an and Islamic traditions describe human creation in several stages:
Nutfah (drop of fluid): The earliest stage of human development, traditionally associated with the combination of sperm and egg.
Alaqah (clinging substance): Traditionally associated with approximately days 40–45 of pregnancy.
Mudghah (chewed-like lump): Traditionally associated with approximately days 80–90.
Bones and flesh: The stage in which the developing body is described in terms of bones and flesh, before the fourth month.
Ensoulment: Traditionally understood to occur at approximately 120 days, or around four months of pregnancy.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:
“Each of you is brought together in his mother's womb for forty days as a drop, then for the same period as a clinging substance, and then for the same period as a lump. Then an angel is sent and the soul is breathed into him.”
This tradition is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
This traditional classification has a direct influence on Islamic jurisprudence. Before ensoulment, the fetus is not generally regarded as possessing the same legal status as an independently living human being, and rulings concerning matters such as compensation and religious expiation may differ. After ensoulment, however, the fetus is regarded as having a much higher level of legal and moral protection, and deliberately ending its life is generally treated as comparable to taking a human life.
At this stage, Islamic jurists have expressed different opinions. Some maintain that abortion is prohibited at every stage, including before four months, because the human embryo possesses sanctity from conception. Others have considered abortion permissible under circumstances involving genuine necessity, such as a serious threat to the mother's life, while regarding abortion in ordinary circumstance
