Fatwa ID: 09118
Answered by Muftiyah Humairah Badshah
Question:
Iam currently 7months postpartum with my second born. And am pregnant again. My last pregnancy was extremely painful to say the least and I cannot see myself having another baby as it may pose a risk to my mental and physical wellbeing . Iam currently almost 7weeks and need advice on whether I can terminate this pregnancy as it states in some places that under 120 days it is allowed. Time is of the essence in this case. Waiting for your response eagerly. Thank you
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Seek help from your family and friends as well as local Islamic, medical, governmental and charitable services. Consult a qualified local scholar and a qualified Muslim medical professional regarding whether the risk to your physical and mental health has reached to the level of dire necessity which would permit an abortion.
In Surah Al-Isra, Allah (ﷻ) says: “Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Surely killing them is a great sin.” [17:31][1]
Regarding abortion in Islam, abortion is a grave matter with two major considerations. The first is that it can only occur before 120 days (4 months) have passed and before the limbs of the foetus have been formed.[2] The second is that there must be a major, genuine and valid reason, such as a serious fear of death.[3] An example in the books of fiqh is in the case of a lady who is currently breastfeeding her child and the father of the child does not have the means to hire a wet-nurse: if she fears that her child will starve she may consider an abortion.[3]
Note that in cases where one harm must be weighed against another, such as harm to the mother’s mental health and harm to the fetus’s life through abortion, careful consideration must be given to which harm is lesser in nature and therefore will have to be endured.[4] In an individual case such as this, the standard of daroorah (neccecity) would be considered, which is serious and predominantly-likely harm to a major necessity of human life, such as starvation which leads to death.[5]
In your case at seven weeks, the permissibility of abortion would depend on the exact nature and severity of the risk to your mental and physical wellbeing. Consult a qualified local scholar as well as a Muslim healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation of your physical and mental situation and whether your situation reaches the level of necessity.
Additionally, explore other avenues outside of abortion with your spouse and family. Investigate whether there is any assistance available from relatives, friends, or from local government services and charities to alleviate your burdens and provide support, and also consider if it is financially possible for you to hire outside assistance through carers or nannies.
Know that while the above is the true and main opinion of the Hanafi school taken by the majority of scholars, other opinions (ie: that abortion is permissible in all circumstances due to the corruption of our time, or that abortion before 40 days is permissible in general or if needed, or that it is always preventatively disliked from the outset) do exist.[6] If you wish to consider other opinions on abortion, you must consult a qualified scholar who holds such a differing view.
This is a very difficult and unfortunate situation, and so it is understandable if this result causes you distress. You should seek patience and help from Allah (ﷻ) regarding your situation, and hope for great reward from Allah (ﷻ).
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “There is no trouble that comes to a believer except that it obliterates from his sins, even if it is the pricking of a thorn.”[7]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When Allah wants good for his slave, He hastens his punishment in the world. And when He wants bad for His slave, He withholds his sins from him until he appears before Him on the Day of Judgement.” And with this (same) chain, (it was reported) from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said: “Indeed greater reward comes with greater trial. And indeed, when Allah loves a people He subjects them to trials, so whoever is content, then for him is pleasure, and whoever is discontent, then for him is wrath.”[8]
In Surah Baqarah, Allah (ﷻ) says: “Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear. For him is what he has earned, and on him what he has incurred.” [2:286][9]
You should consult local qualified scholars and mental health services for mental health support. May Allah (ﷻ) grant you and your ex-husband patience, steadfastness and a beautiful abode in the eternal Hereafter.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Humairah Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوۡۤا اَوۡلَادَكُمۡ خَشۡيَةَ اِمۡلَاقٍؕ نَحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُهُمۡ وَاِيَّاكُمۡؕ اِنَّ قَتۡلَهُمۡ كَانَ خِطۡاً كَبِيۡرًا
Surah Al-Isra [17:31]
[2]
مَطْلَبٌ فِي حُكْمِ إسْقَاطِ الْحَمْلِ
(قَوْلُهُ وَقَالُوا إلَخْ) قَالَ فِي النَّهْرِ: بَقِيَ هَلْ يُبَاحُ الْإِسْقَاطُ بَعْدَ الْحَمْلِ؟ نَعَمْ يُبَاحُ مَا لَمْ يَتَخَلَّقْ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ وَلَنْ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ إلَّا بَعْدَ مِائَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا، وَهَذَا يَقْتَضِي أَنَّهُمْ أَرَادُوا بِالتَّخْلِيقِ نَفْخَ الرُّوحِ وَإِلَّا فَهُوَ غَلَطٌ لِأَنَّ التَّخْلِيقَ يَتَحَقَّقُ بِالْمُشَاهَدَةِ قَبْلَ هَذِهِ الْمُدَّةِ … قَالَ ابْنُ وَهْبَانَ: وَمِنْ الْأَعْذَارِ أَنْ يَنْقَطِعَ لَبَنُهَا بَعْدَ ظُهُورِ الْحَمْلِ وَلَيْسَ لِأَبِي الصَّبِيِّ مَا يَسْتَأْجِرُ بِهِ الظِّئْرَ وَيَخَافُ هَلَاكَهُ. وَنُقِلَ عَنْ الذَّخِيرَةِ لَوْ أَرَادَتْ الْإِلْقَاءَ قَبْلَ مُضِيِّ زَمَنٍ يُنْفَخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ هَلْ يُبَاحُ لَهَا ذَلِكَ أَمْ لَا؟ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ، وَكَانَ الْفَقِيهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى يَقُولُ: إنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ، فَإِنَّ الْمَاءَ بَعْدَمَا وَقَعَ فِي الرَّحِمِ مَآلُهُ الْحَيَاةُ فَيَكُونُ لَهُ حُكْمُ الْحَيَاةِ كَمَا فِي بَيْضَةِ صَيْدِ الْحَرَمِ، وَنَحْوُهُ فِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ قَالَ ابْنُ وَهْبَانَ: فَإِبَاحَةُ الْإِسْقَاطِ مَحْمُولَةٌ عَلَى حَالَةِ الْعُذْرِ، أَوْ أَنَّهَا لَا تَأْثَمُ إثْمَ الْقَتْلِ اهـ. وَبِمَا فِي الذَّخِيرَةِ تَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهُمْ مَا أَرَادُوا بِالتَّحْقِيقِ إلَّا نَفْخُ الرُّوحِ، وَأَنَّ قَاضِيَ خَانْ مَسْبُوقٌ بِمَا مَرَّ مِنْ التَّفَقُّهِ، وَاَللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْمُوَفِّقُ
Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fitr, https://shamela.ws) v.3 p.176
[3]
الْعِلَاجُ لِإِسْقَاطِ الْوَلَدِ إذَا اسْتَبَانَ خَلْقُهُ كَالشَّعْرِ وَالظُّفْرِ وَنَحْوِهِمَا لَا يَجُوزُ وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ مُسْتَبِينِ الْخَلْقِ يَجُوزُ…
امْرَأَةٌ مُرْضِعَةٌ ظَهَرَ بِهَا حَبَلٌ وَانْقَطَعَ لَبَنُهَا وَتَخَافُ عَلَى وَلَدِهَا الْهَلَاكَ وَلَيْسَ لِأَبِي هَذَا الْوَلَدِ سَعَةٌ حَتَّى يَسْتَأْجِرَ الظِّئْرَ يُبَاحُ لَهَا أَنْ تُعَالِجَ فِي اسْتِنْزَالِ الدَّمِ مَا دَامَ نُطْفَةً أَوْ مُضْغَةً أَوْ عَلَقَةً لَمْ يُخْلَقْ لَهُ عُضْوٌ وَخَلْقُهُ لَا يَسْتَبِينُ إلَّا بَعْدَ مِائَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا أَرْبَعُونَ نُطْفَةً وَأَرْبَعُونَ عَلَقَةً وَأَرْبَعُونَ مُضْغَةً كَذَا فِي خِزَانَةِ الْمُفْتِينَ.
Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah (Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.5 p.356
[4]
يَخْتَارُ أَهْوَنَ الشَّرَّيْنِ
يَجُوْزُ شَقُّ بَطنِ الْمَيْتَةِ لِإِخْرَاجِ الْجِنِّيْنِ إِذَا كَانَتْ تُرْجَى حَيَاتُهُ ، وَيَجُوْزُ السُّكُوْتُ عَنۡ إِنْكَارِ الْمُنْكَرِ ، إِذَا كَانَ يَتَرَتَّبُ عَلَيْهِ ضَرَرٌ أَعْظَم.
إِذَا تَعَارَضَتْ مُفْسِدَتَانِ رُوْعِيَ أَعْظَمُهُمَا ضَرَراً بِاِرْتِكَابِ أَخَفِّهِمَا
Al-Qawaaid Al-Fiqhiyyah (Daar Al-Tirmidy ed.) p.32-33
[5]
اَلْحَاجَةُ تُنَزَّلُ مَنْزِلَةُ الضَّرُوْرَةِ ، عَامَّةً كَانَتْ أَوْ خَاصَّةً فِيْ إِبَاحَةِ الْمَحْظُوْر
اَلضُّرُوْرَةُ أَشَدُّ دَرَجَةً مِنْ الْحَاجَةِ ، وَالضُّرُوْرَةُ يُتَرَتَّبُ عَلَى عِصْيَانِهَا خَطَرٌ ، كَخَشْيَةِ الْهَلَاكِ جَوْعاً ، وَالْإِكْرَاهَ الْمُلْجِيء ، وَالْحَاجَةُ يُتَرَتَّبُ عَلَى عَدَمِ الْإِسْتِجَابَةِ لَهَا عُسْرٌ وَصَعُوْبَةٌ
وَمَعۡنَى كَوْنِهَا عَامَّةً : أَنْ يَكُوۡنَ الْإِحْتِيَاجُ شَامِلًا جَمِيْعَ الْأُمَّة
وَمَعۡنَى كَوْنِهَا خَاصَّة : أَنْ يَكُوۡنَ الْإِحْتِيَاجُ لِطَائِفَةٍ مِنْهُمْ كَأَهْلِ بَلَدٍ أَوْ حَرْفَةٍ ، وَلَيْسَ الْمُرَادُ مِنْ كَوْنِهَا خَاصَّةً أَنْ تَكُوْنَ فَرْدِيَّة
وَمَعۡنَى هَذِهِ الْقَاعِدَةِ أَنَّ التَّسْهِيْلَاتِ الْاِسْتِثْنَائِيَّةِ لَا تَقْتَصِرُ عَلَى حَالَاتِ الضُّرُوْرَةِ الْمُلْجِئَةِ ، بَلْ تُشَمِّلُ التَّسْهِيْلَاتُ حَاجَاتَ الْجَمَاعَة أَيْضاً مِمَّا دُوْنَ الضُّرُوْرَة
Al-Qawaaid Al-Fiqhiyyah (Daar Al-Tirmidy ed.) p.45
اَلضَّرُوْرَات تُبِيْحُ الْمَحْظُوْرَات
…
اَلضُّرُوْرَاتُ تُقَدِّرُ بِقَدْرِهَا
…
اَلضُّرُوْرَةُ أَشَدُّ دَرَجَةً مِنْ الْحَاجَةِ ، وَالضُّرُوْرَةُ يُتَرَتَّبُ عَلَى عِصْيَانِهَا خَطَرٌ ، كَخَشْيَةِ الْهَلَاكِ جَوْعاً ، وَالْإِكْرَاهَ الْمُلْجِيء ، وَالْحَاجَةُ يُتَرَتَّبُ عَلَى عَدَمِ الْإِسْتِجَابَةِ لَهَا عُسْرٌ وَصَعُوْبَةٌ
Al-Qawaaid Al-Fiqhiyyah (Daar Al-Tirmidy ed.) p.43-45
لَا عِبۡرَةَ لِلتَّوَهُّم
Al-Qawaaid Al-Fiqhiyyah (Daar Al-Tirmidy ed.) p.25
[6]
وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَال بِالإِْبَاحَةِ لِعُذْرٍ فَقَطْ، وَهُوَ حَقِيقَةُ مَذْهَبِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ. فَقَدْ نَقَل ابْنُ عَابِدِينَ عَنْ كَرَاهَةِ الْخَانِيَّةِ عَدَمَ الْحِل لِغَيْرِ عُذْرٍ، إِذِ الْمُحْرِمُ لَوْ كَسَرَ بَيْضَ الصَّيْدِ ضَمِنَ لأَِنَّهُ أَصْل الصَّيْدِ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ يُؤَاخَذُ بِالْجَزَاءِ فَلاَ أَقَل مِنْ أَنْ يَلْحَقَهَا – مَنْ أَجْهَضَتْ نَفْسَهَا – إِثْمٌ هُنَا إِذَا أَسْقَطَتْ بِغَيْرِ عُذْرٍ، وَنُقِل عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبَانَ أَنَّ مِنَ الأَْعْذَارِ أَنْ يَنْقَطِعَ لَبَنُهَا بَعْدَ ظُهُورِ الْحَمْل وَلَيْسَ لأَِبِي الصَّبِيِّ مَا يَسْتَأْجِرُ بِهِ الظِّئْرَ (الْمُرْضِعَ) وَيَخَافُ هَلاَكَهُ، وَقَال ابْنُ وَهْبَانَ: إِنَّ إِبَاحَةَ الإِْسْقَاطِ مَحْمُولَةٌ عَلَى حَالَةِ الضَّرُورَةِ
Kitaab Al-Mawsoo’ah Al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Kuwaitiyyah (Daar Al-Salaasil, https://shamela.ws) v.2 p.58
الْعِلَاجُ لِإِسْقَاطِ الْوَلَدِ إذَا اسْتَبَانَ خَلْقُهُ كَالشَّعْرِ وَالظُّفْرِ وَنَحْوِهِمَا لَا يَجُوزُ وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ مُسْتَبِينِ الْخَلْقِ يَجُوزُ وَأَمَّا فِي زَمَانِنَا يَجُوزُ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى كَذَا فِي جَوَاهِرِ الْأَخْلَاطِيِّ
Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah (Daar Al-Fikr, https://shamela.ws) v.5 p.356
ي حُكْمِ الإِْجْهَاضِ قَبْل نَفْخِ الرُّوحِ اتِّجَاهَاتٌ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ وَأَقْوَالٌ مُتَعَدِّدَةٌ، حَتَّى فِي الْمَذْهَبِ الْوَاحِدِ، فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَال بِالإِْبَاحَةِ مُطْلَقًا، وَهُوَ مَا ذَكَرَهُ بَعْضُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ، فَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُ يُبَاحُ الإِْسْقَاطُ بَعْدَ الْحَمْل، مَا لَمْ يَتَخَلَّقْ شَيْءٌ مِنْهُ. وَالْمُرَادُ بِالتَّخَلُّقِ فِي عِبَارَتِهِمْ تِلْكَ نَفْخُ الرُّوحِ (٢) . وَهُوَ مَا انْفَرَدَ بِهِ مِنَ الْمَالِكِيَّةِ اللَّخْمِيُّ فِيمَا قَبْل الأَْرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا (٣) ، وَقَال بِهِ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ مِنَ الشَّافِعِيَّةِ قَبْل الأَْرْبَعِينَ أَيْضًا
Kitaab Al-Mawsoo’ah Al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Kuwaitiyyah (Daar Al-Salaasil, https://shamela.ws) v.2 p.57
وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَال بِالْكَرَاهَةِ مُطْلَقًا. وَهُوَ مَا قَال بِهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى مِنْ فُقَهَاءِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ. فَقَدْ نَقَل ابْنُ عَابِدِينَ عَنْهُ: أَنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ الإِْلْقَاءُ قَبْل مُضِيِّ زَمَنٍ تُنْفَخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ؛ لأَِنَّ الْمَاءَ بَعْدَمَا وَقَعَ فِي الرَّحِمِ مَآلُهُ الْحَيَاةُ، فَيَكُونُ لَهُ حُكْمُ الْحَيَاةِ، كَمَا فِي بَيْضَةِ صَيْدِ الْحَرَمِ
Kitaab Al-Mawsoo’ah Al-Fiqhiyyah Al-Kuwaitiyyah (Daar Al-Salaasil, https://shamela.ws) v.2 p.58
[7]
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، وَيُونُسُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” مَا مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ يُصَابُ بِهَا الْمُسْلِمُ إِلاَّ كُفِّرَ بِهَا عَنْهُ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا ” .
Sahih Muslim (https://sunnah.com) b.45, ch.14, no.63 (2572e)
[8]
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدِهِ الْخَيْرَ عَجَّلَ لَهُ الْعُقُوبَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدِهِ الشَّرَّ أَمْسَكَ عَنْهُ بِذَنْبِهِ حَتَّى يُوَفَّى بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ” . وَبِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” إِنَّ عِظَمَ الْجَزَاءِ مَعَ عِظَمِ الْبَلاَءِ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا ابْتَلاَهُمْ فَمَنْ رَضِيَ فَلَهُ الرِّضَا وَمَنْ سَخِطَ فَلَهُ السَّخَطُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .
Jami` at-Tirmidhi (https://sunnah.com) b.36, ch.56, no.94 (2396)
[9]
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Surah Al-Baqarah [2:286]