Fatwa ID: 07595

Answered by: Maulana Abdoullah limvoonheek 

Question:

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته 

The doctors have diagnosed the baby with a condition called Fetal Cystic Hygroma. It’s currently at 13 weeks and 5 days. This issue has caused bilateral cysts on both sides of the neck, spreading along the cranium and into the abdomen. They’ve said there is a high risk of miscarriage and the overall survival rate when diagnosed at this stage is 10% and the prognosis pre-birth is also very poor. 

Now onto my question, given the facts that we already know and the survival rate being low, under these circumstances, by shari’ah is it permissible to terminate the pregnancy prior to the 120-day mark? 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa alaikumus salaam 

Having children is a great blessing of Allah and is given to whom he wishes only. Abortion is a grave sin except in the case of a valid Shar’ee reason. At times due to a need or a defect, the jurist gave the permissibility to abort. Where it can be harmful to the child or even the mother.

The defect of Fetal Cystic Hygroma is commonly known which is a blockage in the airway. It cannot be treated when the fetus is in the womb and the survival rate is very low which leads to miscarriage and stillborn.

In this case, one can terminate the pregnancy and abort the fetus. However, it should be done in the early stage of the pregnancy before 120 days.

Hope this answers the question.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Abdoullah limvoonheek 

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

Reference:

(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 كَذَا فِي الْفَتْحِ، وَإِطْلَاقُهُمْ يُفِيدُ عَدَمَ تَوَقُّفِ جَوَازِ إسْقَاطِهَا قَبْلَ الْمُدَّةِ الْمَذْكُورَةِ عَلَى إذْنِ الزَّوْجِ

رد المحتار ج٣ ص١٧٦