Fatwa ID: 07781
Answered by: Maulana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Question:
I am filling out my ballot for the presidential election. In my state, there is a proposed amendment allowing for abortion up until the time of viability (22-24 weeks), which says that no law can prohibit it before this time. I am confused about how I, as a Muslim, am supposed to vote for this amendment.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Wa ʿalaykumu s-salam waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,
Allah the highest states in Al-Ma’idah 5:2:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ٢
“Help each other in righteousness and piety, and do not help each other in sin and aggression. Fear Allah. Surely, Allah is severe at punishment.”
As understood from the above verse, as a believer, you should become a means for sins to not take place.
Regarding such matters, you should consider the following principle, which is that if a person is faced with two difficulties that are equal in severity, they may choose either one. However, if the two difficulties vary in severity, they should choose the lesser of the two.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Mawlana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References
«شرح الزيادات – قاضي خان» (1/ 234):
«(2) “يُختار أهونُ الشرّين” المجلة، مادة: 19، “إذا تعارضَ مَفسدَتان، روعِي أعظمهما ضررا بارتكاب أخفّهما” مادة: 28، الأشباه لابن نجيم ص 98، “الضرر الأشد يزال بالضرر الأخف” مادة: 27، هذه القواعد الثلاث، مختلفة الألفاظ، متحدة المعنى منبثقة من القاعدة الفقهية المشهورة: “جلب المصالح ودَرء المفاسد”، “القواعد الفقهية” ص 313.»
«الفتاوى العالمكيرية = الفتاوى الهندية» (1/ 60):
«الْأَصْلُ فِي جِنْسِ هَذِهِ الْمَسَائِلِ أَنَّ مَنْ اُبْتُلِيَ بِبَلِيَّتَيْنِ وَهُمَا مُتَسَاوِيَتَانِ يَأْخُذُ بِأَيِّهِمَا شَاءَ وَإِنْ اخْتَلَفَتَا فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَخْتَارَ أَهْوَنَهُمَا. كَذَا فِي الْبَحْرِ الرَّائِقِ.»
«حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (1/ 412):
«وَالضَّابِطُ أَنَّ مَنْ اُبْتُلِيَ بِبَلِيَّتَيْنِ فَإِنْ تَسَاوَيَا خُيِّرَ وَإِنْ اخْتَلَفَا اخْتَارَ الْأَخَفَّ.»
