Fatwa ID: 09021
Answered by Maulana Nahid Uddin
Question:
A sister gave birth via c section 7 months ago. The c section was troublesome due to the doctors having to push the baby back up in order to carry out the operation. They advised that at least 12 months should pass before another pregnancy in order to ensure safety. However the sister is pregnant after 7 months and upon inspection the doctors have said the scar tissue has not healed and there is a high chance of urinary rupture and potential death if the pregnancy is continued. She is currently 5 weeks pregnant, is there permissibility for an abortion?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Life in Islam is deemed something sacred and blessed and not to be taken without due right. Allah SWT says, ‘And do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except with right’ (Al-Furqan). [1] Also, the Messenger of Allah SAW taught us that ensoulment occurs at 120 days (Bukhari). [2] However, there are certain exceptions to this. Thus, there is some concession in cases of necessity (ضرورة).
In the case described, where reliable, qualified Muslim (or trustworthy) physicians have determined that continuation of the pregnancy poses a high risk of uterine rupture and potential death to the mother due to an unhealed surgical scar, this enters the realm of necessity. The principle, ‘Necessities permit prohibitions’, will be applied. Since the pregnancy is only at 5 weeks, well before ensoulment, the permissibility of abortion in such a dire medical circumstance is affirmed, as preserving the established life of the mother takes precedence over the potential life of the fetus. Imam Ibn Abideen also mentions the permissibility of termination before ensoulment for a valid excuse. [4]
Therefore, to conclude, if the medical assessment is sound and indicates a genuine and serious danger to the mother’s life as stated, it would be permissible to terminate the pregnancy at this early stage. This is not taken lightly but is grounded in the objective of preserving life (حفظ النفس), one of the maqasid of the Shariah.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Nahid Uddin
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
– وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ
(Surah Al-Furqan, A68)
[2]
– إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ خَلْقُهُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا فَيُؤْمَرُ بِأَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ، وَيُقَالُ لَهُ : اكْتُبْ عَمَلَهُ وَرِزْقَهُ وَأَجَلَهُ، وَشَقِيٌّ
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, H3208)
[3]
– أَقُولُ: الدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ مَا وَرَدَ مِنَ النُّصُوصِ فِي أَنَّ الضَّرُورَاتِ تُبِيحُ الْمَحْظُورَاتِ، مِنْهَا قَوْله تَعَالَى: ﴿وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ﴾ وَلَا شَكَّ أَنَّ فِي دَفْعِ الضَّرَرِ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ دَفْعَ الْحَرَجِ.
Takmilah Fath-Ul-Qadeer, Kitab Al-Sulh, Page 409. Assessed on Makatabah Al-Shamilah, 29-04-26
[4]
– قَالَ الْكَمَالُ: فَلْيُعْتَبَرْ عُذْرًا مُسْقِطًا لِإِذْنِهَا، وَقَالُوا يُبَاحُ إسْقَاطُ الْوَلَدِ قَبْلَ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ وَلَوْ بِلَا إذْنِ الزَّوْجِ (وَعَنْ أَمَتِهِ بِغَيْرِ إذْنِهَا) بِلَا كَرَاهَةٍ، فَإِنْ ظَهَرَ بِهَا حَبَلٌ حَلَّ نَفْيُهُ إنْ لَمْ يَعُدْ قَبْلَ بَوْلٍ
Radd Ul-Muhtar, Chapter of Nikah, Page 176. Assessed on Makatabah Al-Shamilah, 29-04-26