Do illnesses that threaten the life of the mother necessitate abortion?
A friend of mine has a tumor in her brain. Doctors did not advise pregnancy because giving birth was very risky for her but she got pregnant; she had to make a choice and she had an abortion. Her husband divorced her because of it. She wonders if what she did was right because to have an abortion is religiously a sin.
Dear Brother / Sister,
If a woman who gets pregnant unwillingly faces a risk of her life in case of giving birth, she can have an abortion upon the advice of a Muslims specialist (doctor). Abortion is permissible in such obligatory cases.
If there is a disease that threatens the life of the woman seriously, it is permissible to take measures in order to prevent the formation of the fetus. However, if fetus forms despite taking measures, one should try to have an abortion before forty-two days pass if there is a serious disease. However, when the life of the woman is at risk, it is permissible to have an abortion even if more than forty-two days pass.
(Halil GÜNENÇ, Günümüz Meselelerine Fetvalar, II/326)
Questions on Islam
- Is it permissible to have an abortion? Is it permissible to have a two-month old fetus removed?
- Is it permissible to use contraceptive pills? If it is not permissible, is it as sinful as abortion?
- Is it abortion by curettage permissible if the woman has been raped or if there is a risk of disabled birth?
- Is it permissible to have an abortion if a religious doctor says that the baby will be born as a disabled child?
- Is having an abortion religiously permissible?
- What is the state of a baby who dies in the womb in the hereafter?
- Is having abortion religiously permissible?
- Abortion in Islamic Law
- What is Ghurra? When is it given? Who gives it? Who is it given to?
- Is it true that the Prophet was transferred into His mother’s womb on the night of Raghaib?
