Islamic teachings (blood, mission, prophet, abortion, pray)

[MotoEric]

Hi,

I was hoping that someone that was knowledgeable about the Moslem faith would be able to explain their teachings about abortion. I realize that there might be internal debate and a diverse array of opinions, but speaking in generalities is fine.

Thank you!

Eric

[not4me]

Well, Eric, according to my knowledge there is no debate or different opinions about abortion between scholars of Islam.
Abortion is completely forbidden in Islam even at a certain stage it's considered as an act of murder:
Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi, the eminent scholar says:
Muslim jurists have agreed unanimously that after the fetus is completely formed and has been given a soul, abortion is haram. It is also a crime, the commission of which is prohibited to the Muslim because it constitutes an offense against a complete, living human being. Jurists insist that the payment of blood money (diya) becomes incumbent if the baby is aborted alive and then died, while a fine of lesser amount is to be paid if it is aborted dead.

However, there is one exceptional situation. If, say the jurists, after the baby is completely formed, it is reliably shown that the continuation of the pregnancy would necessarily result in the death of the mother, then, in accordance with the general principle of the Shari`ah, that of choosing the lesser of two evils, abortion must be performed. The reason for this is that the mother is the origin of the fetus; moreover, her life is well-established, with duties and responsibilities, and she is also a pillar of the family. It would not be possible to sacrifice her life for the life of a fetus which has not yet acquired a personality and which has no responsibilities or obligations to fulfill.
Abortion from an Islamic Perspective - IslamonLine.net - Ask The Scholar

Also;
In response to the question in point, the European Council for Fatwa and Research, issued the following fatwa:

Indeed, abortion is forbidden in Islam whether it be in the earlier stages of pregnancy or otherwise. The extent of sin incurred varies according to the stage of pregnancy, so that less sin would be incurred if the abortion took place during the early stages, while it becomes increasingly haram (unlawful) as the pregnancy advances. When the pregnancy reaches 120 days old, abortion becomes totally forbidden and is deemed a form of murder that results in compensation becoming liable.
However, the only condition under which abortion is allowed is when there is an actual threat to the life of the mother confirmed by an official medical report that if the pregnancy advances any further, the mother may die.
Abortion: Forbidden in All Stages? - IslamonLine.net - Ask The Scholar

I hope this helps.

[benign6]

Originally Posted by MotoEric

Hi,

I was hoping that someone that was knowledgeable about the Moslem faith would be able to explain their teachings about abortion. I realize that there might be internal debate and a diverse array of opinions, but speaking in generalities is fine.
Thank you!
Eric

Abortion is allowed if there's any threat to mother's life OR there's any serious mental or physical defect in baby OR for rape cases.

NOT allowed just because u don't want a child e.g., for finiancial reasons etc.

[Quran:6:151] Say: "Come, I will rehearse what God hath (really) prohibited you from": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.
[17:031] Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.
[60:012] O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with God, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter,- then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to God for the forgiveness (of their sins): for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

[MotoEric]

Thank you! I appreciate the help.

Eric

[Jayhawker Soule]

That was interesting. Thanks ...

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by benign6

Abortion is allowed if there's any threat to mother's life OR there's any serious mental or physical defect in baby OR for rape cases.

NOT allowed just because u don't want a child e.g., for finiancial reasons etc.

[Quran:6:151] Say: "Come, I will rehearse what God hath (really) prohibited you from": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.
[17:031] Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.
[60:012] O Prophet! When believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty to thee, that they will not associate in worship any other thing whatever with God, that they will not steal, that they will not commit adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood, and that they will not disobey thee in any just matter,- then do thou receive their fealty, and pray to God for the forgiveness (of their sins): for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

may i ask if you have any guidance as to what counts as "serious mental or physical defect"?

[not4me]

Originally Posted by Mike182

may i ask if you have any guidance as to what counts as "serious mental or physical defect"?

Honestly, i think the issue of fetal diseases and anomalies is very confusing and i think the best thing to do is to ask a scholar of Islam as the ruling maybe different from case to case or according to the disease. What is the criterion for the diseases in which abortion could be allowed? The only thing i can do is to give you a fatwa from a Muslim scholar, though i'd like to know what brother Benign will say.
This is taken from a fatwa for the scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi;
In addition to the aforementioned case, some of the modern scholars add another case that in which abortion can be allowed, namely if it is proved via scientific means that the fetus will be born with dangerous anomalies. These anomalies are such that will render his life along with the life of his family an unbearable agony. In cases like these, they hold that it is permissible to abort the child. But many a team of consultants, not only one doctor, should decide this.

The view believed to be the most correct is that the fetus after four months of gestation becomes a human being, and aborting it is like killing a living child. It is Allah's Mercy that a dangerously disfigured child does not actually survive after delivery as stated by specialists. However, doctors occasionally misdiagnose some cases.

I would like to stress here that the fetal anomalies should be taken into consideration if they are proved to exist before four months of gestation (the breathing of life into the fetus). However, anomalies that license abortions do not include blindness, deafness or dumbness because these are disabilities with which people have been quite compatible. Many people throughout human history had such disabilities but they did not hinder them from participating in the various activities of life. On the contrary, some of the disabled were genius and we still remember them till now. It is quite wrong to think that scientific progress will change the nature of life that Allah bases on testing people's faith. Allah Almighty says: "Lo! We create man from a drop of thickened fluid to test him; so We make him hearing, knowing." (Al-Insan: 2) and "Verily We have created man into toil and struggle." (Al-Balad: 4). Modern technology has helped to a very large extent in educating the physically disabled and mentally retarded, and making life easier for them in addition to enabling them to participate in life's various activities just like normal people.

Islamic Ruling of Terminating a Disabled Fetus - IslamonLine.net - Ask The Scholar

[ayani]

hey, Moto. some ayat from the Quran on the sanctity / innate worth of life pre-birth :

and the divorced women shall wait for three menstruation periods; and it is not lawful for them to conceal what God has created in their wombs, if they believe in God and the Last Day. and their husbands would then have just cause to return together, if they both wish to reconcile. and for what obligations the women are owed, so similarly must they fulfill their obligations. but the men will have a greater responsibility over them in this. and God is Noble, Wise. 2:228

then We created the seed into an embryo, then We created the embryo into a fetus, then We created the fetus into bone, then We covered the bone with flesh, then We brought forth a new creation. so glory be to God, the best of creators. 23:14

they avoid major sins and lewdness, except for minor offences. your Lord is with vast forgiveness. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the Earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' wombs. therefore, do not acclaim yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous. 53:32

[benign6]

Originally Posted by Mike182

may i ask if you have any guidance as to what counts as "serious mental or physical defect"?

in my personal view any defect that can cause baby & it's caretakers lead a miserable life can be considered serious. Now ur next Q might be how miserable is really misreable. Then i would say make ur own decision on that keeping GOD in mind, because deeds depend on our INTENSIONs.

Once someone asked Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) what is sin? Prophet replied take FATWA(decision) from ur heart. Similarly before going for abortion a muslim parents should ask themselves whether abortion is really required in particular mental/physical disability & DOCTOR should work as guide for them.........

[not4me]

Originally Posted by benign6

Then i would say make ur own decision on that keeping GOD in mind, because deeds depend on our INTENSIONs.

The halal or permissible deeds depend on our intentions. The intention part means nothing with haram deeds.