A Mainstream Sunni Islamic Position on Abortion

[Debater Slayer]

One oft-cited belief regarding abortion and opposition to it is that life begins at conception. This, however, is not the case among multiple mainstream Sunni Islamic schools of thought--the prevalent sect in most of the Muslim world.

The Islamic Fiqh Assembly of the Muslim World League based in Mecca has decided the following: "If the fetus has reached 120, it is impermissible to conduct an abortion even if it is medically diagnosed with congenital defects. However, if a committee of specialized physicians decided that the continuation of pregnancy imposes risk to the mother's life. In this case, it is permissible to conduct an abortion whether or not the fetus was deformed to undertake the lesser of two harms".

Fatawa - How does Islam deal with abortion in cases of rape or incest?

This is in line with the current position of Egypt's Dar al-Ifta', the country's official Islamic authority on fatwas. Furthermore, the authority's current position is that before 120 days of pregnancy, abortion is permissible for various reasons including medical risks, pregnancy from rape or incest, and financial inability to care for a child.

Dar al-Ifta' also endorses the use of birth control:

Dar al-Iftaa launches ‘Birth Control is Permissible’ hashtag

The 120-day limit on abortion is more than the limit in almost half of American states post-Roe v. Wade. While abortion is banned in Egyptian law at all stages of pregnancy except when the mother's life is in danger, this ban is curiously based on a French law--a relic from an era of colonization of Egypt--rather than an Islamic one.

It is a most interesting time to live in when almost half of American states are, or will soon be, more restrictive about abortion than official Islamic authorities that follow mainstream, conservative Islam.

 

[KWED]

One oft-cited belief regarding abortion and opposition to it is that life begins at conception. This, however, is not the case among multiple mainstream Sunni Islamic schools of thought--the prevalent sect in most of the Muslim world.



Fatawa - How does Islam deal with abortion in cases of rape or incest?

This is in line with the current position of Egypt's Dar al-Ifta', the country's official Islamic authority on fatwas. Furthermore, the authority's current position is that before 120 days of pregnancy, abortion is permissible for various reasons including medical risks, pregnancy from rape or incest, and financial inability to care for a child.

Dar al-Ifta' also endorses the use of birth control:

Dar al-Iftaa launches ‘Birth Control is Permissible’ hashtag

The 120-day limit on abortion is more than the limit in almost half of American states post-Roe v. Wade. While abortion is banned in Egyptian law at all stages of pregnancy except when the mother's life is in danger, this ban is curiously based on a French law--a relic from an era of colonization of Egypt--rather than an Islamic one.

It is a most interesting time to live in when almost half of American states are, or will soon be, more restrictive about abortion than official Islamic authorities that follow mainstream, conservative Islam.

Muhammad said that angels breathe the soul into the foetus at 120 days, so it makes sense for Islam to allow abortions up until then, because it is just "a piece of flesh".

 

[Sand Dancer]

Muhammad said that angels breathe the soul into the foetus at 120 days, so it makes sense for Islam to allow abortions up until then, because it is just "a piece of flesh".

That's a sweet way to look at it. I think it's a positive, but sadly, the anti-abortion crowd will just use it as a way to continue to see Muslims as barbarians. The Bible uses the same type of view but at birth instead of 120 days.

 

[danieldemol]

While abortion is banned in Egyptian law at all stages of pregnancy except when the mother's life is in danger, this ban is curiously based on a French law--a relic from an era of colonization of Egypt--rather than an Islamic one.

It seems odd that such an antique law hasn't been abolished. I wonder why?

In my opinion