Islam - Their Beliefs on Abortion
If anyone slays a human being unless it be (in punishment) for murder or for spreading corruption on earth - it shall be as if he had slain the whole of mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as if he had saved the lives of the whole of mankind (5:32: in Ebrahim, 102)
Muslims essentially believe that everyone as the right to life and that no one can take that right away from you. The Qur'an clearly states that it is against the killing of human beings except if its capital punishment. It doesn’t however specifically say no to abortion, which has made some Islamic theologians come up with different theories. Most agree that it is ok to have an abortion within first four months.
The Hanafi School, which is one of the four schools of law, within Islam, believes that before the first four months (120 days) of pregnancy it is legal to have an abortion. They believe that it is legal because ensoulment (after the soul enters into the foetus) has not yet happened therefore they haven’t really killed the baby. Ensoulment is when Ruh is blown onto the baby by an angle. The angle then determines the age, deeds, sustenance an if the baby is going to have a happy or sad life. A woman is also allowed to have an abortion without her husband’s permission in the first 4 months, but she has to have a good reason for not consulting her husband.
There are three main reasons why a woman is allowed an abortion after the four months. Firstly, if the foetus poses a serious threat to her life, this is known as choosing the lesser of the two evils. Secondly, if a serious medical condition threatens either the mother or the baby and only one can survive. However, this must be decided by a specialist Muslim doctor. Thirdly, if the mother already has an infant child and she may not have enough milk for the new baby.
Some verse from the Qur'an relating to the killing of humans and abortion:
· “Take not life which Allah has made sacred” (6:151; see also 4:29
· “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever)” (4:93).
· "Because of that, We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief on earth, it would be as if he killed all mankind. And who saved a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind." (Al-Maidah, 5:32)
· “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.” (Surah 17:31)
Muslims essentially believe that everyone as the right to life and that no one can take that right away from you. The Qur'an clearly states that it is against the killing of human beings except if its capital punishment. It doesn’t however specifically say no to abortion, which has made some Islamic theologians come up with different theories. Most agree that it is ok to have an abortion within first four months.
The Hanafi School, which is one of the four schools of law, within Islam, believes that before the first four months (120 days) of pregnancy it is legal to have an abortion. They believe that it is legal because ensoulment (after the soul enters into the foetus) has not yet happened therefore they haven’t really killed the baby. Ensoulment is when Ruh is blown onto the baby by an angle. The angle then determines the age, deeds, sustenance an if the baby is going to have a happy or sad life. A woman is also allowed to have an abortion without her husband’s permission in the first 4 months, but she has to have a good reason for not consulting her husband.
There are three main reasons why a woman is allowed an abortion after the four months. Firstly, if the foetus poses a serious threat to her life, this is known as choosing the lesser of the two evils. Secondly, if a serious medical condition threatens either the mother or the baby and only one can survive. However, this must be decided by a specialist Muslim doctor. Thirdly, if the mother already has an infant child and she may not have enough milk for the new baby.
Some verse from the Qur'an relating to the killing of humans and abortion:
· “Take not life which Allah has made sacred” (6:151; see also 4:29
· “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever)” (4:93).
· "Because of that, We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief on earth, it would be as if he killed all mankind. And who saved a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind." (Al-Maidah, 5:32)
· “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.” (Surah 17:31)