Abortion of a fetus afflicted with a disease after the soul has been breathed into it

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner says: My wife became pregnant, and after a period of about four months, the doctors told us that the fetus is afflicted with a rare disease that leads to the non-development of the bones and the respiratory system. The doctors advised us to abort it because it will either be born dead in the seventh month, or it will complete the months of pregnancy and be born, then die after half an hour. He asks: What should we do? And is there a blood money (diyah) upon us if we abort it?

The Shaykh:
It is not permissible to abort it after the soul has been breathed into it at the completion of four months. It is not permissible to abort it except in one case: if there is danger to the mother from its remaining, then it is aborted. But if there is no danger to the mother, then the fetus is left as it is and its affair is entrusted to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So it is not permissible to abort it. Yes. This is killing a soul without right. Yes.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success.

The Shaykh:
This is what the Permanent Committee issued a fatwa on: that it is not permissible to abort after four months except if there is danger to the mother’s life. Also, a decision was issued on this matter by the Council of Senior Scholars with this statement.