I was involved in an accident and I was pregnant. When the fetus reached five months, the doctor ordered me to induce its delivery because it was a danger to my life. My question is: Is there a sin on me for inducing the delivery of the fetus?

The questioner : The questioner says: I was involved in an accident and I was pregnant. When the fetus reached five months, the doctor ordered me to induce its delivery because it was a danger to my life. Her question is: Is there a sin on her for inducing the delivery of the fetus, knowing that I did not agree, but this is the decree of Allah?

The Shaykh : When the fetus in the womb of its mother reaches four months, Allah the Exalted sends an angel to it and breathes into it the soul. When the soul is breathed into it, it becomes a complete human being, and it is not permissible to abort it under any circumstances, even if the doctors determine that if it is not delivered, it will be a danger to the life of its mother. It is not permissible to deliver it, even if the mother dies because it was not delivered. This is because when the soul is breathed into it, it becomes a living, sound human being, and it is not permissible for anyone to kill another person in order to preserve his own life. If someone says: In this case, if the mother dies, the child will die. The answer is that we say: So be it, because the death of the mother in that case is not by our action, but by the action of Allah Mighty and Majestic. This is different from if the pregnancy is delivered and it dies as a result of its delivery, for then it would be by our action. That is, its death would be by our action, and it is not permissible for a believer to kill his believing brother.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.