When is abortion forbidden?

The Shaykh : We all know that aborting the fetus after the soul has been breathed into it—I do not say this based on medical claims, because that would mean aborting it after forty days—is forbidden. However, in terms of the Shari'ah, we do not say it is forbidden until after four months. This abortion is forbidden because it results in the death of a living being. As for if the abortion or miscarriage occurs before that, there is a detailed ruling mentioned more than once, which is similar to 'azl (coitus interruptus). 'Azl is the expulsion of the seminal fluid outside the womb when a man has intercourse with his wife; this is called 'azl, and it is disliked in the Shari'ah as a lesser dislike (makruh tanzihan) because it involves reducing the offspring of the Muhammadan Ummah. However, if this 'azl is accompanied by the fact that it occurs before the formation of the fetus, before the fluid enters the woman's vagina, then if it enters its depths and settles in its place, where it can potentially form and develop and become a fetus, then be born and become a healthy human being, and so on, the degree of dislike increases. But it does not reach the level of being forbidden except under two conditions: The first condition, which I mentioned earlier, is that the soul has been breathed into it. The other condition, even if it is before the soul is breathed in, is that the motive for the abortion is an un-Islamic thought. For example, in the Noble Qur'an, there is a prohibition against killing children: So, if the motive for aborting the fetus before its formation is the fear of poverty, then this is forbidden. It is true that there is no killing of a soul into which the soul has been breathed, but the motive for it is that pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah) belief, as mentioned in some hadiths. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about 'azl, he said: Are you the one who provides for it? What are you afraid of? If 'azl is not for this reason, it is disliked. But if it is accompanied by this reason, it becomes forbidden. Therefore, when this doctor says, "By Allah, your fetus in your womb is deformed, and if it completes its development, it will be born with a disability, so let me perform an abortion and you will be rid of it," and the child is actually fine, and the error is on the part of the doctor. In summary, we advise all Muslims to stay away from 'azl in all its forms and types, because at its lowest level, it is disliked due to its contradiction with the desire of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) when he said: This is at its lowest level a reduction in the offspring of the Messenger's (peace and blessings be upon him) Ummah, and at its highest and worst level, it is the abortion of the fetus after the soul has been breathed into it. We ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to breathe into the Muslims a good spirit that encourages them first to understand their Islam correctly, and to apply it in themselves and among the brothers who love each other for the sake of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Then, may their circle continue to expand until it includes those far from them. This is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. And glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise, I bear witness that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.