Is it permissible to abort a fetus if it is found to have a defect?
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Question:
This questioner says, O Shaykh: The diagnosis of certain fetal conditions is made for the pregnant woman, and this occurs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth months. These diseases generally have an impact on the patient: either mental retardation or physical retardation. Is it permissible to perform an abortion of the fetus in these months, taking into account the consequences in which the child may live: the retardation, or the chronic illness in society? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good; because this situation confuses the doctors.
Answer:
This is a matter that the Council of the Senior Scholars of the Permanent Committee has studied, and they issued a decision regarding it, which we will give a copy of to the director, if Allah wills. The summary is that if the harm is to the child, then it is not permissible to abort it if it has formed or if the soul has been breathed into it. However, if the harm is to her—there is danger to the woman herself only if it is left—and the danger means death; then it is aborted, even if it is in the sixth, seventh, or eighth month, if the danger is to her. If it remains, she will perish, then it is aborted.
As for if there is no danger to her, then it is not aborted; because it is a type of killing, so it is left until she gives birth. And if she gives birth, the matter is up to Allah. If it is sound, praise be to Allah, and if it is deformed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return, and it is not permissible to kill it.
As for if it is before four months, then if there is clear harm to her, it is permissible to abort it, and if there is no clear harm, it is left.
We will give the director a copy, if Allah wills. It will be sent to us tomorrow or the day after, and we will give you the copy, if Allah wills, so that it can be read to you.
This questioner says, O Shaykh: The diagnosis of certain fetal conditions is made for the pregnant woman, and this occurs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth months. These diseases generally have an impact on the patient: either mental retardation or physical retardation. Is it permissible to perform an abortion of the fetus in these months, taking into account the consequences in which the child may live: the retardation, or the chronic illness in society? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good; because this situation confuses the doctors.
Answer:
This is a matter that the Council of the Senior Scholars of the Permanent Committee has studied, and they issued a decision regarding it, which we will give a copy of to the director, if Allah wills. The summary is that if the harm is to the child, then it is not permissible to abort it if it has formed or if the soul has been breathed into it. However, if the harm is to her—there is danger to the woman herself only if it is left—and the danger means death; then it is aborted, even if it is in the sixth, seventh, or eighth month, if the danger is to her. If it remains, she will perish, then it is aborted.
As for if there is no danger to her, then it is not aborted; because it is a type of killing, so it is left until she gives birth. And if she gives birth, the matter is up to Allah. If it is sound, praise be to Allah, and if it is deformed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return, and it is not permissible to kill it.
As for if it is before four months, then if there is clear harm to her, it is permissible to abort it, and if there is no clear harm, it is left.
We will give the director a copy, if Allah wills. It will be sent to us tomorrow or the day after, and we will give you the copy, if Allah wills, so that it can be read to you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.