Topic:
Ruling of Abortion due to Inability to Travel and Study
(No-48260)
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh, Mufti Sahib,
I pray that you are well.
I am seeking Islamic guidance regarding a very difficult situation. I am a Sunni Muslim (Hanafi) living in Sweden.
I recently found out that I am pregnant, and the pregnancy is still in its very early stage, possibly within the first 40 days.
My first child is only 8 months old. Since his birth, I have been under significant mental and emotional stress. Caring for such a young baby has been very difficult for me, and I do not feel mentally or emotionally ready for another pregnancy so soon.
I have also been unable to travel to Pakistan to meet my parents and family for the past two years because of my previous pregnancy and ongoing residence document issues. This has made me feel even more emotionally overwhelmed.
In addition, I am planning to begin my studies in Sweden this coming October, and I am worried that another pregnancy at this time will make it extremely difficult for me to care for my baby, continue my education, and manage my mental well-being.
I understand that every child is a blessing from Allah, and I do not want to make a decision that displeases Him. I sincerely want to know the ruling according to the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the Hanafi school of fiqh.
Considering my circumstances and the fact that the pregnancy is still in its very early stage, would it be permissible in Islam for me to have an abortion?
Please guide me with evidence from the Qur'an, authentic hadith, and the opinions of Hanafi scholars.
May Allah reward you for your time and guidance.
Jazakum Allahu Khair.
It should be noted that, according to the principles of Islamic law, abortion is impermissible under normal circumstances, even before the completion of four months (120 days) of pregnancy.
However, before the completion of four months (120 days), there is room for abortion in cases of severe necessity, provided that a reliable, competent, and religiously conscious Muslim doctor is of the opinion that there is no reasonable means of safeguarding the life or well-being of the mother or the child except through terminating the pregnancy. Such cases include, for example, where the continuation of the pregnancy poses a serious risk to the mother's health, or where it is genuinely feared that the mother's inability to breastfeed due to the pregnancy would result in significant harm to her nursing infant, and no suitable alternative is available.
Therefore, in the situation described, the desire to pursue further education, the emotional difficulty of raising another child at this stage, or the inability to travel to visit one's family in themselves, do not constitute Shar'ī grounds that would permit abortion.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
دلائل:
رد المحتار (429/6، ط: دار الفکر )
(قوله: ویکره الخ) أي مطلقًا قبل التصور و بعد علی ما اختاره في الخانیة کما قد مناه قبیل الا ستبراء، وقال: إلا أنّها لاتأثم إثم القتل. (قوله: وجاز لعذر) کالمرضعة إذا ظهربه الحبل وانقطع لبنها ولیس لأب الصبي ما یستأجر به الظئر وخاف هلاك الولد، قالوا: یباح لها أن تعالج في استنزال الدم مادام الحمل مضغة أو علقة ولم یخلق له عضو، وقدروا تلك المدة بمائة وعشرین یوماً، وجاز؛ لأنّه لیس بآدمي، وفیه صیانة الآدمي، خانیة.
المحيط البرهاني: (374/5، ط: دار الکتب العلمية)
وفي نكاح «فتاوى أهل سمرقند» : امرأة مرضعة ظهر بها حبل وانقطع لبنها، وتخاف على ولدها الهلاك، وليس لأب هذا الولد سعة حتى يستأجر الظئر، هل يباح لها أن تعالج في إسقاط الولد؟ قالوا: يباح ما دام نطفة، أو علقة، أو مضغة لم يخلق له عضو؛ لأنه ليس بآدمي.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Darul ifta Al-Ikhlas Karachi.