[Q 533] Islamic Timeframe for Abortion

QUESTION:

Salams, what is the ruling on terminating a pregnancy and what is the timeframe before it becomes impermissible?

ANSWER:

If four months, meaning 120 days, of pregnancy have been completed, then causing the pregnancy to be terminated (Isqat-e-Haml – termination of pregnancy) is Na-Jaiz (impermissible) and Haram (forbidden), and it is the killing of a living soul, because after the completion of four months the Rooh (soul) is breathed into it and life is established.

However, before the completion of four months, if there exists a valid, reliable Zarurat (necessity) or Majboori (compulsion), then terminating the pregnancy is permissible. But if there is no such necessity, then terminating even a one-day pregnancy is Na-Jaiz and sinful.

An example of a necessity or compulsion is: for instance, if there is already a breastfeeding child (Sheer-Khaar – milk-feeding infant), and due to the pregnancy the milk will dry up, and no other alternative means of feeding are possible, due to which there is a danger of the breastfeeding child’s death or severe hardship in his upbringing; or if the mother’s health is so weak that due to the birth of a new child, there is a severe risk to the life of either one of them — and the pregnancy has not yet completed four months — then in such severe cases of necessity, terminating the pregnancy is permissible. Otherwise, it is not permissible.

Without a valid necessity or compulsion, terminating a pregnancy of less than four months is also Na-Jaiz and sinful.

Accordingly, it is stated in Fatawa Qazi Khan:

واذا اسقطت الولد بالعلاج ۔۔۔ ان لم یستبن شئ من خلقہ ۔۔۔ فلا اقلّ من ان يلحقها اثم ھهنا اذا اسقطت بغير عذر ، الّا لا تأثم اثم القتل“
(Fatawa Qazi Khan, Vol. 3, p. 312, Karachi)

It is mentioned in Durr-e-Mukhtar:

ویکرہ ان تسقی لاسقاط حملھا وجاز لعذر حیث لا یتصور“

Under the phrase, it is mentioned in Radd-ul-Muhtar:

کالمرضعۃ اذا ظھر لھا الحبل وانقطع لبنھا ولیس لابی الصبی ما یستاجر بہ الظئر ویخاف ھلاک الولد ، قالوا : یباح لھا ان تعالج فی استنزال الدم ما دام الحمل مضغۃ او علقۃ ولم یخلق لہ عضو وقدروا تلک المدۃ بمائۃ وعشرین یوما وجاز لانہ لیس بآدمی وفیہ صیانۃ الآدمی ، خانیۃ“
(Radd-ul-Muhtar ‘ala Durr-il-Mukhtar, Kitab-ul-Hazar wal-Ibaha, Vol. 9, p. 709, Quetta)

Sadr-ush-Shari‘ah Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A‘zami رحمۃ اللہ علیہ states:

“Using medicine to terminate a pregnancy or having a midwife cause the pregnancy to be terminated is forbidden. Whether the form of the child has developed or not, both have the same ruling. Yes, if there is an excuse — for example, the woman has a Sheer-Khaar (breastfeeding infant), and the father does not have enough means to appoint a wet nurse, or a wet nurse is not available, and due to the pregnancy the milk will dry up, and there is fear of the child’s death — then due to this compulsion the pregnancy may be terminated, on the condition that its limbs have not formed, and this period is one hundred and twenty days.”

(Bahar-e-Shari‘at, Part 16, Vol. 3, p. 507, Maktabat-ul-Madinah, Karachi)

Answered by:
Usman Madani (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 6th February 2026.