Q. A family that had one normal child suffered the death of two children born later. Both died within a few months of birth, despite a gap of several years between them. This was due to a congenital disease. Because of this, the parents decided that they would not risk another birth. However, the mother got pregnant despite taking precautions. After long and heart-searching discussions, they aborted the pregnancy. Guided by her past experience, the woman felt that she could not go through another tragic experience. Her husband only acquiesced, fearing the worst for her mental and physical health. They now realize that they did something terribly wrong. What can they do now?

(Name and address withheld)

A. They should have asked before taking the decision, not afterwards. This is the proper Islamic attitude. When you have done a deed without knowing whether it is permissible or not, you will be left with the consequences which could be very bad. God tells us: “Ask those who are endowed with knowledge, if you do not know.” (16: 43) But the asking should be in time, when there is a chance to avoid what is forbidden.

The couple in this case acted on their past experience, without sufficient recourse to God’s ability and what He might have blessed them with. Having lost two children in infancy, they did not look at the fact that they have one healthy child and that they could easily have another one. They predetermined that the causes that took away their two children will inevitably engulf the next one. This smacks of despair of God’s mercy, and a Muslim must never entertain such despair. We must always trust to God’s grace.

Besides, abortion is not permissible except where the continuation of the pregnancy constitutes serious risks to the mother. Only in this case the potential life of the fetus can be sacrificed to protect the real life of the mother. You will find scholars who will tell you that abortion is permissible in the first forty days or the first four months, but this view is disputed by many other scholars. It is also contrary to the view of contemporary scholars who have studied the issue from the combined perspective of Shariah and medicine. Such scholars are firmly of the view that abortion is forbidden from the time of conception, except for valid medical reasons. In this case, there is no such reason because the mother had already had one healthy child, which shows that she could have another.

Moreover, the couple should have known that losing a child in infancy would earn them great reward from God. In fact, authentic Hadiths mention that the child will on the Day of Judgment seek God’s forgiveness for his parents and will take them by the hand to heaven. They should have known that God keeps in store handsome reward for His servants who bear with patience any hardship life throws at them. Had they decided to go ahead with the pregnancy, they would either have had a healthy child, and they would have had much happiness through its upbringing, or they would have had a repeat of the two tragic deaths. In this latter case, their patience and acceptance of God’s will are sure to earn them great reward. They would have been rewarded in either eventuality. By opting for abortion, they disobeyed God and showed their unwillingness to accept His will. The only way now is for both of them to repent and seek God’s forgiveness. Compensation is also due, which is estimated at five percent of the blood money paid in the case of manslaughter. So, if the normal rate of blood money today is 100,000 Saudi Riyals, then in the case of abortion it is 5,000, and the parents will be deprived of their right to inherit it. So, it should be paid to other heirs, in this case the surviving brother of the aborted fetus.

Importance of Aqeeqah

Q. What is the importance of Aqeeqah, and how to perform it?

Amina Khanum

A. The aqeeqah is a sacrifice that is offered after the birth of a baby. It is intended as a way for relatives and neighbors to share the joy of the family in which the child is born. It is offered on the seventh day of the child’s birth, or as soon as possible after that. The father should slaughter one sheep or more and use the meat in providing a dinner for relatives, neighbors and friends. Some scholars suggest that it should be one sheep if the child is a girl and two if it is a boy. But when we look at the Hadiths that speak of it, we realize that this differentiation has no sound basis. The sacrifice is the same for both boys and girls. It earns a great reward from God, and the guests are recommended to pray for the child and the parents. So, the parents get both reward and prayers, which makes the sacrifice strongly recommended on such occasions.