𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (291)

Terminating a Pregnancy When the Mother's Life Is at Risk If the pregnancy poses a confirmed risk to the mother’s life, is it permissible to terminate the pregnancy in this case? Contemporary scholars have differed on this matter, presenting two main opinions: First Opinion: Prohibition of Termination Regardless of Risk This view holds that it is impermissible to terminate the pregnancy even if the mother’s life is in confirmed danger, even if it results in her death. Among the prominent scholars who supported this opinion is Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allāh have mercy on him). They argue that once the soul has been breathed into the fetus (after 120 days), it is not permissible to terminate the pregnancy under any circumstances, even if doctors confirm that the mother will die if the pregnancy continues. Their reasoning is as follows: - It is not permissible to take one life to save another. - Terminating the pregnancy after 120 days constitutes the killing of a human being. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen stated: “If someone argues that if the pregnancy continues, the mother will die, and as a result, the fetus will also die, leading to the loss of two lives; while if the fetus is terminated, the mother may survive — the response is that if the mother dies due to the pregnancy and the fetus also dies, then the mother’s death is decreed by Allāh. It is not caused by us, but by Allāh’s will due to the pregnancy. However, if we terminate the pregnancy and the fetus dies as a result, its death is caused by our actions, which is impermissible.” Proponents of this view conclude that terminating a pregnancy after 120 days constitutes aggression against a human being and the unjust taking of a life to save another. Second Opinion: Permissibility of Termination to Save the Mother’s Life The second opinion, supported by the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Muslim World League, holds that if trusted medical professionals confirm that the continuation of the pregnancy poses a definitive danger to the mother’s life, and all other means of preserving both lives have been exhausted, it is permissible to terminate the pregnancy in such cases. Their reasoning is based on the principle of weighing harms and benefits: - In such a scenario, there are two harms: the death of the mother or the death of the fetus. - The death of the mother is a greater harm, as her life is certain, while the survival of the fetus after birth is uncertain. - Thus, terminating the pregnancy to save the mother is considered preventing the greater harm and achieving the greater benefit. However, this permissibility is not absolute and is subject to strict conditions: 1. Trusted medical professionals must unanimously agree that the continuation of the pregnancy poses a confirmed risk to the mother’s life. 2. All available means to preserve both the mother’s and fetus’s lives must have been exhausted. 3. Termination is the only option to save the mother’s life. This opinion is considered the stronger and more applicable position in this matter, given its alignment with the principle of دفع أعظم الضررين (averting the greater of two harms). Response to the First Opinion: Proponents of the second opinion respond to the first by noting that the situation involves two lives: the mother’s and the fetus’s. If the fetus is not terminated, it will lead to the mother’s death, which is the greater harm. Therefore, terminating the pregnancy in such a case is justified to save the mother’s life. Conclusion: The second opinion, which permits termination under the conditions mentioned, is the more reasonable and balanced view in this matter. It is based on the principle of minimising harm and maximising benefit. However, such a decision should only be made when all conditions are met and upon consultation with trustworthy medical professionals. And Allāh knows best. Source ⤵️ https://saadalkhathlan.com/scientific-series/lessons/43583 ➡️@womensbenefits