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Question & Answer » Search (Abortion)

1 Question: In certain cases doctors advise that the foetus is so deformed that it could be very difficult to treat the born baby and, perhaps, it (the child) would live a very short time suffering pain and agony with his parents, then dies. Is it permissible for the would be mother to abort the foetus? Also, is there any difference between the foetus with a spirit and that which the spirit has not yet entered into yet? Assuming it is permissible, should compensation [or blood money] be payable? Who should pay it?
Answer: Abortion in this case is not permissible, even though the soul has not entered the foetus, [let alone a foetus with a soul] .
Abortion
2 Question: What is the ruling on the use of IUD and pills by a woman to prevent pregnancy?
Answer: It is permissible for a woman to use Intrauterine Devices (IUD) and other birth control devices provided that they do not pose serious harm to the woman’s health and that the insertion of the device does not involve a harãm act, such as the male touching or looking at the private parts of the woman’s body that are forbidden for him to look at. Similarly, it should not involve the female looking at, and touching without gloves the private parts that are harãm to touch or look at. Moreover, the IUD should not cause the abortion of the fertilized ovum after its implantation [in the womb].
Contraceptives - Birth Control
3 Question: Sometimes the doctors reach the following conclusion: This foetus is afflicted with a very serious disease; it is therefore preferable that it should be aborted because if that child is born, it will be deformed or will die soon after birth. Is it, therefore, permissible for the doctor to abort the foetus? Is it permissible for the mother to agree to the abortion? And who of the two will become liable for indemnity?
Answer: Just the fact that the child will be deformed or that it will not live for a long time after his birth does not ever justify the termination of the pregnancy. Therefore, it is not permissible for the mother to consent to the abortion just as it is not permissible for the doctor to go ahead with the procedure. And whoever performs the abortion will become liable for the payment of indemnity.
Abortion
4 Question: Is it permissible for the husband to go to bed with his wife after the expiration of her Nifas (bleeding that occurs after childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion), which is ten days, and the continuation of discharge of an Istihadha type, noting that bleeding continued for some eighteen days?
Answer: It is permissible, after the ten days.
Nifas
5 Question: What is the kaffara of abortion?
Answer: In case the mother aborts the child, she must give the indemnity (blood money) to the father or other heirs. And if the father carries out the abortion, the indemnity is obligatory on him and he must give it to the mother. If it is the doctor who carries out the abortion, it is obligatory on him to give the blood money to the mother and father, even if he may abort the fetus on the parents’ request. He must give the blood money except if the heirs (i.e. the mother and father)exempt him.
It would suffice for the blood money of the fetus into which soul has entered to give 5250 mithqals of silver. That is when the fetus is male and if it is female, half of that amount should be paid.
If the fetus is lifeless and it is in the form of a fertilized ovum (zygote), 105 mithqals of silver would suffice for the blood money. In case it is in the form of a leech-like substance, the indemnity is 210 mithqals. If it develops into a chewed-like substance, the indemnity is 315 mithqals. If the fetus has bones, 420 mithqals of silver would suffice. If it has developed into a complete human body with grown up limbs and organs, the indemnity is 525 mithqals of silver. If the fetus is soulless, there is no difference between a male fetus and a female one as an obligatory precaution. The Soul enters the body at the fourth month of pregnancy except for when it is proved otherwise through modern technology.
If the fetus is alive and it is aborted, the indemnity is 5250 mithqal of silver for a male child and 2625 mithqal for a female child.
*Every mithqal of silver is equivalent to 4.64 g of Silver.*
Abortion
6 Question: I have a medical illness, and have become pregnant recently, under what circumstances is an abortion allowed?
Answer: Abortion is not allowed after the implantation of the [fertilized] ovum [on the lining of the womb], except if the mother’s life is in danger, and in this case, it would be permissible to abort the foetus as long as the soul has not entered into it (i.e. before the end of 4 months); after the entering of the soul, it is not permissible, as an obligatory precaution.
Abortion
7 Question: What is the ruling on abortion for a pregnant woman who is infected with AIDS?
Answer: It is not permissible, more so after the soul has entered the feotus. Of course, if continuation of the pregnancy poses a danger to the mother, it is permissible for her to abort it before the entering of the soul in the feotus, but not after it.
Medical Issues
8 Question: What is the ruling on abortion for a pregnant woman who is infected with AIDS?
Answer: It is not permissible, only if continuation of the pregnancy poses a considerable harm to the health mother, it is permissible for her to abort it before the entering of the soul in the feotus, but not after it.
Abortion
9 Question: Is it permissible for the husband to go to bed with his wife after the expiration of her nifas (bleeding that occurs after childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion), which is ten days, and the continuation of discharge of an istihadha type, noting that bleeding continued for some eighteen days?
Answer: It is permissible.
Haydh - Menstruation / Monthly Period
10 Question: What is the blood money for aborting a child? Who is the blood money given to? Who receives the blood money?
Answer: In case the mother aborts the child, she must give the blood money (Diyyah) to the father or other heirs. And if the father carries out the abortion, the blood money (Diyyah) is obligatory on him and he must give it to the mother. If it is the doctor who carries out the abortion, it is obligatory on him to give the blood money although he may abort the child on the parents’ request, (though they would share in the sin). He must give the blood money except for when the heirs exempt him.
It would suffice for the blood money of the fetus into which soul has entered to give 525 mithqals of silver. That is when the fetus is male and if it is female, half of that amount should be paid. As a measure of obligatory precaution, the Diyyah of the fetus which dies in the womb is also the same.
1) If the fetus is lifeless and it is in the form of a fertilized ovum (zygote), 105 mithqals of silver would suffice for the blood money (0-40 days).
2) In case it is in the form of a leech-like substance, the Diyyah is 210 mithqals (40-80 days).
3) If it develops into a chewed-like substance, the Diyyah is 315 mithqals (80-120 days).
4) If the fetus has bones, 420 mithqals of silver would suffice.
5) If it has developed into a complete human body with grown up limbs and organs, the Diyyah is 525 mithqals of silver.
If the fetus is soulless, there is no difference between a male fetus and a female one as an obligatory precaution.
6) If the soul has entered the body, then for a male 5250 mithqals, and for a female 2625 mithqals.
Soul enters the body at the fourth month of pregnancy except for when it is proved otherwise through modern equipment's.

*Every mithqal of silver is equivalent to 4.64 g of Silver.*
Blood money - (Diyyah)
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