Ruling on aborting a foetus affected by thalassaemia
Question

                I am pregnant; this is my first pregnancy and 103 days have passed. My husband and I are both carriers of a genetic disease affecting the blood, called beta thalassaemia, and we know that there is a twenty-five percent chance of the child being affected by the sickness and not being merely a carrier like us. I did a test to check on the condition of the foetus, and I received the result today. It is clear that the child is affected, and the doctors have advised us to have an abortion, because this disease is complicated and will ruin the child’s life and psychology. He may not be able to live. The doctors have advised us that the soul of the foetus (from a shar‘i point of view) will be breathed into him in his mother’s womb on day 120, and that there is nothing wrong with having an abortion before the soul is breathed into the foetus. My question is: what do you think about this matter? Is it true that the soul of the foetus is breathed into him on day 120? What do you advise me to do? Because we have no time to wait, as the days are passing and the foetus is growing, and this poses a danger to the mother’s life, and may lead to sterility in the case of a delayed abortion?
Praise be to Allah.
	The saheeh Sunnah indicates that the soul is breathed into 
	the foetus after 120 days, as al-Bukhaari (3208) and Muslim (2643) narrated 
	that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The 
	Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), 
	who is the most truthful one, told 
	us: “The creation of any one of you is put together in his mother’s womb for 
	forty days, then he becomes a ‘alaqah (a piece of thick coagulated 
	blood) for a similar period, then he becomes like a chewed piece of flesh (mudghah) 
	for a similar period, then Allah sends to him an angel who is commanded to 
	write down four things, and it is said to him: Write down his deeds, his 
	provision, his lifespan and whether he is wretched or blessed. Then the soul 
	is breathed into him.” 

	Hence the scholars stated that it is not permissible to abort 
	the foetus after the soul is breathed into it, unless a group of 
	trustworthy, specialist doctors have determined that leaving the foetus in 
	the mother’s uterus will cause her death; this decision is only to be taken 
	after exhausting all possible means of saving the life of the foetus.

	End quote from a statement by the Council of Senior 
	scholars. 

	See also the answer to question no. 42321 

	But before the soul is breathed into the foetus, if the 
	foetus is deformed or affected by this disease that you mention, namely 
	thalassaemia, and trustworthy doctors have confirmed that, then it is 
	permissible to abort it in that case. 

	The Islamic Fiqh Council belonging to the Muslim World 
	League, in its twelfth session, held in Makkah al-Mukarramah from 15 Rajab 
	1410AH/10-2-1990 CE, stated the following: 

	Before the passage of one hundred and twenty days from the 
	beginning of the pregnancy, if it is proven and confirmed by a medical 
	committee composed of trustworthy specialist doctors, and based on tests 
	with diagnostic equipment and methods, that the foetus is severely deformed 
	in a way that is not receptive to medical treatment, and that if the 
	pregnancy continues to term and the child is born, his life will be 
	difficult and painful for him and his family, then in that case it is 
	permissible to abort the pregnancy, in response to the parents’ wishes. 
	Having stated that, the committee advises doctors and parents to fear Allah 
	and base their decision on certain knowledge and verified facts. And Allah 
	is the source of strength. 

	End quote from Fiqh an-Nawaazil (4/25) by Dr. Muhammad 
	Husayn al-Jeezaani 

	We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to grant you healing, 
	well-being and righteous offspring. 

	And Allah knows best.