She had an abortion when she got pregnant as a result of zina, and Ramadan has begun, and they told her: Your prayer and fasting are not valid. Is this true?
Question

                I had an abortion two weeks ago; the embryo was three months old, but I did not know. I regret it very much and I wish that I was strong, but I am not. I wanted the child with all my heart but I was afraid because I am not married. Now it is Ramadan and I started to fast, but I was told that my fasting and prayer will not be accepted for forty days. Is that true?
Praise be to Allah.
    Firstly: 

    What you must do before regretting having 
    the abortion and asking about the consequences of your action is regret 
    having committed zina, which led to the creation of this embryo, and you 
    should ask about how to repent from it, because zina is a major sin and a 
    grave immoral action; it incurs the wrath and punishment of Allah, may He be 
    exalted, and it is deserving of the hadd punishment in this world. 

    First of all, you must regret it sincerely 
    and repent sincerely from having committed zina, and you must firmly resolve 
    never to go back to that sin. You must also do a lot of righteous deeds and 
    seek to keep yourself chaste by means of permissible marriage, so as to 
    protect yourself from the tricks of the devils among mankind and the jinn, 
    lest they cause you to slip once more. Sever all ties with Jaahiliyyah and 
    bad company that may open the door to immoral and indecent actions. 

    Secondly: 

    With regard to the embryo that you aborted, 
    if that happened before the soul was breathed into it – i.e., before four 
    months, as we believe is the more correct view – then you do not have to 
    offer any expiation or pay any diyah (blood money). If it was after the 
    completion of four months, then you have incurred the burden of sin and must 
    pay the diyah and offer expiation. The diyah is the equivalent of the price 
    of five camels; the expiation is to fast for two consecutive months. 

    Please see also the answers to questions no.
    106448 and 175536 

    Thirdly: 

    With regard to your prayers and fasts not 
    being accepted for forty days, this is a false notion for which there is no 
    sound basis. Perhaps the one who said it meant that you would be in the 
    state of nifaas (postpartum bleeding), during which a woman does not pray or 
    fast. This is correct if you the bleeding is the blood of nifaas; it would 
    not be permissible for you to fast or pray for the duration of that 
    bleeding, which came to you as a result of the abortion. Then when the 
    bleeding stopped and you saw the signs of purity that you are used to, then 
    you should purify yourself (ghusl) and pray and fast. Then when the month of 
    Ramadan ends, you should make up the days on which you did not fast during 
    your nifaas. 

    But if he meant that your prayers and fasts 
    were not valid throughout the period mentioned, even if you were not 
    bleeding in nifaas, then this is wrong and it is indeed false. 

    So carry on praying and fasting, and persist 
    in repenting and praying for forgiveness for the major sin that you 
    committed. We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to accept your repentance and 
    forgive your error. 

    And Allah knows best.