What Will Happen to the Fetus If Lost before 120 Days?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

Due to a medical emergency, we had to terminate our pregnancy within three months (before 120 days). What is the destination of our baby? Will we meet our baby in heaven?

I have heard about the destination of the babies if they have a soul. Our pregnancy was terminated before this. I would like to know the status of babies that pass away before their souls are breathed into them.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to that which is pleasing to Him. Amin.

Based on our belief that the soul doesn’t enter the body until after 120 days, the fetus has never possessed a soul if the pregnancy is terminated before this point. This may be hard to accept if we have believed otherwise, but it is perfectly acceptable to grieve the loss of what we hoped and longed for.

We should try to find comfort in the decree of Allah and that we have not lost a soul. Only that which has a soul will go to Jannah or Jahannam. It is the Decree of Allah, He is the Wisest, and we should strive to be happy with His decree.

Souls of Miscarried Fetuses

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “No doubt, the miscarried fetus would lead his mother, by his umbilical cord, to Paradise, should she hope the reward for that (miscarriage) from Allah (Most High).” [Ahmad and Ibn Maja]

It appears – and Allah Knows best – this applies only to a fetus into which the soul was breathed, which does not occur but after the elapse of one hundred and twenty days, as confirmed in the Hadith narrated by both Imams, Bukhari, and Muslim. Hafidh Ibn (Allah have mercy on him) said: “Scholars unanimously agree that the soul is not breathed into the fetus but after four months have elapsed.” [Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari]

Hope in Allah

Undoubtedly, if the parents are patient and hope for the reward for their miscarriage from Allah (Most High), they would receive a great reward from the Generous Lord. In this respect, it is narrated on the authority of ‘Aisha, the Mother of Believers  (may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her), that the Messenger of Allah  (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah Expiates some of his sins because of it, even if it is a prick he receives from a thorn.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah Expiates some of his sins because of that.” [Bukhari]

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan. 

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.