What Is the Kaffara for Abortion in Islam?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

What is the expiation (kaffara) for abortion?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Abortion is prohibited for non-Islamic reasons, particularly after 120 days, when the soul is believed to enter the fetus. If a wife undergoes an abortion without her husband’s permission, she must pay a ghurra, which is 500 dirhams or its equivalent, and it is advised that she fast for 60 days as an act of expiation (kaffara). However, if the abortion is done with the husband’s permission, no ghurra is required.

Allah’s Promise of Sustenance

Allah has taken responsibility for providing sustenance to every living being, as mentioned in Surat Hud:

“And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision.” [Quran, 11:6]

This verse assures humans that unnecessary worry about sustenance reflects a weakness of faith.

Practice of the Pre-Islamic Era

In the pre-Islamic era, people would kill their children out of fear of poverty. Allah condemned this act and stated in the Quran,

“Do not kill your children out of fear of poverty. We provide for them and you.” [Quran, 17: 1]

This teaching underscores the sanctity of human life and the importance of trust in Allah.

The Prohibition of Abortion

Abortion is forbidden and unlawful if done out of fear of poverty or for any other non-shar‘i reason. Abortion after four months is considered akin to killing, as the soul is breathed into the fetus after this period.

Abortion Without Permission

If a wife undergoes an abortion without her husband’s permission, she is required to pay “ghurra,” which is either 500 dirhams or the equivalent value of a slave. Life begins as soon as the sperm and egg meet in the womb, and respect for this life must be shown through financial compensation.

The amount is 500 dirhams, which is equivalent to approximately 1530.9g of silver. As of 25-01-2025, it is priced at £1,206.75 in GBP and $1,506.55 in US Dollars. See the calculation tool below.

It is also recommended that the woman offer expiation (kaffara), which involves fasting for 60 consecutive days.

Abortion With Permission

If the abortion is carried out with the husband’s consent, no “ghurra” is required. [Ibn ’Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya]

There is a distinction in rulings before and after four months of pregnancy; the fetus is given greater sanctity after four months when the soul is infused.

The sanctity and protection of every life are core principles of Islam. Parents are forbidden from harming their children due to concerns about sustenance or their future.  Sustenance is Allah’s responsibility, while humans are tasked with effort and planning.

Related: Historical Nisâb Tool

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.

Arabic References:

”وقد أخرج البزار والحاكم في الكنى والبيهقي في سننه عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله تعالى عنه أنه قال: جاء قيس بن عاصم التميمي إلى رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلم فقال: ‌إني ‌وأدت ثمان بنات لي في الجاهلية، فقال النبي صلّى الله عليه وسلم: «أعتق عن كل واحدة رقبة» قال: إني صاحب إبل قال:«فاهد عن كل واحدة بدنة». وكان الأمر للندب لا للوجوب لتوقف صحة التوبة عليه فإن الإسلام يجب ما قبله من مثل ذلك وفيه تعظيم أمر الوأد.“ [روح المعانی :15، ص:257، دار لکتب العلمية]

”(ولا كفارة في الجنين) ‌عندنا ‌وجوبا بل ندبا زيلعي.“ [رد المحتار- كتاب الديات، ج:6، ص:590، ط:سعيد]

وفیه أيضاّ: ”(قوله: وقالوا إلخ) قال في النهر: ‌بقي ‌هل ‌يباح ‌الإسقاط بعد الحمل؟ نعم يباح ما لم يتخلق منه شيء ولن يكون ذلك إلا بعد مائة وعشرين يوما.“ [كتاب النكاح ، ج:3، ص:176، ط: سعيد]

وفيه أيضاّ: ”ونقل عن الذخيرة لو أرادت الإلقاء قبل مضي زمن ينفخ فيه الروح هل يباح لها ذلك أم لا؟ اختلفوا فيه، وكان الفقيه علي بن موسى يقول: إنه يكره، فإن الماء بعدما وقع في الرحم مآله الحياة فيكون له حكم الحياة كما في بيضة صيد الحرم، ونحوه في الظهيرية قال ابن وهبان: فإباحة الإسقاط محمولة على حالة العذر، أو أنها لا تأثم إثم القتل.“ [كتاب النكاح ، ج:3، ص:176، ط: سعيد]

”والمرأة إذا ضربت بطن نفسها، أو شربت دواء لتطرح الولد متعمدة، أو عالجت فرجها حتى سقط الولد ضمن عاقلتها الغرة إن فعلت بغير إذن الزوج، وإن فعلت بإذنه لا يجب شيء كذا في الكافي.“ [الفتاوي الهندية – كتاب الجنايات، ج:6، ص:35، ط:دارالفكر]