Islamic rules of pregnancy

It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him) that:

 

Translation: Jannah is under the feet of the mother.

 

Imam Sakhawi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has narrated this Hadith in Maqasidul Hasana and has mentioned that Khateeb has narrated this Hadith in his Jame’ (compendium) and Muhaddith Qazai has narrated this in his own Musnad.

(Maqasudul Hasana, Harful Jeem)

 

Motherhood is a great ni'mah and honor from Allah Ta'ala.  Here are some miscellaneous rules about pregnancy.

 

Does Islam permit abortion?

 

Abortion after the soul is blown into the fetus is impermissible.  Allah Ta’ala has prohibited this:

 

And do not kill your children due to fear of poverty. We alone provide for them and for you (as well). Indeed killing them is a major sin.  Bani Israil (17:31)

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari about when the soul is blown into the fetus:

 

Translation of Hadith:  It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Mas'ud that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said: Verily anyone from you stays in the mother’s womb for 40 days in the form of Nutfah (Literally meaning "a drop of fluid"), then for 40 days in the form of clotted blood, then for 40 days in the form a piece of flesh, then Allah Ta’ala sends an angel with 4 words.  That angel writes that person’s deeds (A'amal in Urdu), the age, the sustenance (Rizq) and writes whether that person will be guided or misguided.  Then the angel blows the soul.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No: 3036)

 

We learn from this Hadith that the soul s blown after 120 days.  There is a chance of abortion in the stages before the soul is blown for some reasons.  For e.g. the mother is very weak and cannot bear the pregnancy or if there is a danger to the life of the lady or the baby or because of paucity of milk, there is a danger to the present child and the husband is not financially strong and cannot make any other alternative arrangements for the child’s feeding.  In these cases, before 120 days, the pregnancy may be aborted, if and only if an expert doctor says so.

 

As given in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 5, Pg No. 356 and in Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 5, Pg No. 305.

 

Use of contraceptives

 

It is not permissible to use contraceptive medicines for economic reasons like poverty, etc.  Allah Ta'ala has forbidden it:

 

……..and do not kill your children owing to poverty.  Surah An'aam (6:151)

 

To stop the fetus from being developed/born is akin to murder with respect to its outcome.  Thus, it is forbidden to use contraceptives in normal conditions or for simple reasons.

 

If there is danger to the mother with a pregnancy and an expert, religious Muslim doctor gives the opinion that contraceptives be used, then it is permissible.  However, using a permanent method of contraception is not at all allowed for either men or woman like vasectomy, etc.

 

As given in Radd Ul Muhtaar, Vol. 2, Kitab Un Nikah.