What is the ruling on abortion in the fifth month of pregnancy?
The Sunni jurists have unanimously agreed on the prohibition of aborting a fetus after the ensoulment (120 days from conception), unless the continuation of the pregnancy leads to the death of the mother. The disagreement among jurists lies in the ruling on abortion before ensoulment. However, after ensoulment, they all agree that the fetus has become a soul with its dignity. Ibn Juzayy transmitted the consensus on the prohibition of abortion after ensoulment, stating: "If the womb receives the semen, it is impermissible to interfere with it, and even more so if it has formed, and even more so if the soul has been breathed into it, for it is then unanimously considered the killing of a soul." Based on this, abortion after ensoulment is a crime that should not be committed except in cases of extreme and certain necessity, such as the risk posed by the fetus's continued presence to the mother's life, which is a rare occurrence with the advancement of modern medical means.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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