Is it permissible to agree to a surgical procedure on the wife's hand that would necessitate aborting the fetus in the fourth month of pregnancy, or must the operation be refused or postponed to preserve the fetus, even if that risks causing a disability in the wife's hand?

Abortion is not permissible except in two cases: a definite threat to the mother's life, or the death of the fetus in her womb.

If the abortion is to be performed due to anesthesia or other reasons during a necessary surgical procedure, there is no harm in carrying out the procedure if leaving it would lead to damage to the hand or the loss of its function.

As for intentional abortion, there are two cases: - After the ensoulment (120 days): Abortion is not permissible because it is killing a soul, even if there is fear for the mother's life, because the danger is imaginary and does not justify killing a definite soul. - Before the ensoulment: Abortion is permissible because warding off the harm of hand damage or the loss of its function takes precedence over warding off the harm of aborting the fetus before ensoulment.