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Is a child who dies in his mother's womb at three months and fifteen days of age to be washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a wife miscarries a fetus that has acquired human features, the blood is considered nifas (postpartum bleeding). The minimum period for human features to become apparent is 81 days. However, if the miscarriage occurs before human features are discernible, the blood is considered istihada (irregular bleeding). It is not permissible to abort a living fetus after 40 days. However, if it dies in the womb, abortion is permissible. If the miscarriage occurs before the ensoulment (less than four months), then ghusl (ritual washing), Salat (prayer), and 'aqiqa (sacrifice) are not obligatory for it. But if the soul has been breathed into it, then it should be washed, prayed over, and the 'aqiqa for it is recommended.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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