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What is the expiation for aborting a malformed fetus in the sixth month out of fear for the mother, knowing the differing opinions on paying the blood money (diyah) or freeing a slave (ghurrah), and should both parents fast or only one of them in the event that fasting is obligatory, and what are the rulings for washing and burying the fetus in this case?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If the continuation of the pregnancy poses a real danger to the mother's life, then there is no harm in aborting it. However, the mere malformation of the fetus does not permit its abortion after the ensoulment, as long as it does not pose a danger to the mother's life.

In the case of aborting the fetus after the ensoulment, one must repent for this great sin, and then consider the rulings related to blood money (Diyah) and expiation (Kaffarah) that follow from it. Blood money is obligatory and is a matter of consensus. As for expiation, there is a difference of opinion among scholars, but it is safer to consider it obligatory upon everyone who participated in the abortion.

Regarding the burial of the aborted fetus without washing or prayer: this is the view of some scholars, and it is hoped that you will not bear any sin for not washing it and praying over it. You are not required to do anything now because of that.

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

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