Is it true that a fetus is presented with its entire life in the fourth month, so it either accepts it and continues or rejects it and its life is aborted? And why does a baby laugh and cry while asleep?
The authentic Hadith establishes that the soul is breathed into the fetus after the third forty-day period of its existence in the womb (at the completion of the fourth month). There is no shar'i (Islamic legal) evidence to prove that the fetus is presented with its life (story or destiny). Such matters cannot be asserted based on personal opinion or ijtihad (independent reasoning). As for the movements of an infant, in its early days, its laughter or crying does not express anything. Then, emotions develop within it, and it begins to express them. It may see dreams in its sleep and consequently laugh or cry. Specialists in educational psychology should be consulted regarding this. And Allah knows best.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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