Is it permissible to abort a fetus before it reaches forty days, due to the difficult circumstances the family is experiencing, such as caring for an infant, the wife's paralyzed father, looking after the wife's sisters, the difficulty of the wife's previous pregnancy and C-section delivery, and the husband's long hours away due to work?

It is impermissible to abort a pregnancy unless there is a legitimate Shariah justification and within very narrow limits. If the pregnancy is in its first stage (the forty-day period) and its termination serves a legitimate Shariah interest or prevents an anticipated harm, then abortion is permissible. However, terminating it during this period due to fear of hardship in raising children or contenting oneself with the existing number of children is impermissible. Based on this, there is no objection to terminating this pregnancy, which is still in its first stage, considering the circumstances mentioned.