What is the ruling on abortion, and is it permissible to abort a child born of Zina (fornication/adultery) after 40 days?

The preponderant opinion is that it is impermissible to abort a fetus at any stage, even if it is in the nutfah (sperm-drop) stage. It is not permissible to proceed with an abortion simply because fornication was the cause, as this would be compounding one sin with another. Some scholars have permitted abortion within the first forty days in specific cases, and there are those who have permitted it before the ensoulment (nafkh ar-ruh) if there is a legitimate, recognized Sharia-compliant excuse.