Is it permissible to perform a compulsory cesarean section to save a fetus in imminent danger, by agreement of the doctors, knowing that the risks of a cesarean section are very low?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is impermissible to perform surgery on a patient except with their permission, save for two cases: if the patient is threatened with death or organ damage, or if the disease is epidemic and there is fear of its spread. As for the case of the fetus, if it is highly probable that it will be exposed to danger by not performing the surgery, and it is highly probable that the mother will be safe by performing it, then it is permissible to perform the surgery without the mother's permission. This is to avert the greater of two harms by committing the lesser.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/95800
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 95800
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy