Gender-based Infanticide: Islamic ResponseBy: Joseph Nachar

Abortion is defined as the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, and expulsion of a fetus from the uterus by natural causes before it is able to survive independently. In many cases, Religion plays a dominant role in order to decide in regards to the matter, while sometimes in some cases it becomes a life or death situation. Islamic ideology of the concerning matter regard abortion as “Haram”, meaning a wrong doing by the will of Allah, and a forbidden act as life is a gift form God. However, Muslims actually believe in the same concept, that if the mothers life is at danger, that abortion is permitted and can be considered, only if the child in the mothers womb is older than 120 days. The Qur'an does not explicitly refer to the whole decision of whether or not to pursue the act of abortion, but offers guidance on related matters when trying to relate to what decision to take.

The Islamic view is based on the very high priority the faith gives to the sanctity of life. In this the Quran states the importance and treasury of an Islamics life. "...and (Allah) is the one who gave you life, then shall He ordain you to die, then shall He give you your life again, truly mankind is ungrateful" (Chapter 22, verse 66). Through this verse we experience the sanctity of life through an Islamics point of view and approach towards life itself, stating how one is to live, die and be born again through the judgement of Allah. For this approach we see that one cannot "....take not life which Allah has made sacred" (Chapter 6, verse 151). This thus refers to the commandment of not to murder or kill. From the response shown throughout the Quran, according to these extracts, we can see as to why a specific approach to the matter and issue of “Gender based Infanticide” through abortion is forbidden. “Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has murdered all of mankind” -Qur'an 5:32. This is a quote specifically aimed and targeted to the act of abortion. It is evidential as to why killing is forbidden, because it is seen as unjust and and act of evil through wickedness. The fact that one kills a human being through the act of free will, against the will of Allah is seen to be a great sinner through the eyes of Allah.

“Kill not your offspring...Surely, killing them is a great sin” - Qur'an 17:32” is another direct attempt for the Quran to show great significance of sin towards to act of abortion. Nevertheless every individual, through the eyes of Allah has a significance towards their life, because mankind was created in the form and idea of that of Allah. Therefore everyones life, in an Islamic approach is considered righteous. And as the mother is the originator of the fetus, and because her life is well established, it makes no sense to sacrifice the mothers life in order for that of the child. Ofcourse it is not considered a choice of freewill and chosen without the whole concept of deep concern and time of thought, but scientifically speaking, in order to let the mother die for the infant, in most cases the child is killed as well. Islam in a way then allows and is lenient to abortion, in order to save the life of the mother because it sees this as the 'lesser of two evils'. There is a general principle in Sharia (Muslim law) of choosing the lesser of two evils.

As seen above, even in the religion of Islam itself, there is a balance of negative and positive matters concerning the idea of abortion. This is evidential as to how beliefs and actions within the same religion can be shown and thus conflict with each other as to what truly is the righteous and virtuous decision to make.