Screening tests in pregnancy
Question As you know, screening tests or diagnostic tests to check for severe handicap in the fetus are usually performed early in pregnancy with the objective of possible termination of the pregnancy at approx 19 weeks of pregnancy. I would like to enquire if this is advisable in the Islamic Faith? Praise be to Allah….
Question
Praise be to Allah.
Yes,
that is permissible, but with regard to aborting the foetus, some scholars
have allowed that under certain conditions:
1-That the soul should not yet have entered the foetus, i.e. within
the first four months of the pregnancy from the time of conception.
2-There should be a necessary reason for doing so, such as handicap
or deformity which is discovered in the pregnancy, or a risk to the
mother. At the same time, if a person can be patient and put his trust
in Allaah, that will be better for him with his Lord.
Shaykh
Sa’d al-Humayd
But
it is essential to note that the doctors may be mistaken in their reports
and that the test results are often imprecise. So we must be very careful
when taking serious decisions such as deciding to abort a pregnancy
on the basis of such reports. Some shortcomings in a newborn may be
made up later on, or a fault may be removed and the child may be born
healthy. If we assume that the child is born at full term with a deformity,
then bearing that with patience and seeking the reward of Allaah by
caring for the child will not be lost with Allaah. It will not be a
loss, as it is viewed by many materialists, some of whom want to kill
the handicapped because they are a burden on society. Allaah is Most
Wise in all that He creates and decrees, may He be glorified and exalted.
