Al-Mahkamah: Islamic Law Journal
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025)

The Legality or Otherwise of Abortion Under Islamic Law

Ardo , Hamidu (Unknown)
Adamu, Abubakar Ibrahim (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Nov 2025

Abstract

The legality of abortion under Islamic law is a complex and debated topic. Islamic law has varying interpretations regarding abortion. Abortion is generally permitted in Islam if the mother’s life is at risk or in cases of severe fetal abnormalities. However the specific gestational limit for permissibility varies among Islamic schools of thought, the concept of ensoulment, or when fetus is believes to receive a soul, is crucial in determining abortions permissibility. Some interpretations consider ensoulment to occur at conception, while others believe it happens later. Around 120 days after conception. Different schools of thought such as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii and Hanbali have varying opinions on abortion some are more restrictive,  while others allow abortion under specific circumstances. Analytical research methodology was used in this paper. Data are drawn from books, articles, scholarly journals etc.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

i

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

The aim of this journal publication is to disseminate the conceptual thoughts or ideas and research results that have been achieved in the area of Islamic Law particularly focuses on the main problems in the development of the sciences of Islamic Law areas as follows: 1. Islamic Law 2. Fiqh and ...