Christianity and Islam on abortion

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AntiKarateKid said:
Keep in mind that individuals here may be speaking without knowledge of their religion. What matters is what the religion we believe in says, not our own opinions because they are subject to error and bias. God gives us truth, we follow it.

I may think today that during prayer we should be allowed to talk and joke etc but tomorrow when I read the words of scholars who have proof that Allah has forbidden such a thing from the Quran/hadith, i abandon it. Take what you hear here about Islam with a grain of salt until you see its proof.
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Fair enough, but obviously each individual will have their own reactions and opinions on the matter. I'm interested in the average Muslim's gut reaction to the issue of abortion. Yes, that reaction will be largely based on their religious faith, but I know plenty of athiests that are against abortion on ethical and moral grounds.
 
Bismillah: Assalamo ALikum.

Keltoi said:
All life is sacred. Your scenario about a mother's life being in danger if the pregnancy is carried through is one of those difficult ethical questions. Personally I believe the procedure of abortion should be an option in that situation. The primary concern for Christians, and I would hope Muslims as well, is the use of abortion as a form of birth control. The termination of unwanted pregnancy. Threats to the life of the mother make up a very small percentage of abortion cases. I don't think many Christians would blame the mother in those situations for choosing abortion over death.
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Islam agrees with you on this subject.

Salam
Serving Islam
 
Serving Islam said:
Bismillah: Assalamo Alikum.

How about rape and incest, do Christians support abortion in these cases?

Salam
Serving Islam
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I don't think it is a matter of "supporting" abortion in any particular circumstance, but cases of incest and rape, saving the life of a mother, etc are scenarios where ending a pregnancy can also be a moral or ethical option. Again, it is the practice of abortion as birth control that most Christians would object to.
 
This toopic has been answered before.. the answer is in chapter 2 suret Al-Baqara

وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلاَدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ وَعلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ لاَ تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لاَ تُضَآرَّ وَالِدَةٌ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلاَ مَوْلُودٌ لَّهُ بِوَلَدِهِ وَعَلَى الْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالاً عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُواْ أَوْلاَدَكُمْ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّا آتَيْتُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ {233}​
[Pickthal 2:233] Mothers shall suckle their children for two whole years; (that is) for those who wish to complete the suckling. The duty of feeding and clothing nursing mothers in a seemly manner is upon the father of the child. No-one should be charged beyond his capacity. A mother should not be made to suffer because of her child, nor should he to whom the child is born (be made to suffer) because of his child. And on the (father's) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father). If they desire to wean the child by mutual consent and (after) consultation, it is no sin for them; and if ye wish to give your children out to nurse, it is no sin for you, provide that ye pay what is due from you in kindness. Observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is Seer of what ye do.



This addresses extreme cases of illness or rape.. And Allah knows best.. I have seen this in a fatwa before but I can't be bothered to search for it now!

:w:
 
She is asking because for christians abortion and gay rights are a major issue. Most of the evangelical-christian fundamentalists will vote for somone based on their 'moral values' alone.

I think she wants to know how abortion and gay right issues effect how muslims vote.
 
Keltoi said:
My question is this: What is the Islamic stance on abortion? How important is the issue to Muslims politically? Theoretically, when the average Muslim steps into a voting booth, how important is the issue on deciding which candidate to vote for?
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Muslims are not allowed to "vote", because democracy is against the precepts of Islam. Legislation is the perogative of Allah alone.

Abortion is not at all permitted in Islam, only in certain rare circumstances where the mother's life will be in jeopardy if she delivers, or if the baby won't be able to survive due to some deformity. The Quran says very clearly: Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin (Holy Quran 17:31)

Abortion is very evil and selfish act, it is nothing but murder. The fact that is is practiced commonly today is a sign that we are in very bleak times, where there is no respect for human life, and maximum freedom must prevail, even at the cost of the most innocent. This is very disturbing situation. I do not know how anyone, Muslim or Christian, could ever justify abortion.
 
Ibn Al Athar said:
She is asking because for christians abortion and gay rights are a major issue. Most of the evangelical-christian fundamentalists will vote for somone based on their 'moral values' alone.

I think she wants to know how abortion and gay right issues effect how muslims vote.
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I'm not a "she", but you are correct in what I was curious about. :D
 
Fazl Ahmad said:
Muslims are not allowed to "vote", because democracy is against the precepts of Islam. Legislation is the perogative of Allah alone.

Abortion is not at all permitted in Islam, only in certain rare circumstances where the mother's life will be in jeopardy if she delivers, or if the baby won't be able to survive due to some deformity. The Quran says very clearly: Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin (Holy Quran 17:31)

Abortion is very evil and selfish act, it is nothing but murder. The fact that is is practiced commonly today is a sign that we are in very bleak times, where there is no respect for human life, and maximum freedom must prevail, even at the cost of the most innocent. This is very disturbing situation. I do not know how anyone, Muslim or Christian, could ever justify abortion.
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So Muslims in general do not vote? I've heard this before, but I assumed that many Muslims do indeed vote.
 
Yes most Muslim do vote because they believe it is permissible (and rightly so).

To answer your question - abortion isn't a big issue in politics where I live. For me personally, I don't look at it based on the persons opinion in ONE issue, but rather holistically.

If it was a choose between someone who was anti-abortion and pro-war, and another person who was anti-war and pro-abortion, I'd go with the pro-abortion guy. Even though they both have their evils, one is considerably less so than the other.

But yes I imagine abortion would be a big issue for me.
 
There is a difference of opinion on whether it is permissible. Besides, this thread is not about the permissibility of voting.
 
Actually I think he posted what he meant to post.. what does your link have to do with this thread? :?
 
Judging from the many diverse answers it seems obvious that whatever the "official" stance of Islam (if there even is one) that there are many different interpretations of the right/obligation to vote and of the permissability or lack there of regarding abortions within the practicioners of Islam. (BTW, though not so far reflected in this thread, the same is true in Christian circles.) So, since none hear can speak for the whole of Islam, speaking for yourself, how would you respond to Keltoi's question. If abortion was a major political issue where you live and you could legally vote, would you vote and if so to what degree would the abortion issue influence your vote especially, as Malaikah proposed, in light of other important issues that might also be a part of the election?
 
Grace Seeker said:
... If abortion was a major political issue where you live and you could legally vote, would you vote and if so to what degree would the abortion issue influence your vote especially, as Malaikah proposed, in light of other important issues that might also be a part of the election?
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It's difficult really. I mean whilst an abortion ruling/law would influence my vote, so too would any other changes. I'll examplify:

Party 1 manifesto;
Abortion is illegal
Prostitution is legal

Party 2 manifesto
Prostitution is illegal
Rapists have harsher sentences.


Basically, I wouldn't solely vote for one party just because of its views on abortion - I'd base my decision on the full manifesto (though, last time I voted, I didn't have any manifesto to go on, so took an educated guess: liberals FTW! [for the win]).

It's sort of like asking: would having strawberries in your cornetto make you buy a cornetto over any other ice cream product...The answer to that is: well, I do like strawberries, and having them on a cornetto would be really kick ass, but I also like choc ices and 99s (ice cream cones avec le flake), so whilst strawberries would be a factor to consider it wouldn't have 100% weighting on the decision making.
 

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