Question: What is the Islamic decree on Abortion & Euthanasia

  I have an inquiry about the ruling of abortions and euthanasia in Islam. Are these two actions totally and absolutely prohibited, or are there conditions and exceptions to the rule? With regards to abortion, for example, is it prohibited under all circumstances, even if the life of the mother is in danger if she does not proceed with the abortion? What if she conducts the abortion prior to the foetus having a heart beat, which is at 8-9 weeks I believe?

As to euthanasia, which is a common and controversial issue nowadays, and refers to a patient who is undergoing some severe form of injury or disease, and agrees that the plug be pulled on him. In other words, some patients cannot any longer bear the pain that they go through on account of certain injuries or diseases that may have afflicted them, or they may not wish to endure it. In either case, do our Ulema have any ruling on this issue? I am curious to know about it because I have just recently studied these issues in my Law class and although I had a general idea as to what Islam may preach on these matters, I was ignorant of the specific details and all the loopholes. 

  Abortion:

Abortion is Haraam and this is effective as soon as conception occurs.  As long as there is a potential for a human being, then abortion is Haraam, whether one week old or one day old.  Life/embryo may not be destroyed at any stage of development.

Exceptional circumstances: 

1. If the continuation of the pregnancy constitutes danger to the mother, then abortion is allowed. 

2. If the foetus is extremely deformed to such an extent that it would make its care exceptionally difficult for the parents, some of the Fuqaha have decreed to the permissibility of abortion in such extreme circumstances.

According to the fatwa, only extreme deformities may qualify for the permissibility of abortion. The fatwa of Imam Shirazi clearly does not include the very bad sickness.

Euthanasia:

Not wishing to endure the pain involved with the disease/injuries does NOT permit one 'to pull the plug', according to Islamic teachings.

As for those patients who are in coma and they are kept on life support machines, and there is no hope for them gaining consciousness again, it is not obligatory for them to be kept on life support machines.

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