Shaykh Arif

Official website of Shaykh Arif Abdulhussain

MENUMENU
  • Bio
  • Latest
  • Works
    • Academic Articles
      • Reassessing the Islamic Notion of Bulūgh: Moving Towards Ability-based Responsibility within the Existential Framework (AMI Press, Feb 2016)
      • Ensoulment and the Prohibition of Abortion in Islam (AMI Press, Feb 2016)
      • Rethinking the Regulation of Fasting (AMI Press, Apr 2016)
      • Reassessing the Scope for Adoption in Sharīʿa (AMI Press, Apr 2016)
      • Reassessing the Regulation of Female Covering in Islam through the Notion of 'Awra (AMI Press, May 2016)
      • A Comparison Between Qa'idat al Saltana and Qa'idat la Dharar
      • Notion of the New Moon (Hilal) [ICCI]
      • Comparison Between the Actual and the Factual (Durham University)
      • Mawaqit of Hajj in Contemporary Era [DIA]
      • The Regulation of Abortion in Islam [DIA]
      • The Right of Divorce for Women in Islam
      • Regulation of working where Alcohol is served [DIA]
      • Participation in non-Muslim gatherings [DIA]
      • The Regulation of Music (Ghina) in Islam
      • The Time for Maghrib in Shi'i Jurisprudence [ICCI]
      • Ritual Purity of non-Muslims [ICCI]
      • Minimal requirements (Tadhkiyya) and best practice (Tayyib) for the lawfulness (Hiliyah) of meat through an Existential reading of the Sharia regulative texts
      • Muslim Perception of Jews & Christians
    • Translations
      • Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence by Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr (London, ICAS Press, 2003)
      • Lamentations Part II, Muhammad Istihardi (Birmingham, Al-Mahdi Institute, 2002)
      • Lamentations Part III, Muhammad Istihardi (Birmingham, Al-Mahdi Institute, 2003)
      • Ziyarat al Mufji'ah
      • Muqaddima al Qaysari (unpublished)
      • Usul al Ma'arif (unpublished)
      • Qawa'id al Fiqh (unpublished)
    • Publications
      • Re-Interpretation of Islamic Laws Based on Time and Place
      • The Qur'an within the Shia Traditions
      • [Book] Islam, God-Centricity and Human Liberation
      • Forthcoming
        • Evolutionary state of Islam through the Horizontal and Vertical Axis of Existence
        • Reinterpretation of Islamic Law through Form and Essence
        • Mahdism from an Existential Perspective
        • Reassessing the Basic Assumption of Muslim Theology
  • Lectures
    • Videocasts
      • Weekly Inspiration
      • Know Your Quran
      • Quranic Reflections
      • Spiritual Bites
    • Muharram/Safar
      • God through the eyes of Hussain – Arbaeen 2017
      • Revisiting our Theology – Muharram 1439 (2017)
      • Islam between Moderation and Extremism - Arbaeen 1438 (2016)
      • Foundational Assumptions - Muharram 1438 (2016)
      • Nature and Purpose of Human Life- Arbaeen 1437 (2015)
      • Islam, God Centricity, and Human Liberation- Muharram 1437 (2015)
    • Ramadhan
      • Ramadhan 1437 (2016) [Karachi]
      • Ramadhan 1436 (2015) [Karachi]
      • Ramadhan 1435 (2014) [Imam Hasan Centre, Sydney]
      • Ramadhan 1434 (2013) [KSIMC Bham + IUS Machester]
      • Ramadhan 1432 (2011) + Late night sessions [Karachi]
      • Preparing for the Month of Ramadhan
    • Tafsir
      • Introduction to Tafsir
      • Tafsir Sura Fatiha
      • Tafsir Sura Baqara
      • Tafsir Sura Aal Imran
      • Tafsir Sura Nisa
      • Tafsir Sura An'am
      • Tafsir Sura A'raf
    • Seminars/Series
      • The Hasan & Muawiyah treaty
      • Islam,Pluralism & Diversity
      • Principles of Supplication
      • God & The Problem of Evil
      • The Evolving Nature of Ijtihad and Taqlid
      • Questioning Theological Assumptions
      • Gender Equality
      • Azadari - askMuharram2015
      • Euthanasia & End of Life Decisions
      • Length of the Fast -askRamadhan 2014
    • Much More >>
  • Q&A
    • See Q&A
    • Ask a Question
  • Contact

Ensoulment and the Prohibition of Abortion in Islam

Abstract 

This article identifies ways in which philosophical ideas of personhood influence rulings concerning abortion. The terms ‘life’, ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ are clarified through a comparative study of authoritative Shīʿa texts. There is a consensus that ensoulment occurs at four months, when the spirit causes the emergence of potentiality for rational thought. This stage marks a significant change in the status of the foetus, and abortion after this stage is prohibited except in extreme circumstances when the mother’s life is threatened. Recent rulings by Shīʿa scholars on abortion at earlier stages are interpreted in terms of potentiality for ensoulment. The distinction between active and passive potentiality for ensoulment clarifies the reasons why jurists hold different views on whether the prohibition of abortion applies before the stage of implantation. The relevance of this discussion to some methods of contraception is indicated.

Download PDF

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Sign up to Email/Whatsapp updates

Site Map

Ask your Question:

Ask your Question >>

Latest Questions:

  • Quran Abrogation asked by Questioner
  • God, Opportunity & Dua asked by Questioner
  • Soul & Human Bodies asked by Questioner
  • The Soul & God’s justice asked by Questioner
  • Judgement in the now asked by Questioner

Follow Shaykh Arif

Affiliates

Copyright © 2019 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.