When the Holy Prophet (S) and his companions reached the site of the murder...

When the Holy Prophet (S) and his companions reached the site of the murder, he enquired as to who the killer was.” The people said, “We do not know.” The Prophet was surprised, “A person has been killed among the Muslims, and no one knows of his killer?” “By the Almighty who appointed me with Prophethood, If all the creatures of the heavens and the earth participate in the murder of a Muslim and be pleased upon that, then Allah would surely involve them in punishment and send them all to Hell.” The lesson derived from this hadith is that there is no difference between the killer and those who support or co-operate with him.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) has said, “On the day of Qiyāma a person would be presented before Allah. He will be having a streak of blood (like one gets a cut while shaving). He will say, ‘By Allah, I have not killed anyone. Not have I co-operated with anyone’s murder.’ Allah will say, ‘Yes, but one day you spoke about a believer and your words caused him to be killed.

Hence you are responsible for his murder.’” Hazrat Imam Riďa (a.s.) said, “If someone is killed in the east and one who lives in the west is pleased upon this, then he is a partner in this murder.”[^4] Abortion is Harām It is Harām to abort an unborn child. Like in the case of a murder, diyah (prescribed fine) has to be paid here too. There is no difference between a foetus and a full-grown man. Even if the killers are its own parents.

If a woman takes medicine that causes abortion, she would be liable for the punishment of a murderer. The penalty ( diyah ) for killing a ‘protected soul’ ( Nafs al-Muhtaram ) is one thousand misqal of gold. If the killers are the parents themselves they do not inherit any part of diyah but the other relatives who are eligible for the inheritance are qualified for it.

To Abort a Foetus Intentionally is Harām It is evident from the foregoing discussion that human life is considered sacred by the Islamic Shari’a. Nothing has been given so much importance like the one reserved for the ‘protected soul’ ( Nafs al-Muhtaram ). So much so that the beginning point of the human life, that is, the fertilised ovum is also not to be wasted. Once conception has taken place, no abortion is allowed.

The ‘ diyah ’ (penalty) for abortion is as follows: If the fertilised ovum is aborted the ‘ diyah ’ is sixty misqal. If bones have formed it is eighty misqal.