My Miscarriage - The Islamic Perspective
Saturday, February 13, 2010 Read more → Cool-Children, shariah, the explorer In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
Since my miscarriage over 14 years ago I have researched on this subject and found the Islamic rulings as follows:
1. If the child is born alive and dies after a short while, the child should be named, have a ghusl, (washed by following Islam's teaching on cleanliness), shrouded in a normal kaffan (3 white sheets to form part of a coffin) and janazah salat (the Muslim funeral prayer) should be offered. Basically, a full adult funeral.
2. If the child is born after 8 months but is still born (or all the body parts are fully formed even if the time period is less; and is not alive upon birth), the child should be named, a full ghusl should be performed, wrapped in one piece of white cloth (not a full kafan) and buried without the janaza salat.
According to Prophetic ahadith The ‘ruh’ or soul of life is put into the foetus at four months. The foetus is therefore considered alive after this time.
[For more information read Islam-QA.com, a personal account on IslamOnline.net, and a ruling again onIslamOnline.net]
I hope I have shed some light on this topic and people will not feel shy or scared to talk about this. It is part of our personal jihad (struggle) in life that we go through testing times. Allah tests us through our wealth, children and spouses (Qur'an, 3:186). May He give us the patience and strength to accept it. My children are aware of their baby sister and they have named her 'Aisha. We go and visit her grave sometimes and this brings us closer to Allah and the knowledge that nothing is permanent and death is inevitable.
How fully are we prepared for it?