Pregnancy

Pregnancy, also known as gestation, is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman. A multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy can occur by sexual intercourse or assisted reproductive technology.

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Mother . Father . Pregnancy . Breastfeeding

For the birth of a child, the mother seems to have a much greater contribution compared to the father such as the months of pregnancy and breast feeding. Why is it then said that the child belongs to the father?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 months ago

Child does not belong to the father only but belongs to both father and mother. Father is fully responsible for all livelihood expenses of the child and the mother, while mother is not responsible to spend on the child even if she is rich.

The Prophet Muhammad has ordered every one to look after his mother, his mother, his mother, then his father.

In the unfortunate situation of separation between father and mother, mother has the right of custody during the childhood years ( 2 years for boy and 7 years for girl) then custody will be for the father.

Wassalam.

55153

Marriage . Husband . Pregnancy . Mut'a (Temporary marriage) . Abortion

A woman gets pregnant during a Mutah marriage that was kept a secret and her husband wants her to terminate the baby. Is this allowed?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 5 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. I would recommend that you contact the office of your Marja with the specifics of your case. Although the usual ruling is that it is not allowed (and this will be applicable in most circumstances and is also the applicable rule according to the limited information you have given here), there have been exceptions for when the woman who has become pregnant in a mutah marriage is allowed to abort before 4 months when the difficulty she would face from being accused would have been too much for her to bear and there is absolutely no other way that an abortion can be avoided (like traveling to another place and having the baby). I am posting the ruling from the office of Sayyid Sistani (hA) below which is in Arabic for further reference:

السؤال: امرأة حملت بعقد زواج منقطع وتخشى على سمعتها والعار، وخاصة من أهلها ومعارفها، فهل يجوز لها إسقاط الجنين قبل الأشهر الأربعة أو حتى بعدها؟

الجواب: أمّا قبل ولوج الروح فيه فإن كان ما تواجهه من الحرج بسبب انكشاف أمرها بحدٍّ لا يُتحمّل عادة ولم يكن هناك طريق للمنع من ذلك - ولو بأن تسافر إلى أيِّ بلد آخر وتسكن فيه حتى تضع الحمل - جاز لها الإجهاض، وأما بعد ولوج الروج فلا يجوز الاجهاض مطلقا حتى على الاحوط اذا كانت تتضرر أو تقع في حرج شديد من بقائه.

https://www.sistani.org/arabic/qa/02793/page/2/

May you always be successful.

Marriage . Husband . Pregnancy . Mut'a (Temporary marriage) . Abortion

A woman gets pregnant during a Mutah marriage that was kept a secret and her husband wants her to terminate the baby. Is this allowed?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 5 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

No, it is not allowed, and both parties must be responsible towards the pregnancy and their child. This is the least of moral commitment the man has towards her and their baby as well.

With prayers for your success.

55154

Sadaqa . Sexual . Marriage . Pregnancy

What exactly is Qamar dar Aqrab and how is it determined? Is there a negative implication for the child if conception occurs during that time? Can it be averted by giving Sadaqa if one has marital relationship that night with intention of conception?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 5 months ago

Qamar dar Aqrab refers to the moon being in the zodiacal sign of Scorpio which happens 2-3 days per month (in that the moon circulates through all the zodiacal signs in one lunar month) and can be determined via astronomical software or eyeballs.

Historically, in a number of cultures, this has been considered an unfavourable time, which is probably why it appears in our heritage. There are some narrations on not marrying or starting a journey at this time, but they are not considered strong.

(I am not aware of any narrations about conception during this time, although someone may correct me.)

Some people choose to avoid scheduling marriages at this time, and that is fine. It is also fine not to pay attention to it at all. People vary in their belief in these things.

However, it is good not to get too caught up in these things, e.g. if someone gets married at this time, it doesn't mean that it will be a disaster. Sometimes if we feel that something has a bad "omen", it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because then we subconsciously do things to make it go badly, and that isn't healthy at all!

If something happens by accident (for instance, conception), there is no need to worry. Allah knows best what He creates and when, and He has his wisdom for it, especially when it comes to bringing life into this world, which is in His hands.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to give sadaqa a few times if you are concerned, but it isn't necessary. Don't overburden yourself with it by making it a requirement!

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Iddah . Pregnancy

What is the rationale of observing the period of Iddah other than the determination of any pregnancy?

Iddah is the waiting period which must be observed after termination of marriage whether permanent or temporary , or death of the husband. During Iddah she will not be allowed to even talk about marriage or receive proposals from other men.

Iddah is two types:

1. Iddah of Talaq or after termination of temporary marriage provides confirmation that the woman does not have in her body from her husband, not only pregnancy but any remaining from sexual intercourse. This Iddah is three menstrual periods after Talaq, and two periods after temporary marriage. If the wife is pregnant, her Iddah will continue till the end of the pregnancy. There is no Iddah if the marriage was never consummated ( No sexual intercourse at all) or if the wife is old enough that she has no menses.

2. Iddah of Wafat, which is obligatory after death of the husband in any type of marriage and it goes on till four months and ten day after wife is informed about her husband’s death. If the death news reached the wife late, her Iddah time starts from that time not from the real date of death. Iddah of Wafat shows the respect which every wife should show to her husband, that respect which makes her more respected in the society. In some ignorant societies, they look to the woman who lost her husband as vulnerably low standard person. Allah ( SWT) wants her to be always respected

Wassalam.

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Marriage . Father . Mut'a (Temporary marriage) . Children . Pregnancy

If a woman gets pregnant in mut'ah marriage, can she get the rest of the period waived off from the father of the unborn child and marry another man before the baby is born?

No, she can not.

If a pregnant woman is divorced or her Mut'a marriage has finished or terminated, her Iddah (waiting period) goes on till the end of her pregnancy. She will not be allowed to marry any one else before she delivers her baby.

Wassalam.