Having an abortion if the fetus is deformed and is known not to be able to survive after birth

Fatwa no. 18567 All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the seal of all prophets.To commence:The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has read the inquiry submitted to His Honor the Grand Mufty by the acting Religious Consultant at King Khalid National Guard Hospital located in Jeddah and doctor Nayif Al-Siheily, a gynecologist‏ and obstetrician consultant. Referred to the Committee of the General Secretariat of Council of Senior Scholars under the number 642 on 29 /1 /1417 A.H, the text of the inquiry is as follows:Is it permissible to abort a severely deformed fetus which is sure to be a stillborn? Deformity includes:1- Deformation of the heart muscle2- Serious deformation of spinal cord and vertebra3- Small sized head4- A cyst, larger than the head, has been formed between the head and body (Part No. 21; Page No. 251) 5- Intestines are formed outside the abdomen6- Brain deformationThe woman is in the fifth month of pregnancy. Depressed about the serious condition of their baby, the parents agreed to abort it. Do the above reasons justify aborting this fetus? If it is not permissible to abort it, what sin will be if this abortion is performed? Give us your fatwa may Allah reward you!

After the Committee closely studied the inquiry, it issued the following fatwa: It is forbidden to abort the fetus depending on the hypothetical diagnosis of doctors. Islam primarily demands that we respect the humanness of the fetus, and prohibits aborting it. Moreover, it may be that Allah (Glorified be He) improves its health prior to delivery. It may be delivered free from those birth defects as diagnosed by the doctors. The parents should trust in Allah's ability to make it a well formed baby. They should be mindful of Allah (Glorified be He) and should ask Him to make their baby whole and make it the joy of their eyes. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated Allah (the Exalted) states: I am as My servant thinks of Me... (Part No. 21; Page No. 252) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.