Q: How sinful is it to have an abortion?
A. An abortion carried out after ensoulment of the foetus which happens on 120 days of pregnancy, is akin to murder. This is a major sin. Abortion done before 120 days without a valid reason is not like murder, but is nevertheless a sinful practice. The Hadeeth describes unnecessary prevention or blocking of pregnancy as mini infanticide, so imagine how serious is the sin of destroying a growing embryo in the womb.
Furthermore, the question should not be ‘how sinful’ this is but whether it is a sin or not. Any sin, irrespective of its size and effect is abominable and obligatory to refrain from.
Mufti Siraj Desai